Big Canyon Ranch, Inc.
Big Canyon Ranch, Inc. is a 501c3 nonprofit Christian camp and retreat center in Wanship, Utah, offering lodging (138+ beds), meeting spaces, recreation, and faith-based programs to church youth groups, college groups, and men's and women's retreats in Utah.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersWanship, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Big Canyon Ranch, Inc. does
Big Canyon Ranch, Inc. operates a Christian camp and retreat center at 175 Big Canyon Lane, Wanship, Utah, registered as a 501c3 tax-exempt nonprofit organization. The facility combines overnight lodging in a 46-bed Aspen Lodge and seven year-round sleeping yurts with a combined 92 beds (each equipped with inside bathrooms and thermostatically controlled heat) with meeting and event infrastructure that includes a 200-seat Event Barn, a 75-seat Cloudbreak Meeting Yurt, and an outdoor campfire-circle venue called The Grove. Recreational programming spans water sports on a private one-acre lake, paintball, archery, a climbing wall, a 220-foot slip-n-slide, a giant swing, sledding, skeet shooting, and field games, supplemented by an add-on horseback trail-ride partnership with Z Cross Ranch.
The organization sells week-long youth summer camps, college retreats, men's and women's retreats, and general church and organizational retreats, with a group minimum of 80 guests for exclusive facility use during summer and most weekends. Booking is direct-to-consumer via a website inquiry form, phone reservations, and email; pricing for full retreat packages is not publicly disclosed, though individual activities are priced (e.g., $62 youth and $72 adult trail rides). The business is supplemented by tax-deductible donations and estate-planning contributions, and the organization is in the early stages of its first major capital campaign to build a new 387-seat dining hall that will free the Event Barn for meetings and worship.
Operationally, Big Canyon is a small organization with 1-10 employees, led by Executive Director Brian Zwahlen, with a lean core staff covering guest services, administration/HR/accounting, and food service, augmented by seasonal summer Adventure Team staff. Marketing relies on the company's website, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter/X presence, plus word-of-mouth referrals from church and ministry networks. There is no proprietary technology platform, no disclosed funding rounds, no M&A activity, and the geographic footprint is intentionally limited to Utah, where the organization states it addresses an underserved market for Christian camp facilities.
Big Canyon Ranch, Inc. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Big Canyon Ranch, Inc.
- Legal name
- Big Canyon
- Website
- https://bigcanyon.org
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Big Canyon Ranch, Inc. is a 501c3 nonprofit Christian camp and retreat center in Wanship, Utah, offering lodging (138+ beds), meeting spaces, recreation, and faith-based programs to church youth groups, college groups, and men's and women's retreats in Utah.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Big Canyon Ranch, Inc. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Religious Camp and Retreat Services
- NAICS
- Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)
- SIC
- Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mountain & Alpine Lodges (THAGAIAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Adventure Base Camps (Trek/Climb/Expedition Camps) (THAGAOAG), Wilderness & Backcountry Lodges (Remote/Off-Grid) (THAGAIAB)
Keywords
Where Big Canyon Ranch, Inc. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wanship
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Big Canyon Ranch, Inc. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Camp and Retreat Services: Fees charged for overnight camp and retreat experiences including lodging, meeting spaces, activities, and meals. Group minimums of 80 total guests for exclusive use of camp during summer and most weekends.
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501c3 organization, Big Canyon accepts tax-deductible donations. Donations can be made via mail or through their website. The organization also participates in estate planning.
