LIVING WATERS RANCH INC

What LIVING WATERS RANCH INC does

Living Waters Ranch Inc is a private, non-denominational Christian retreat center operated under the Firstfruits Foundation on a 142-acre property along Garden Creek in Challis, Idaho. Founded in 1990 by Christopher and Debbie James as a "labor of love" fulfilling the Foundation's purpose of providing a meeting and conference center for Kingdom purposes, the ranch functions as a full-service destination for groups seeking seclusion, spiritual focus, and outdoor recreation in a mountain setting approximately four miles west of US 93.

The property offers a broad accommodation portfolio anchored by the School of Ministry building (constructed in 2015) and Celebration Hall. Lodging ranges from $15 per person bunkhouses (Shiloh Lodge, Appaloosa, Eagle's Nest, Bay Horse, Ponderosa), $70 motel rooms, and $35 RV/tent sites to $85 per-room mini lodges (Hallelujah and Hosanna, 16 guests across 8 bedrooms), mid-range queen-bed rooms at $145, and premium chalets and suites at $185-$195 per night. Event infrastructure centers on the 5,400 sq ft Celebration Hall sanctuary (up to 350 guests, $250 daily facility fee) with commercial kitchen, sound system, and a 630 sq ft private meeting room, supplemented by the 800 sq ft School of Ministry meeting room ($100 daily, up to 35 guests) and the 1,800 sq ft Shiloh Lodge meeting room (up to 50 guests). Recreation includes the Lion's Den game room (ping pong, air hockey, foosball), outdoor sports fields, fire pits, a rock amphitheater, and coordinated off-site adventures (hot springs, golf, horse trail rides, historic tours).

The business model is direct-to-consumer, pay-as-you-go unit pricing across lodging tiers, event facility fees, and group dining for parties of 25 or more prepared in commercial kitchens. Distribution is entirely in-house via the livingwatersranch.org website and phone/email bookings, supplemented by a post-stay guest survey that feeds word-of-mouth referrals. Customer segments are diversified across couples planning destination weddings, families holding reunions or vacations, organizations hosting corporate and government retreats, and church or youth groups running camps and conferences. There is no public ticker, no funding history, and no external investment; the operation is sustained as a non-profit ministry entity under the Foundation's ownership.

Name

LIVING WATERS RANCH INC

Legal name

Living Waters Ranch

Website

https://livingwatersranch.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Living Waters Ranch Inc is a non-denominational Christian retreat center in Challis, Idaho, operating a 142-acre property with lodging, event venues, and dining serving weddings, families, organizations, and church and youth groups via direct bookings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hospitality Retreat Center

NAICS

Accommodation (721), Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Campgrounds (721211)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Hotels & Motels (7011)

akta.pro primary industry

Nature Lodges & Eco-Resorts (THAAAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Mountain & Wilderness Lodges (THAAAHAE)

Keywords

• Retreat center lodging
• Destination wedding venue
• Conference meeting facilities
• Group accommodation rentals
• Youth camp retreats

Headquarters

HQ city

Challis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Lodging and Accommodations: The ranch generates revenue through various lodging options including suites, mini lodges, bunkhouses, chalets, motels, and RV/tent sites. Pricing varies by accommodation type and season, with nightly rates ranging from $15 per person for bunkhouses to $195 for suites.
2. Event Venue Rental: Celebration Hall and meeting facilities are rented for weddings, conferences, and events. Revenue includes facility rental fees ($250 daily for Celebration Hall, $100 daily for School of Ministry Meeting Room) and includes access to commercial kitchens and technical equipment.
3. Group Dining Services: Catering services for groups of 25 or more guests prepared in commercial kitchens. Groups with dietary restrictions are accommodated when communicated in advance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Living Waters Ranch operates a non-denominational Christian retreat center on 142 acres in Challis, Idaho, selling overnight lodging, event venue rentals, group dining, and recreation to families, couples, churches, youth groups, and organizations. The property provides a range of accommodations (suites, chalets, mini lodges, bunkhouses, motels, RV/tent sites), Celebration Hall (350-capacity event venue), meeting rooms, commercial kitchen catering, and on-site recreation.

