There have been so many great projects happening around the Ranch. Although dry weather is not good for growing hay, it is good for projects! We do estimate that we will have enough hay for this winter season. Our harvest was lighter than last year, but hopefully still enough to provide the high-quality hay that we need. The farming team was able to sell a hay mower and buy a newer mower. The new mower had an issue that the team was able to fix up, and it has been working great. We have also cleared some brush from around the high pasture and added several more acres for hay production. As a result, we were also able to move and upgrade our shooting sports backstop and find some great rocks for the new play area that the program is building behind the bunkhouses.
We have been planning and acquiring materials for the new play area. Funds are at 100%, so we will work on this project in late fall and spring, ensuring it is up and running for the 2026 season. Teddy Purdie and Josh Snyder are overseeing this project. Please let them know if you would like to volunteer to build with them this spring.
We are, once again, working on Fort Wilderness. We completed the outside of the second turret, and we are now working to complete the interior of the turret for use in the 2026 season. We plan to host a Father-Son retreat and other events at the Fort next year.
Other projects include: a new roof for the single-wide trailer, a kitchen renovation for the guys’ School of Discipleship dorm, finishing the Chunderleks’ house, field work, landscaping for staff homes, as well as some other projects, including working on the Settlers’ Bunkhouse.
The Settlers Bunkhouse is slated for added bathrooms to both units (adding to our list of growing units with bathrooms!) and a porch off the front facing town, like the rest of our bunkhouses. We are still working to convert all the units we can so that each one can have their own restroom. This makes them much more usable for retreats in the fall, winter, and spring. It also takes pressure off the central restroom during summer camp.
As you probably know, the ceiling in the Town Hall has needed resurfacing for some time now. We have decided to place a metal ceiling that has small holes, which will limit the sound echo in the room. This will mark the first phase of the gym’s update. Later, we plan to resurface the sides of the room as well.
It is a blessing that we have 60 years of history here at Miracle Mountain Ranch, but we are still striving to keep up with the maintenance and improvements so that we can continue to serve people well as we serve Christ well. Hospitality is a way to show love to all people who attend here for events, camps, retreats, and beyond. If you are interested in giving to a project or bringing a team to serve, please let us know! We couldn’t do it without you.
