Messenger Towers in Joplin, MO

Pros

• Residents describe Messenger Towers as a nice place to visit and live.
• The building is quiet inside, clean, and pest-free due to regular maintenance.
• The staff are friendly and helpful, with maintenance doing their best to resolve issues.
• Messenger Towers offers multiple resident-focused amenities, including a beauty shop, library, dining room, calendar of events, and a private fitness center, with all bills paid.
• Longtime residents praise the kindness of neighbors and staff, making it feel like home.
• Rent is described as very reasonable and the community feels secure.

Cons

• They found it difficult to reach anyone when applying for an apartment.
• Some feel the building is trying to keep out the homeless.
• The waiting list is long and callbacks have not been returned.
• Bed bugs are present in the building.
• Black mold has been reported in the building.
• Elevators are constantly broken down.
• The property management company does not properly maintain the building.

Review

Messenger Towers is best suited for self-reliant seniors who want an affordable, all-inclusive living environment with built-in social activity and on-site amenities in Joplin. The property appeals to those who value a straightforward, one-bill arrangement, convenient access to stores, and a community that tends to be clean, orderly, and decently maintained. For residents who thrive on organized programming, Bingo, visiting entertainment, a library, a beauty shop, and a private fitness center, the building provides meaningful opportunities to stay engaged without leaving the campus. In short, it serves independent-minded older adults who want security, neighborhood convenience, and predictable monthly expenses, with enough staff presence to handle routine needs.

Those who should actively consider alternatives are residents who demand consistently reliable management, airtight pest control, and flawless building operations. Several reviews flag serious gaps: difficulty reaching staff to discuss applications, slow or absent responses on waitlists, and a pattern of notices to enter that feel intrusive. The most severe red flags center on bed bug activity and mold concerns, plus reports of elevators that break down with frequency. Elevators and maintenance reliability matter greatly for residents with mobility or health challenges, and these issues clearly separate communities that offer dependable day-to-day living from ones where operational glitches become a recurring burden.

On the positive side, the strongest pros center on physical livability and social potential. Concrete walls offer stronger sound isolation, contributing to a calmer living environment for a resident who values privacy. The interiors are described as clean, and the building is often portrayed as easy to navigate. Long-time residents recount personal connections with staff and fellow tenants who create a welcoming atmosphere, underscored by examples of kindness and helpful maintenance support. The all-bills-paid arrangement reduces financial friction, and the rent is characterized as reasonably affordable for the area. The amenities, including a beauty shop, a library, a dining room with vending, an activity director, and a private fitness center, add tangible value for ongoing daily living.

Yet the cons do not fade into the background. Pest issues emerge repeatedly in the narratives, with some residents insisting bed bugs have plagued the property and others reporting consistent pest-free experiences. The discrepancy matters: it signals uneven pest management across units rather than a universal guarantee. Mold is cited by some as a potential danger, and elevator reliability appears to be a chronic problem in certain reviews. When combined with feedback about aggressive or overly intrusive entry notices and a perception that management does not address problems promptly, these factors collectively undermine the sense of dependable stewardship some families expect from an assisted living-adjacent community.

In concrete decision terms, Messenger Towers offers real benefits for budget-conscious seniors who prize a vibrant social schedule and on-site conveniences, and who can tolerate episodic maintenance gaps and the risk of pest or mold-related issues. The strongest case rests with independent residents who value security, a stable neighborhood vibe, and a community that has shown both warmth and resilience over time. The strongest cautions apply to families prioritizing consistent issue resolution, guaranteed pest control, and elevator reliability, as well as to those who want the application and waiting-list process handled with prompt, transparent communication. Weigh these elements against the slate of amenities and the long-standing resident goodwill to determine if Messenger Towers aligns with urgent care, mobility needs, and long-term comfort expectations.

This part of Joplin, Missouri offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities for seniors considering the area for living. With several physicians and healthcare facilities nearby, including Mercy Clinic Cardiovascular Surgery and St. John's Regional Medical Center, residents have access to quality medical care within a short distance. Nearby pharmacies such as Drug Warehouse and Walgreens provide easy access to medications and health supplies. In addition, there are cafes like Red Onion Cafe and restaurants like Wilder's Steakhouse for dining options. For recreational activities, parks such as Leonard Park and Butterfly Garden offer opportunities for outdoor enjoyment. Overall, this area provides a mix of healthcare services, dining options, and recreational spaces that cater to the needs of seniors looking for a vibrant community to call home.

Physicians

• Mercy Clinic Cardiovascular Surgery - Main and 1st (0.1 miles)
• Midwest Regional Allergy Asthma Arthritis & Osteoporosis Center (0.7 miles)
• Beltone Hearing Aid Center (0.8 miles)
• Coleman Vision (0.9 miles)
• Ozark Tri-County Pediatrics (1.1 miles)
• McAllister Edward L DDS (2 miles)
• Family Health Center of Joplin (2 miles)

Cafes

• Red Onion Cafe (0.1 miles)
• New Day Cafe (0.9 miles)
• Zinc Coffee (1.3 miles)
• Joe Muggs Coffee (2 miles)

Restaurants

• Hackett Hot Wings (0.2 miles)
• Sonic Drive-In (0.8 miles)
• Wilder's Steakhouse (0.8 miles)
• Lotus Xpress (1.4 miles)
• Tropicana Bar & Grill (1.7 miles)
• McDonald's (2 miles)
• Johnny Carino's (2 miles)

Places of Worship

• United Hebrew Congregation (0.6 miles)
• Our Father's House Ministries (1 miles)
• Cornerstone Christian Church (1.2 miles)
• Southern Baptist Convention (1.9 miles)
• One Church (2.6 miles)

Hospitals

• St John's Regional Medical Center (0.7 miles)
• Freeman Heart Institute (2.6 miles)
• Freeman Health System (2.6 miles)
• Four States Surgery Center (2.6 miles)
• Freeman East Radiology (2.7 miles)
• Freeman Neosho Hospital (2.7 miles)
• E Douglas Seifert MD - Freeman Health System (2.7 miles)

Pharmacies

• Drug Warehouse (0.9 miles)
• Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
• Pronto Pharmacy (2.2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.4 miles)
• Family Pharmacy (2.4 miles)
• Pronto Pharmacy #4 (2.4 miles)
• Walgreens (2.4 miles)

Parks

• Parr Hill Dog Park (1.4 miles)
• Leonard Park (1.7 miles)
• Butterfly Garden and Overlook (2 miles)
• Parks Maintenance Facility (2.1 miles)

Transportation

• Enterprise Rent-A-Car (2.4 miles)

Theaters

• Northstar STM 14 (2.4 miles)