Product overview

Living Waters Ranch is a non-denominational Christian conference and retreat center offering diverse lodging and event facilities on 142 acres along Garden Creek in Challis, ID. The property features accommodations including School of Ministry rooms (Suites, 1 Queen Bed, 2 Queen Beds), Mini Lodges (Hallelujah and Hosanna), multiple Bunkhouses (Shiloh Lodge, Appaloosa, Eagle's Nest, Bay Horse, Ponderosa), Chalets (Garden Creek Luxuries, Blue Spruce variants, Evergreen variants, White Pine), Motels (Pioneer, White Cloud, Sawtooth), and RV/Tent Sites. Event venues include Celebration Hall (up to 350 guests), Meeting Facilities (Shiloh Lodge and School of Ministry meeting rooms), Wedding Venue, Family Retreats, and Youth Camps. Dining services accommodate groups of 25+, while recreation includes the Lion's Den game room, outdoor activities, and coordination for off-site adventures. The ranch serves various group types including weddings, conferences, family reunions, youth camps, and church groups.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• School of Ministry Lodging Lodging structure built in 2015 featuring suites, queen-bed rooms, and a bunkhouse with meeting room facilities, overlooking Garden Creek with mountain views. Accommodates individual guests and small groups seeking premium on-site lodging.
• Mini Lodges (Hallelujah & Hosanna) Large family lodges each sleeping up to 16 guests with 8 bedrooms, 8 in-suite bathrooms, full kitchens, living areas with fireplaces, and outdoor decks with grills. Minimum 4 rooms required per booking. Priced at $85 per room per night.
• Bunkhouses (Shiloh Lodge, Appaloosa, Eagle's Nest, Bay Horse, Ponderosa) Group accommodation bunkhouses ranging from 15 to 32 guests with shower facilities, decks overlooking creek, and meeting rooms. Ponderosa includes outhouse with proximity to shower house. Budget-friendly lodging at $15 per person per night (increasing to $20 in 2026).
• Chalets (Garden Creek Luxuries, Blue Spruce, Blue Spruce Family, Evergreen, Evergreen Family, White Pine) Luxury chalet rentals with mountain views, decks, and full amenities including kitchens, living rooms, and gas fireplaces. Accommodations range from 2 bedrooms to units sleeping up to 9 guests. White Pine priced at $185 per night; Garden Creek Luxuries feature waterfront access.
• Motels (Pioneer, White Cloud, Sawtooth) Budget-friendly motel rooms with 2 twin beds, private baths, linens provided, and covered decks overlooking nearby creek with mountain scenery. Priced at $70 per night, 150 sq ft.
• RV & Tent Sites Creek-side campsites with mature quaking aspens, fire pits, firewood supplied, outdoor bathrooms, and options for full hook-ups or tent camping. RV full hook-ups at $35 per night (2 guests); RV no hook-ups at $30 per night; tent sites at $15 per night; $5 per additional guest.
• Celebration Hall Event Venue 5,400 sq ft sanctuary accommodating up to 350 people with state-of-the-art sound system, technical operators, elegant lighting, chandeliers, commercial kitchen, and 630 sq ft private meeting room for 20-25 guests. Daily facility fee of $250. Used for weddings, conferences, and large gatherings.
• Meeting Facilities Conference and meeting spaces including the Shiloh Lodge meeting room (up to 50 guests, 1,800 sq ft) and the School of Ministry meeting room (up to 35 guests, 800 sq ft) with TV/projector and wireless internet. School of Ministry Meeting Room daily fee is $100.
• Wedding Venue Wedding and reception venue on the 142-acre property accommodating up to 300 guests with commercial kitchen, sound system, elegant lighting, and picturesque mountain scenery for wedding photography.
• Family Retreats Family reunion packages accommodating up to 300 people with prepared meals in commercial kitchen, experienced kitchen personnel, and well-maintained facilities on the 142-acre property.
• Youth Camps Youth camp hosting for over fifteen years featuring competitive lodging and food prices, outdoor activities including slip-n-slides, sanctuary for worship, rock amphitheater, and creek-side fire pits.
• Group Dining Services Group dining services for 25+ guests prepared in commercial kitchens at Shiloh Lodge or Celebration Hall, with accommodation for special dietary needs when communicated in advance.
