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Hill Country Youth Ranch

Restoring and Redeeming the Lives of Abused and Abandoned Children

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History — the First Twenty Years

In 1976, Gary Priour donated 107 acres of family land to give the Hill Country Youth Ranch its start. The Ranch was officially incorporated in March of 1977, receiving tax exempt status as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization at the same time. With the help of community volunteers and generous donors, development began in earnest.

The first decade saw the Ranch expand to a capacity for 60 children housed in eight family-style residences on a 265-acre campus. The Ranch also built administration and counselling buildings, a general store, a community center, a gymnasium, a playground, a garden, an orchard, a barn, a library, and a chapel.

The second decade saw HCYR become a program-enriched village for up to 80 children. HCYR opened a Training Center for certifying childcare workers and a Psychiatric Assessment Center to help severely traumatized youth. A greenhouse, a woodworking shop, a swimming pool, a ropes course, and a fine arts center were added. Licenses were gained as a Residential Treatment Center and a Child Placing Agency during the early 1990s.

In 1997, HCYR turned its attention to the development of a second campus near Leakey. A third campus was added in 2008.

Hill Country Youth Ranch

3522 Junction Highway
Ingram, TX 78025
Phone: (830) 367-2131
Fax: (830) 367-6108
communications@youth-ranch.org

Big Springs Ranch for Children

10664 US Highway 83 North
Leakey, TX 78873
Phone: (830) 232-7110
Fax: (830) 232-4256
bsinfo@youth-ranch.org

Enhanced Horizons

149 Camp Scenic Loop
Ingram, TX 78025
Phone: (830) 367-4330
Fax: (830) 367-2814
contact@enhancedhorizons.org

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