What Down Home Ranch does

Down Home Ranch is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1989 by Jerry and Judy Horton on a 410-acre property near Elgin, Texas, approximately 30 miles east of Austin. The organization serves individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) through an integrated portfolio of residential, vocational, recreational, and respite programs. Core service lines include Ranch Camp (ACA-accredited overnight, weekend, and family camps for ages 13+); Life Programs (residential community offering group homes, suite-style homes, independent living, intermediate care facilities, and a weekday day program with 40+ courses); Haven (field trips and retreats for schools and community groups, with overnight lodging for up to 90 guests); and two enterprise programs — Flora (a nursery producing 50,000+ plants annually, sold retail and wholesale) and Craft (handmade artisan goods sold via on-site gift shop and Square Online store). As of 2024 the organization served 61 Ranchers across residential and day programs, employed 8-10 Ranchers in vocational horticulture and animal husbandry roles, and maintained a 51-100 employee headcount.

The business model blends fee-for-service revenue with charitable contributions. Program revenue comes from contracted day program rates ($40-$60/day), respite stays ($135-$160/day waiver-funded; $160/day private pay), sliding-scale camp fees ($900-$1,450 summer; $355-$475 weekend), retreat lodging (RV sites at $40/weekend; lodges and bunkhouses sleeping 20-26), and enterprise sales of plants and crafts. A significant portion of program fees flows through Texas Medicaid HCS, ICF, and CLASS waivers administered via Local Intellectual Development Disability Authorities (LIDDAs). The donation stack includes one-time and tiered monthly giving (The Greenhouse: SOWER $20/mo to ENRICHER $150/mo with store discounts and memorial benefits), an Annual Gala (now in its 23rd year at $150/ticket), bingo events, the TETRA benefit trail ride, a year-round Rooted & Rising corporate sponsorship program, and seven Amazon charity wish lists. Distribution is direct: on-site gift shop and greenhouse (Mon-Fri), Square Online e-commerce, CampBrain camp registration, and Neon CRM for donations and Haven bookings.

Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, relying on word-of-mouth, family referrals, ranch tours, trial visits, and a robust calendar of community events (Gala, Clear the Shelter Bingo, Bingo & Boos, Texas Chainsaw Manicure, Hot Cocoa Stroll, Ugly Sweater Bingo). Marketing channels include the website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and a newsletter. The organization contracts with Texas LIDDAs statewide for waiver-funded placements, holds ACA camp accreditation (required as of 2019 for waiver-funded camps), and maintains a 501(c)(3) status (EIN #74-2536461). Leadership includes Executive Director Barry Hamilton (LCSW, with the organization since 2002), COO Cortney Dozier (MBA), Director of Development Diana Daw, and Director of Client Services Casey Dickerson (M.Ed), supported by co-founders Jerry and Judy Horton.

Name

Down Home Ranch

Legal name

Down Home Ranch

Website

https://downhomeranch.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Down Home Ranch is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a 410-acre residential community, ACA-accredited camp, and vocational enterprises in Elgin, Texas, serving 61 adults and campers with intellectual and developmental disabilities through housing, day programs, respite, and horticulture/craft enterprises funded by Medicaid waivers, private pay, donations, and events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Services

NAICS

Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (623210), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (6232), Other Residential Care Facilities (62399)

SIC

Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Small Residential Care Homes (RCFE/Board & Care) (HLADABAF)

Keywords

• Disability residential services
• Developmental disabilities camp
• Vocational horticulture programs
• Respite care services
• IDD day program