• On-Site Recreation Indoor game room (Lion's Den) with ping pong, air hockey, foosball; outdoor facilities including basketball, volleyball, frisbee golf, Gaga ball, horseshoe pits, swing set, sports fields, and fire pits with firewood provided.
• Off-Site Activity Coordination Coordination for nearby activities including Challis Golf Course, Hot Springs, Salmon Scenic Run, Idaho Adventures, 4-wheeling, historic mining town tours, and horse trail rides provided by local operators Travis and Brenda Bullock.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Firstfruits FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirstfruits Foundation is the parent organization of Living Waters Ranch. Conceived in 1986, its prime purpose is to promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ by assisting, encouraging, and empowering various faithful ministries. The foundation established Living Waters Ranch as a meeting and conference center for Kingdom purposes.
• Travis and Brenda BullockminorOthersLocal operators providing horse trail rides. Contact available through the ranch at (208) 833-7018. Part of the off-site activity offerings for guests seeking equestrian experiences in the Challis area.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Pine Cove Camps: Pine Cove runs Christian summer camps and family camps in Texas with cabin lodging, group dining, and waterfront/outdoor recreation. Comparable to Living Waters Ranch in faith-based positioning, multi-tier cabin lodging, and family retreat programming on a single large property.
• Sky Ranch Christian Camp: Sky Ranch operates Christian summer camps and retreat facilities in Texas and Colorado with cabin lodging, dining halls, and recreation. Comparable to Living Waters Ranch in faith-based mission, multi-tier cabin lodging, and family/youth retreat programming.
• Ridgecrest Conference Center: Ridgecrest is a Christian LifeWay conference center in the Blue Ridge Mountains with lodging, dining, meeting facilities, and event hosting. Directly comparable to Living Waters Ranch as a non-denominational Christian conference/retreat center with overnight accommodations and meeting venues.
• Kanakuk Kamps: Kanakuk operates Christian summer youth camps in the Ozarks with on-site lodging, dining, and recreation programming. Directly comparable to Living Waters Ranch in faith-based mission, multi-week youth camp operations, bundled lodging-plus-meals model, and on-property recreation infrastructure.
• Glorieta Adventure Camps: Glorieta Adventure Camps is a Christian adventure camp in New Mexico offering lodging, group dining, ziplines, and event hosting. Comparable to Living Waters Ranch in faith-based mission, multi-tier lodging, on-site recreation, and conference/retreat programming.
• Young Life: Young Life operates Christian summer camps (e.g., Washington Family Ranch, Malibu) with cabin lodging, dining halls, and recreational facilities. Comparable to Living Waters Ranch as a faith-based youth camp/retreat operator with multi-cabin properties, group meals, and large event spaces.
• WinShape Foundation: WinShape Foundation operates Christian camps and retreat centers (e.g., WinShape Retreat) founded by Chick-fil-A, with lodging, dining, and meeting facilities. Comparable to Living Waters Ranch as a faith-based nonprofit operating retreats with lodging and event infrastructure.
• Sandy Cove Ministries: Sandy Cove Ministries is a non-denominational Christian conference and retreat center on the Chesapeake Bay with lodging, dining, meeting spaces, and recreation. Comparable to Living Waters Ranch as a faith-based, single-property conference/retreat center with overnight accommodations and event hosting.

Broad incumbents

• KOA (Kampgrounds of America): KOA is the largest U.S. franchised network of campgrounds and RV parks with standardized sites, hook-ups, and amenities. Comparable to Living Waters Ranch's RV and tent sites segment, though KOA is a broad national franchise versus the ranch's single property.

Emerging players

• Thousand Trails (RV/Campground Network): Thousand Trails operates a network of RV campgrounds and preserves across the U.S. Comparable to Living Waters Ranch specifically in its RV and tent site offerings ($30-$35/night RV sites) and creek-side outdoor camping experience.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/living-waters-ranch-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 LIVING WATERS RANCH INC