Red Ridge

What Red Ridge does

Red Ridge is a 133-acre nonprofit nature preserve and accredited arboretum located near Northeast 50th Street and Lincoln Boulevard in Oklahoma City, at the north entrance of Oklahoma's Capitol corridor. It was acquired at auction on July 27, 2023 and closed on August 31, 2023 by Kirkpatrick Family Fund Real Estate, LLC, a subsidiary of Kirkpatrick Family Fund, an Oklahoma City philanthropy founded in 1989 by John and Eleanor Kirkpatrick. The organization holds ArbNet arboretum accreditation and protects old-growth stands of post oak and blackjack oak, along with diverse native wildflowers and grasses; the property has been rezoned from planned unit development to agricultural land, legally barring future high-density use.

The preserve also includes the historic 1934 R.J. Edwards Mediterranean-style home designed by architect Harold Gimeno, which Red Ridge plans to renovate into a nature center, outdoor classroom, library, and meeting space. Red Ridge operates as a controlled-access conservation area — visitors arrive on designated days to minimize wildlife disturbance — and is extending programs to local public schools and ecological research partners. There is no proprietary technology platform; operations rest on a public website, an e-newsletter called The Preserve, Facebook outreach, and an Issuu-hosted annual report.

The business model is charitable donations. Red Ridge operates five giving tiers ($100 Daffodil Defender, $250 Botanical Benefactor, $500 Pollinator Protector, $1,000 Friend of Red Ridge, $2,500 Wilderness Advocate), each unlocking layered perks including website donor recognition, merchandise, director-led tours, and publications. Roughly 20 named donors are acknowledged on the website. Revenue is unearned in the traditional sense (no admissions, events, or grants disclosed); funding support comes from individual philanthropic gifts and the institutional backing of Kirkpatrick Philanthropies, Kirkpatrick Family Fund, and the affiliated Oklahoma City Community Foundation. The core customer segments are Oklahoma City general-public visitors, local K-12 schools for educational programming, and individual donors across the five tiers.

Name

Red Ridge

Legal name

Red Ridge

Website

https://redridgeokc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Red Ridge is a 133-acre nonprofit nature preserve and accredited arboretum in Oklahoma City, owned by Kirkpatrick Family Fund, that conserves old-growth post oak and blackjack oak stands and is developing a nature center in the historic 1934 R.J. Edwards home. It funds operations through a five-tier donation program serving visitors, local public schools, and individual donors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nature Preserve and Conservation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Historic Preservation & Landmarks Conservation (BPAGAHAE), Replanting, Infilling & Stand Rehabilitation (AFAMACAI)

Keywords

• Nature preserve
• Wildlife conservation
• Arboretum services
• Environmental education
• Habitat restoration

Headquarters

HQ city

Oklahoma City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Red Ridge operates as a nonprofit nature preserve funded primarily through donations. The organization offers five donation tiers ranging from $100 to $2,500, each with corresponding perks including the Parks of Oklahoma City book, director-led tours, Red Ridge merchandise, donor recognition on the website, and newsletter subscriptions. Donations support tree collection maintenance, natural landscape restoration, nature-based learning programs, and conservation activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Red Ridge is a 133-acre nonprofit nature preserve and accredited arboretum in Oklahoma City that promotes conservation, ecological education, restoration of native habitats, and adaptive reuse of historic structures. The organization manages old-growth post oak and blackjack oak stands, native wildflowers and grasses, and the 1934 R.J. Edwards Mediterranean-style home, while offering controlled-access visits, nature-based educational programs for local schools, and an e-newsletter. Operations are funded entirely through donor contributions.

Product overview

Red Ridge is a nonprofit nature preserve organization operating as a single unified offering—the Red Ridge Nature Preserve—rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The preserve encompasses 133 acres of wooded land serving as an accredited arboretum and wildlife habitat, with plans to develop the historic R.J. Edwards home into a nature center. Educational programs for local schools, community nature walks, and the e-newsletter 'The Preserve' support the organization's mission of ecological restoration and conservation education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Red Ridge Nature Preserve A 133-acre accredited arboretum and wildlife preserve in Oklahoma City featuring historic preservation, conservation of old-growth post oak and blackjack oak stands, native wildflowers, and native grass species. The preserve offers controlled-access nature experiences and serves as a living laboratory for ecological research and conservation stewardship.
• Nature-Based Educational Programs Nature-focused educational programs for local public school students, featuring outdoor classrooms, nature walks, and environmental conservation learning experiences designed to connect the community to nature.
• The Preserve E-Newsletter

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Wiggin PropertiesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2023Assisted Kirkpatrick Family Fund with the property acquisition process for Red Ridge.
• Oklahoma City Community FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKirkpatrick Family Fund is an affiliated fund of the Oklahoma City Community Foundation, providing institutional backing and administrative support for the Red Ridge project.
• Oklahoma City Parks DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRed Ridge has engaged with city staff regarding the Deep Fork Bike Trail concept. The organization determined that a bike trail through the preserve would disturb the natural environment and cause harm to plants and wildlife. Staff are working on alternatives. Contact: [email protected].
• Community Partners for ProgrammingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partners will inform programming and education opportunities at Red Ridge. Partners will use the property for ecological research and help develop nature-focused educational programs for local public school students.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Holden Forests & Gardens: Northeast Ohio arboretum and botanical garden combining research, conservation, and visitor programming on a sizable natural property; directly comparable in arboretum accreditation and education-driven model.
• Tyler Arboretum: Historic Pennsylvania arboretum with old-growth tree stands, native plant collections, and nature-education programming; comparable in scale, arboretum accreditation, and educational mission.
• Mollie Spencer Farm: A sister Kirkpatrick Philanthropies property in Yukon, Oklahoma focused on historic preservation and community programming; directly comparable as a Kirkpatrick-operated nonprofit nature/historic site model.
• Dawes Arboretum: Accredited arboretum with tree collections, native habitat preservation, and educational programming in Ohio; closely comparable as an arboretum-led nonprofit focused on woody plant conservation and community engagement.
• Matthaei Botanical Gardens & Nichols Arboretum: University-affiliated botanical garden and arboretum featuring native plant collections and research/education programming; comparable as a research-and-education-focused arboretum with donor-supported operations.
• Myriad Botanical Gardens: Oklahoma City's flagship public botanical garden and green space; the most direct local comparable to Red Ridge as a downtown-adjacent nature experience with educational programming and donor cultivation.

Broad incumbents

• The Nature Conservancy (Oklahoma Chapter): National land conservation organization operating in Oklahoma through land acquisition, habitat protection, and donor-supported programming; comparable as a conservation nonprofit competing for philanthropic dollars in the same geography.
• Longwood Gardens: Large-scale, internationally recognized botanical garden with horticulture, education, and donor programs; comparable as a mature arboretum/botanical garden operating model with similar revenue mix.
• Oklahoma City Zoo: Established accredited zoo and botanical collection in Oklahoma City with conservation, education, and donor programming; comparable as a regional conservation institution competing for the same philanthropic and visitor base.
• Myriad Gardens Foundation / Scissortail Park: Major Oklahoma City public park and foundation-managed green space with programming and donor support; comparable as a high-traffic civic green-space alternative in the same metro.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/redridgenaturepreserve

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Red Ridge