- Trail Ride Partnership Revenue: In collaboration with Z Cross Ranch, Big Canyon offers trail rides for select groups at discounted rates ($62 youth, $72 adult) compared to Z Cross Ranch's standard $125 pricing.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Trail ride activity for youth campers |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Trail ride activity for adult guests |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Food Service Director compensation |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Housekeeping part-time compensation |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Adventure Team summer staff compensation |
| Other | Monthly | Facilities & Grounds Manager full-time salary |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Big Canyon Ranch, Inc. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Big Canyon Ranch operates a Christian camp and retreat center that provides overnight lodging, meeting and event spaces, meal service, programmed spiritual experiences, and recreational activities for church and organizational groups. Core packages combine accommodation (Aspen Lodge and yurt village), meeting facilities (Event Barn, Cloudbreak Meeting Yurt, The Grove), catering, and adventure recreation into a single group retreat experience. The center primarily targets youth groups, college groups, men's and women's retreats, and churches seeking faith-based retreat programming.
Product overview
Big Canyon Ranch, Inc. operates a Christian camp and retreat center in Utah, offering a unified hospitality experience centered on faith-based programs and outdoor adventure. The core offering combines lodging accommodations (Aspen Lodge with 46 beds and Yurt Village with 92 beds), versatile meeting and event spaces (Event Barn, Cloudbreak Meeting Yurt, and outdoor venues), diverse recreational activities (lake activities, climbing wall, archery, paintball, and more), and structured summer camp programs. Add-on services include horseback trail rides (via Z Cross Ranch partnership) and camp scholarships. The facility specializes in youth, college, and adult group retreats with full-service catering and event coordination.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Aspen Lodge A 46-bed mountain lodge with a lounge featuring a wood-burning fireplace, kitchenette, 7 spacious bedrooms (6 with bunk beds and a queen bed, one with 2 bunks and a queen bed), and 4 bathrooms serving 2 bedrooms each with solid surface counters, slate tile floors, and showers. Designed as group lodging for retreat guests.
- Yurt Village Seven year-round heated sleeping yurts with a total of 92 beds, each equipped with showers, sinks, toilets, cozy beds, and thermostatically controlled heat. Functions as group lodging that supplements the Aspen Lodge for larger retreats.
- Event Barn Versatile event space accommodating up to 200 people in theater-style seating and 150 for banquets, equipped with light, video, and sound systems. Used for group rallies, worship services, and indoor activities.
- Cloudbreak Meeting Yurt Flexible-use meeting space in the yurt village hosting up to 75 people, with carpet, flat-screen TV with internet service, sound system, A/C, heat, and panoramic views. Functions as a meeting space, leaders' lounge, or breakout area.
- The Grove Outdoor Venue Outdoor campfire circle meeting area below the yurt village with a gas fire pit, stage, lighting, and a simple sound system; available weather permitting.
- Recreation Activities Year-round and seasonal on-site activities including beach volleyball, basketball court, private 1-acre lake with kayaks and paddleboards, 220-foot slip-n-slide, giant swing, paintball, climbing wall, archery, 3-mile cross hike, sledding, field games, skeet shooting, artificial turf play field, frisbee golf, ga ga ball, foosball/carpetball/air hockey/ping pong game tent, and corn hole.
- Horseback Trail Rides Trail rides offered in collaboration with Z Cross Ranch during afternoon free time for select groups, priced at $62 for youth campers and $72 for adult guests (18+). No previous horseback experience required; first-come, first-served.
- Youth and Family Summer Camp Programs Week-long summer camp experiences designed to create life-changing encounters with Jesus Christ through dynamic activities, challenging adventures, thought-provoking discussions, caring counselors, and spiritual restoration opportunities. Targeted at youth and family groups.
- Retreat and Group Event Services End-to-end camp and retreat services for youth groups, college groups, and men's and women's retreats, including event planning assistance, food service, and facility use. Group minimums of 80 total guests for exclusive camp use during summer and most weekends.
- Campership Financial Assistance Financial assistance program providing discounted camp rates for individuals who demonstrate financial need, with requests submitted through group or church leaders by May 1 each year.
Quantifiable outcome
- Designed to seat 387 campers inside and 114 outside in new dining hall
Companies that use Big Canyon Ranch, Inc.
