Discover the Best of Still Waters Ranch Ranching

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Still Waters Ranch will be situated on sufficient acreage to support both the residential program and the working-ranch environment central to the healing experience. The property will be designed to accommodate essential facilities, including the Bunk House, riding arena, and expansive pastureland necessary for horsemanship and agricultural operations.

The ranch will function as an active, professionally managed operation under the direction of an experienced Ranch Manager. Daily farming and ranching activities will serve both operational and therapeutic purposes, creating a structured, meaningful environment where residents can engage in purposeful work, develop routine, and reconnect with a sense of responsibility and accomplishment.

A carefully maintained herd of horses will be integral to the program. The Ranch will house enough horses to ensure that each resident is paired with a dedicated horse for training, care, and skill development. This one-to-one horsemanship model fosters patience, trust, emotional regulation, and confidence — qualities that directly support the recovery and renewal process.

Depending on seasonal needs and operational planning, ranch activities may include hay production to support the herd, pasture management for developing and untrained horses, and the care of trained horses awaiting placement or sale. These activities not only sustain the ranch but also reinforce the program’s emphasis on stewardship, discipline, and personal growth.

Still Waters Ranch is designed to be more than a facility — it is a living, working environment where the rhythms of ranch life contribute to restoration, resilience, and long-term wellbeing. The hope is to secure funding through generous donors, corporate sponsors, and grants, and to have a location approved by the end of 2027.

The Arena is a central component of the Still Waters Ranch program and serves both therapeutic and operational purposes. While it functions as a full-sized equestrian training facility, it is equally designed to support the Ranch’s clinical and mental health mission.

The Arena will be a fully enclosed, full-sized indoor riding arena measuring approximately 150’ x 250’, allowing for year-round horsemanship activities regardless of weather conditions. This controlled environment ensures consistency, safety, and uninterrupted program delivery.

Beyond horsemanship, the Arena is intentionally established as the primary location for psychotherapy services. All structured clinical group sessions will be conducted within the Arena complex under the direction of licensed and certified therapists. Maintaining a clear physical separation between therapeutic work and residential living spaces is a deliberate and essential design principle of Still Waters Ranch.

By holding group therapy sessions in the Arena rather than the Bunk House, residents can psychologically distinguish between environments associated with emotional processing and those intended for rest and decompression. The Arena represents engagement, growth, and therapeutic challenge, while the Bunk House remains a space for recovery, reflection, and mental respite. This environmental boundary supports emotional regulation, reduces cognitive fatigue, and reinforces healthy routines.

Overlooking the Arena will be an open clinical office space with exterior views and interior sightlines into the arena. This space will serve as the primary setting for psychotherapy group sessions, offering a calm, structured, and professionally supervised environment.

At ground level on the opposite end of the Arena, individual private offices will be provided for each therapist. These offices will support one-on-one therapy sessions, clinical documentation, treatment planning, and preparation, ensuring confidentiality and continuity of care.

To support the equine program, the Arena will also house twelve indoor/outdoor horse stalls designated for resident-assigned horses during their training and development. A dedicated tack room will provide secure storage for saddles, bridles, and essential equipment, promoting organization, safety, and proper care of Ranch resources.

The Arena is designed to integrate horsemanship, clinical care, and program structure into a single, cohesive environment that advances the Ranch’s mission of healing, growth, and renewal. The envisioned timeline for the arena is to begin construction in 2028.

The Bunk House serves as the primary residential and restorative space for participants at Still Waters Ranch. It is intentionally designed to provide comfort, stability, and psychological decompression following the structured demands of daily programming, including psychotherapy, horsemanship training, and physical conditioning.

More than simply a lodging facility, the Bunk House functions as a safe, supportive living environment where residents can rest, reflect, and reset. Each resident will be provided with a fully furnished private room, offering a consistent and personal space that promotes relaxation, privacy, and emotional recovery.

The Bunk House will also serve as the Ranch's communal center for daily life. It will house the dining and meal service areas where nutritious, professionally prepared meals are provided, reinforcing the program’s emphasis on physical wellness, routine, and healthy lifestyle habits. Shared spaces within the Bunk House are designed to encourage positive social interaction, peer support, and a sense of community among residents.

To ensure continuous care and resident safety, the Bunk House will include a dedicated staff office for on-duty support personnel. Technical staff operating from this space will assist residents with medication administration, program assignments, and general support needs. The design also supports structured nighttime monitoring, including routine bed checks, in alignment with resident safety and program accountability standards.

The facility will be appropriately equipped and staffed to support a maximum capacity of twelve residents, along with the necessary clinical, operational, and support personnel required for safe and effective program delivery.

Above all, the Bunk House represents a place of restoration — a calm and grounded environment that balances the emotional work of the program with essential rest, stability, and personal recovery. The envisioned timeline for the arena is to begin construction in 2028-2029