Candlelight Ranch

Name

Candlelight Ranch

Legal name

Candlelight Ranch

Website

https://candlelightranch.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Therapeutic Recreation and Outdoor Youth Services

NAICS

RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Recreation Campgrounds (Amenities/Activities Focus) (THAMAJAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wilderness & Backcountry Lodges (Remote/Off-Grid) (THAGAIAB), Conservation & Research Lodges (Citizen Science, Field Stations with Guests) (THAAAHAJ)

Keywords

• Nature-based therapy
• Therapeutic recreation
• Outdoor youth programs
• Equine-assisted learning
• Nonprofit ranch services

Headquarters

HQ city

Marble Falls

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Individual Contributions: Individual donors contribute to support programs for underserved children, military families, and individuals with disabilities.
2. Corporate and Foundation Grants: Grant funding from foundations and corporate sponsors to support specific programs and operations.
3. Special Events: Annual Light a Path gala and other fundraising events that raised over $250,000 in 2021.
4. Corporate Retreats and Facility Rentals: Ranch facilities available for corporate retreats and team-building events for groups up to 40 people. Revenue supports mission-based programs.
5. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships for Military Family Days, events, and programs from companies like Garrison Brother's Distillery and Paralyzed Veterans of America.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Candlelight Ranch operates a 41-acre nonprofit nature-based therapy and educational facility on Lake Travis in the Texas Hill Country, delivering customized experiential programming such as challenge courses, equine-assisted learning, kayaking, archery, and overnight camping. Its core services are organized into program lines — Children in Nature, Families in Nature, Military Families in Nature, Outdoor Explorers for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and seasonal foster-care summer camps — and the ranch also rents its facilities for corporate retreats and team-building events. Programs are primarily free or low-cost for participants and are funded through donations, grants, sponsorships, and special events.