Headquarters

HQ city

Elgin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Residential & Day Program Fees: Down Home Ranch generates revenue through contracted rates for day programming ($40–$60/day) and respite stays ($135–$160/day for waiver-funded, $160/day private pay). Funding sources include Home and Community Based Services (HCS), Intermediate Care Facility (ICF), and private pay arrangements.
2. Camp Registration Fees: Camp sessions are priced on a sliding scale based on household income. Summer sessions range from $900 to $1,450 per session; Weekend camps range from $355 to $475. Respite funds may cover camp fees (minimum $1,100 for summer, $405 for weekend).
3. Retail Sales (Craft & Flora): Down Home Ranch operates a gift shop selling handmade crafts (tote bags, jewelry, greeting cards, engraved gifts, wooden items, artwork) and a greenhouse/nursery selling over 50,000 plants annually including annuals, perennials, poinsettias, and houseplants. Sales occur in-person at the Ranch and online via square.site. Proceeds directly fund the mission.
4. Donations & Monthly Giving (The Greenhouse): Individual donors contribute one-time or monthly gifts through the website. Monthly giving tiers (SOWER $20/mo, PLANTER $30/mo, NOURISHER $50/mo, CULTIVATOR $100/mo, ENRICHER $150/mo) include store discounts and merchandise benefits. Donations also fund specific initiatives: Campership, Rancher Activity Fund, Animal Welfare, Maintenance Endowment.
5. Special Events & Sponsorships: Annual Gala (23rd edition, 'Rhinestone Cowboy' — $150/ticket), bingo nights, trail rides, and other community events raise funds. The Rooted & Rising year-round sponsorship program offers businesses customized marketing perks and event recognition in exchange for annual pledges.
6. Haven — Field Trips & Retreats: The Haven program generates revenue through field trip bookings (for schools and community groups, up to 60 students) and retreat accommodations. Lodging options include lodges, bunkhouses, and Cedar cabin, with RV spaces. Catering and programming add-ons (archery, kayaking, team building) are available for additional fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Down Home Ranch operates a 410-acre integrated residential community, ACA-accredited camp, and social enterprise in Elgin, Texas, serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The organization delivers group-home residential living, a weekday day program, short-term respite care, overnight and weekend camp sessions, and on-site vocational enterprises (a plant nursery producing 50,000+ plants annually and a handmade craft gift shop), all funded through a mix of Texas Medicaid waiver contracts, sliding-scale private pay, retail sales, and charitable donations.

