The Ensign Group has announced the acquisition of the real estate and operations of Woodland Health and Rehabilitation, a 62-bed skilled nursing facility located in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, effective June 1, 2026. In a separate transaction on the same day, Ensign also acquired the real estate of Memory Care of Contra Costa, a 46-unit memory care facility in Pleasant Hill, California. The acquisitions bring Ensign’s growing portfolio to 396 healthcare operations across 17 states.
The Woodland Health and Rehabilitation real estate was acquired by a subsidiary of Standard Bearer Healthcare REIT, Inc., Ensign’s captive real estate company, and the facility will be operated by an Ensign-affiliated tenant. The Iowa acquisition builds on the company’s growing Midwest presence through Gateway Healthcare LLC, Ensign’s Iowa-based subsidiary. The Memory Care of Contra Costa real estate was also acquired through a Standard Bearer subsidiary and will be operated by an experienced third-party operator under a long-term triple net lease structure, rather than an Ensign-affiliated operator.
The San Juan Capistrano, California-based company now owns 181 real estate assets through its Standard Bearer subsidiary and operates 396 healthcare facilities — including 48 senior living operations — across Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin. Ensign said it is actively seeking additional opportunities to acquire real estate and lease both well-performing and struggling skilled nursing, senior living, and other healthcare-related businesses throughout the United States.
KEY QUOTES:
“We are delighted to add another facility to our strong Midwest portfolio. Iowa is a growing state for us and the acquisition of this operation, and the real estate for Standard Bearer, continues our recent success in this great state.”
Barry Port, Chief Executive Officer, The Ensign Group
“We are excited to get to work with the existing staff and provide top-notch quality of care to the residents in this fantastic community.”
Dave Jorgensen, President, Gateway Healthcare LLC, Ensign’s Iowa-based subsidiary