Product overview

Candlelight Ranch offers a portfolio of nature-based therapeutic and educational programs for children and families of all abilities. The core programs include Children in Nature, Families in Nature, Military Families in Nature, and Outdoor Explorers for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Seasonal offerings include Camp Dreamcatcher for foster children, Camp Glimmer for underserved youth, and the COMPASS Project for teens aging out of foster care. The ranch provides facilities and activities including a High Ropes Challenge Course with zip lines, Canyon Crawl bridge, equine program, kayaking/canoeing, archery, fishing, and overnight treehouse camping. The organization also hosts corporate retreats and team-building events, and holds an annual Light a Path fundraising gala.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,700 children served annually from seven counties
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• Stephen Braggs Youth Foundation (SBYF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Founded by former NFL cornerback Stephen Braggs, SBYF partnered with Candlelight Ranch in fall 2025 to launch the COMPASS Project providing monthly weekend retreats for teens aging out of foster care. Retrets focus on mentorship, life-skills learning, and connection with nature through immersive 3-day, 2-night experiences.
• UT Austin SPARK ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Part of UT's Steve Hicks School of Social Work, SPARK supports youth with foster care experience through mentorship, independent living skills, and higher-education pathways. Connects youth to SBYF's retreat program at Candlelight Ranch.
• A Glimmer of Hope FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Camp Glimmer providing 7+ weeks of summer camp for underprivileged youth. Glimmer covers program costs enabling Austin-area nonprofit partners to bring campers to ranch.
• Phoenix CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongtime partner providing Camp Phoenix therapeutic day and overnight sessions with equine therapy, challenge course activities, art therapy, yoga, and team building for campers.
• Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife RefugecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeighbor and partner providing interactive conservation education programs including bird identification, endangered species lessons, and natural science activities for campers throughout summer.
• Upper Highland Lakes Nature CentersecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides nature education programs including sensory touch tables, backyard bass, and Native American cultural programs for Military and Family Days.
• Highland Lakes Master NaturalistscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer chapter providing experiential activities including bird ID, edible and medicinal plant identification, and Native American history programs for Camp Dreamcatcher and family programs.
• Austin AngelscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity-based organization providing resources for foster and adopted families. Partners bring families to Family Adventure Days through Project HEAL.
• Todos Juntos Learning CentersecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization connecting families to Candlelight Ranch programs through Family Adventure Days.
• Operation Ex-FillsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization connecting military families to Candlelight Ranch Family Adventure Days.
• Round Rock ISDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Outdoor Explorers program serving Special Education VISTA Life Skills classrooms. Students ages 18-22 participate in weekly nature activities at local parks.
• Lago Vista ISDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool district partner for Outdoor Explorers program serving special education students through school-based programming.
• UR Our HopecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit serving individuals and families with diagnosed and rare genetic disorders. Partners for Family Adventure Days providing respite and outdoor experiences.
• Young Men's Service League (YMSL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple chapters (Four Points, Hill Country) provide volunteers, funding, and Ultimate Gift projects including accessible GaGa pit construction and ranch beautification.
• National Charity League (NCL)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer organization supporting programs and events including summer camp activities and family programming.
• Lago Vista Women's ClubsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides volunteer support including cooking homemade meals for military families during Family Days.
• The Arc of the CapitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Outdoor Explorers community-based program serving adults with developmental disabilities, and co-host of Transition Fair for I/DD community.
• Colorado River Land TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn October 2021, Barr family placed conservation easement on 120 acres protecting the property in perpetuity. CRLT monitors and ensures protection of natural features.
• Charles SchwabsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate volunteers from Charles Schwab participate in annual Volunteer Week, providing ranch beautification, invasive species removal, and property maintenance projects.
• Nobility in ActionsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivers wholistic programming teaching healthy eating and lifestyle choices through experiential cooking workshops for families and Camp Dreamcatcher youth.
• Koopers WhiskeyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLight a Path 2026 event donor providing auction item donation.
• Garrison Brothers DistilleryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLight a Path 2026 culinary/beverage partner and event donor.
• Chet Garner (The Daytripper)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerHost of Light a Path 2026 event, bringing community and corporate partners together for annual fundraising gala.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Camp Fire: National youth-development nonprofit providing out-of-school-time, camp, and outdoor education programming. Shares Candlelight Ranch's mix of camp-based outdoor programming, underserved-youth focus, and donor-plus-earned-revenue funding model.
• YMCA of Austin: Local YMCA chapter operating summer camps, outdoor programs, and youth services in the Austin region. New ED Joel Peal previously served in YMCA executive roles, and the organizations share youth-development, camp, and outdoor-recreation programming overlap in the same Central Texas geography.
• SeriousFun Children's Network: Global umbrella network of 30+ member camps serving children with serious illnesses and their families through recreational experiences. Candlelight Ranch's therapeutic-recreation mission for underserved populations is structurally analogous to SeriousFun member camps, even though the served populations differ.
• Outward Bound USA: National nonprofit providing outdoor experiential education and challenge-course programming for youth and adults. Comparable to Candlelight Ranch in its use of high ropes, rock climbing, and wilderness activities, though with broader populations and a tuition-based model alongside scholarships.

Direct peers

• Victory Junction: North Carolina-based camp founded in memory of Adam Petty, serving children with chronic medical conditions and serious illnesses. Comparable in mission (therapeutic recreation for underserved children), programming mix (challenge courses, equine, water activities), and donor-dependent nonprofit funding model.
• Roundup River Ranch: Colorado-based camp providing free, medically-supported camp experiences for children with serious illnesses and their families. Operates with analogous donor-and-grant revenue mix, year-round programming, and challenge-course/equine facility infrastructure.
• The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp: Founded by Paul Newman, this Connecticut-based residential camp serves children with serious illnesses and their families through therapeutic recreation programming. Operates as a year-round nonprofit camp with similar donor-and-grant funding model and challenge-course-based activities.
• Camp Boggy Creek: Florida-based SeriousFun-affiliated residential camp serving children with chronic medical conditions. Operates with similar challenge-course, equestrian, and water-based programming for medically and economically vulnerable children, supported by donations, grants, and signature galas.
• NatureBridge: National nonprofit operating residential nature-education programs at multiple national park sites, serving school groups and underserved youth. Comparable to Candlelight Ranch's combination of conservation-easement-protected sites, nature-based curriculum, and partnerships with school districts and conservation organizations.
• Double H Ranch: New York-based residential camp serving children with serious illnesses and their families. Matches Candlelight Ranch's combination of residential programming, adaptive activities, and a donor-funded nonprofit operating model with year-round programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/candlelightranch
• Facebookfacebook.com/CandlelightRanch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/candlelight-ranch
• Instagraminstagram.com/candlelightranch

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Candlelight Ranch