Product overview

Down Home Ranch operates as a 410-acre residential community, camp, and social enterprise that empowers people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The organization offers an integrated portfolio of programs including Ranch Camp (overnight and day camps), Life residential services (group homes, day program, and respite care), Haven field trips and retreats, and two enterprise programs — Flora nursery (50,000+ plants annually) and Craft handmade goods (jewelry, cards, tote bags, art). The programs are interconnected: camp and respite provide short-term experiences, residential offers long-term living, enterprise programs provide vocational training and income, and all programs work together to fulfill the mission of empowering people with IDD through social, educational, residential, and vocational opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ranch Camp Overnight and day camp programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities ages 13+. Offers summer sessions (up to 40 campers), weekend camps, and family camp experiences with activities including swimming, hiking, fishing, archery, animal care, and crafts, priced on a sliding-scale based on household income.
• Life Residential Program Long-term residential community for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities offering group homes (1-6 beds), suite-style homes, independent living (tiny homes and cabins), and Intermediate Care Facility (ICF) options. Services include room and board, 24/7 trained staff support, day programming, transportation, nursing care, case coordination, and vocational support.
• Day Program Weekday program offering more than 40 courses including arts, music, life skills, community engagement, outdoor activities, and wellness for individuals with disabilities not residing at the Ranch. Hot lunch is served Tuesday through Friday; day program contracted rates range from $40 to $60 per day.
• Respite Care Short-term care services providing 2-14 day stays for caregivers of individuals with IDD, with options for group living or supported independent living in tiny homes and Cedar cabin. All-inclusive with meals and day programming; waiver-funded respite ranges $135-$160/day and private pay $160/day.
• Haven Field Trips and Retreats Field trip and retreat programs for schools and community groups offering barnyard visits, greenhouse planting, fishing, hiking, crafts, and swimming. Includes overnight accommodations in Hickory Lodge, Post Oak Lodge, Elm Bunkhouse, Pecan Bunkhouse, and Cedar Cabin (sleeping up to 90 guests), plus RV sites at $40 per weekend and full catering options.
• Flora Nursery Nursery operation producing more than 50,000 plants annually including annuals, perennials, Texas natives, poinsettias, and houseplants. Provides vocational training for Ranchers, sells plants wholesale to nurseries and florists within about an hour of the Ranch, and retails to consumers on-site and online.
• Craft Handmade Goods Gift shop and artisan program where Ranchers create and sell handmade items including jewelry, embroidered towels, greeting cards, tote bags, wooden items, mosaic art, and original artwork. Provides vocational training and personal income for artisans; sold on-site at the DHR Gift Shop and online via Square.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50,000 plants grown and sold annually through the Flora program
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Texas Equestrian Trail Riders Association (TETRA)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 October 2026TETRA hosts an annual benefit trail ride weekend at Down Home Ranch (October 9–11, 2026), with proceeds benefiting DHR. The event draws equestrian participants for guided rides, a potluck dinner, and community gathering, serving as both a fundraising event and community awareness channel for the Ranch.
• Bastrop County Animal ServicesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBastrop County Animal Services partners with Down Home Ranch for the annual 'Clear the Shelter Bingo' event, hosting an animal adoption pop-up at the event. This partnership combines animal welfare awareness with DHR's community event programming.
• Rising Sun VineyardminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRising Sun Vineyard provides catering services for Down Home Ranch's Annual Gala, serving dinner at the Bastrop Convention Center event. This partnership enhances the gala guest experience while supporting the Ranch's signature fundraising event.
• BuckUp AuctionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBuckUp Auctions partners with Down Home Ranch to present live and silent auctions at the Annual Gala, helping raise funds for DHR's residential, camp, day, and respite programs.
• Texas A&M Forest Service (Firewise Certification Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTexas A&M Forest Service partners with Down Home Ranch for the Texas Chainsaw Manicure volunteer workday, which helps keep the Ranch Firewise certified per Texas A&M's Firewise USA Program. This program reduces wildfire risk and protects Ranch property, residents, and programs.
• Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – TaylorcoreOthersBaylor Scott & White Medical Center in Taylor, TX is designated as the primary hospital for medical emergencies during Ranch Camp sessions. Camp staff will transport campers requiring emergency care to this facility, ensuring access to qualified healthcare for campers with disabilities.
• Texas LIDDAs (Local Intellectual Development Disability Authorities)coreOthersDown Home Ranch contracts with multiple Local Intellectual Development Disability Authorities across Texas to accept third-party payment (waiver funding) for camp, respite, and residential services. This enables individuals with IDD statewide to use publicly funded waivers at DHR.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Camp Barnabas: Missouri-based nonprofit operating an ACA-accredited overnight camp and year-round programs specifically for individuals with disabilities; closely parallels DHR's Ranch Camp model and ACA accreditation.
• L'Arche USA: Operates intentional residential communities where people with and without IDD live together; shares DHR's community-embedded, long-term residential model rather than facility-based care.
• Hope Services: Silicon Valley-based nonprofit serving people with IDD through residential, employment, and day programs; comparable scale and mission-driven enterprise approach to DHR.
• Mosaic (formerly Bethphage): National nonprofit providing residential, day, and vocational services to people with IDD across multiple states; comparable integrated service portfolio with HCS/Medicaid waiver contracting experience.
• Melwood: Maryland-based nonprofit providing IDD services including horticulture, vocational training, and residential support, with a similar earned-income enterprise model and mission-aligned employment for people with disabilities.
• St. Madeleine Sophie's Center: El Cajon, CA-based nonprofit serving adults with IDD through a similarly integrated model of day programs, horticulture, and craft enterprises generating earned revenue — directly comparable to DHR's Flora and Craft programs.

Broad incumbents

• Easterseals: National nonprofit providing disability services including residential, employment, and camp programs; broader portfolio than DHR but overlapping IDD residential and recreational offerings.
• The Arc of the United States: National organization with state and local chapters providing advocacy, residential, and employment services to people with IDD; broader scope but direct overlap with DHR's service categories.

Regional players

• KAH Community Supports: Texas-based IDD provider offering residential, day, and vocational services; relevant as a competing HCS waiver provider operating in overlapping Texas regions.
• Bluebonnet Trails Community Services: Texas-based IDD provider operating across a similar Central Texas service area; competes for HCS/ICF waiver contracts and residential referrals from the same LIDDAs as DHR.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/downhomeranch
• Facebookfacebook.com/downhomeranch.org
• Instagraminstagram.com/down_home_ranch
• Xx.com/down_home_ranch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/downhomeranch

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Down Home Ranch