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Big Canyon Ranch, Inc. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Big Canyon Ranch, Inc. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Z Cross RanchcoreBig Canyon partners with Z Cross Ranch to offer horseback trail rides during afternoon free time for select groups. This collaboration provides guests with an authentic western experience to explore the larger scenic Big Canyon property. A limited number of spots are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Big Canyon guests receive an exclusive discount of approximately 50% off the standard Z Cross Ranch pricing of $125.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Big Canyon Ranch, Inc. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Young Life: Large faith-based youth organization operating multiple camps and retreat properties across the U.S. Overlaps with Big Canyon's youth retreat and Christian camp programming as a broader incumbent in the same category.
Direct peers
- Pine Cove: Christian summer camp and retreat operator offering overnight camp experiences and family/church retreats. Closely matches Big Canyon's combination of lodging, programmed activities, and church/youth group targeting.
- T Bar M Camps: Christian summer camp and retreat facility serving youth groups, churches, and families with lodging, meeting spaces, and programmed activities. Comparable faith-based group retreat and camp operation.
- Forest Home: Christian camp and retreat center offering youth, family, and group retreats with lodging, meeting facilities, and recreation. Mirrors Big Canyon's faith-based overnight retreat and group event positioning.
- Hume Lake: Christian camp and conference center with overnight lodging, meeting spaces, and youth/retreat programming. Comparable in facility mix (lodges, meeting rooms, recreation) and faith-based group retreat model.
- Kanakuk Ministries: Faith-based summer camp operator running multi-week Christian youth camps with lodging and activity programming. Directly comparable to Big Canyon's Christian youth camp focus, retreat model, and group-booking GTM.
Regional players
- Lutherhaven Ministries: Faith-based camp and retreat center in the inland Northwest (Idaho) serving youth groups and church retreats with lodging and activities. Comparable retreat/Christian camp model but operates in a different region from Big Canyon.
- Camp Cedar: Faith-based overnight camp experience in the Midwest offering lodging, recreation, and youth programs. Compares on Christian overnight camp and group retreat model, though in a different geography.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Big Canyon Ranch, Inc. social profiles
Digital presenceBig Canyon Ranch, Inc. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Big Canyon Ranch, Inc. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Big Canyon Ranch, Inc. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Big Canyon Ranch, Inc. M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Big Canyon Ranch, Inc.
What does Big Canyon Ranch, Inc. do?
Big Canyon Ranch operates a Christian camp and retreat center that provides overnight lodging, meeting and event spaces, meal service, programmed spiritual experiences, and recreational activities for church and organizational groups. Core packages combine accommodation (Aspen Lodge and yurt village), meeting facilities (Event Barn, Cloudbreak Meeting Yurt, The Grove), catering, and adventure recreation into a single group retreat experience. The center primarily targets youth groups, college groups, men's and women's retreats, and churches seeking faith-based retreat programming.
Is Big Canyon Ranch, Inc. a public or private company?
Big Canyon Ranch, Inc. is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Big Canyon Ranch, Inc. founded?
Big Canyon Ranch, Inc. was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Big Canyon Ranch, Inc. based?
Big Canyon Ranch, Inc. is headquartered in Wanship, United States, in the North America region.
How does Big Canyon Ranch, Inc. make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Camp and Retreat Services are the primary driver. The others are donations and Charitable Contributions and trail Ride Partnership Revenue.
Who are Big Canyon Ranch, Inc.'s main competitors?
Young Life is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Pine Cove, T Bar M Camps, Forest Home, Hume Lake and Kanakuk Ministries. Regional players are Lutherhaven Ministries and Camp Cedar.
Does Big Canyon Ranch, Inc. have an API?
No public API is recorded for Big Canyon Ranch, Inc..
What industry is Big Canyon Ranch, Inc. in?
Big Canyon Ranch, Inc.'s product category is Religious Camp and Retreat Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAGAIAE, Mountain & Alpine Lodges, with a secondary code of THAGAOAG, Adventure Base Camps (Trek/Climb/Expedition Camps). Its NAICS code is 721214 and its SIC code is 7000.