Welcome to the Ranch
As you arrive, you will see Falcon Ridge Ranch nestled among the ancient cottonwood trees in the Virgin River Valley – the entrance to Zion National Park.
The views are majestic and inspirational no matter which way you look. The morning sun crests over the thousand-foot red sandstone cliffs of Zion in the east, and sets over the Pine Valley Mountains in the west – each setting sun showing spectacular colors of red, orange, and blue until the darkness overtakes the skies above.
The stars are brilliant and unpolluted by city lights, and the sounds of crickets, frogs, and coyotes fill the air with an enchanting song throughout the still night.
For the girls, and even those of us who live here, it is truly a magical place created by nature – something we never get tired of.
The Ranch House
The Ranch House is a 12-bedroom ranch house decorated in a pleasant equestrian theme. It is where the family of girls live together, eat home-style meals, and relax together in the common room – playing games, reading, just talking, or watching a movie.
The cooks at Falcon Ridge really know how to make the girls feel at home and comfortable. Nutritious meals, as well as special diets for health or religious reasons, are prepared with the care and skill reminiscent of another era.
The Courtyard
Out back of the Ranch House is a beautiful courtyard area surrounded by shade trees, ancient cottonwood trees, and a beautiful pond that houses our ducks – when they’re not wandering about the ranch like our chickens.
There is a covered patio with a fire pit for late-night campfires, roasting hotdogs, and telling campfire stories under the starlight. The courtyard area is often used for study time, therapy sessions, and outdoor activities throughout the year.
You’ll see our golden retriever wandering around or sleeping under the shade of the trees.
The East Building
Just beyond the courtyard is the East Building that houses our classrooms, offices, library, and large indoor multi-purpose room.
When not at the Ranch House, outside working with the horses, or in the garden, you’ll find the girls in the East Building. Here, the girls attend class, study in the library, and talk with their therapists in their private offices.
The largest room of the East Building is a gymnasium sized multi-purpose room designed for activities like yoga, dance, dodge-ball, and other athletic fun. We also use this space for more serious endeavors like painting enormous artworks on the wall, presentations, recitals, and more formal graduations.
The Arena & Equine Areas
The Arena & Equine Areas are in use constantly throughout the day. Each girl, her therapist, and an equine specialist work together on therapeutic activities, challenges, and goals during regular Equine Therapy sessions.
You’ll see the girls tackling some challenging obstacles with her horse as she learns to recognize her own attitudes and behaviors reflected in her horse. The horses are the highlight of the experience at Falcon Ridge Ranch. They are truly magnificent animals that share many of the same emotions and reactions as the girls. It’s no wonder a girl and her horse forge such strong bonds.
Throughout the day in the equine area, you’ll also see the chickens wandering around the haystack and doves perched on the fences and rooftops.
The Garden & North Corral
Beyond the Ranch House, along the driveway in, you’ll find our garden. Here, the girls grow corn, carrots, peas, cabbage, and all kinds of vegetables that they get to enjoy in the meals prepared for them each day.
You’ll also find fruit trees that produce apricots, peaches, and apples. When the girls go to work in the garden, the horses gather along the fence line waiting for a tasty treat – and the girls enjoy pulling up a carrot or picking an apple for their favorite visitors.
The ranch also operates its own alfalfa field where we grow our own hay to feed our horses. During the summer, the girls get to help bring in the hay that will then feed their horses for the winter.