Restoring Frontier: The Next Chapter
In the rugged beauty of Colorado's wilderness lies a place where heaven and earth have been meeting for over seven decades. It’s a place where countless young lives have been transformed, where laughter echoes through mountain valleys, and where the simple message of God's love has found its way into more than one million hearts. That place is Frontier Ranch, and it's about to write its next chapter.
From Elite Retreat to Sacred Ground
The story of Frontier Ranch reads like something out of a classic American novel. What we now know as this sacred space began as the Round-Up Lodge for Boys, an exclusive summer retreat for society's elite. For decades, it served as a playground for the privileged, tucked away in Colorado's breathtaking landscape.
But God had bigger plans.
In August 1950, Young Life founder Jim Rayburn set foot on the property and felt something extraordinary. As he walked the grounds, he was moved to pray—not just for a nice vacation spot, but for this land to become part of Young Life's growing ministry. Remarkably, at that very same time, two Young Life work crew members, Cy Burress and Jerry Kirk, were independently lifting up prayers for the exact same vision. Talk about divine alignment!
What happened next was nothing short of miraculous. The property initially carried a hefty $500,000 price tag - a fortune in 1950. But through a series of negotiations that can only be described as providential, the price dropped to $350,000, then to $250,000. On March 20, 1951, Young Life finalized the purchase of what would soon become Frontier Ranch.
A Legacy Seven Decades in the Making
Just four months after that historic purchase, the first excited campers arrived at the newly christened Frontier Ranch in July 1951. And what a journey it's been since then! Over the course of 70 incredible years, Frontier Ranch hosted more than one million guests, each one carrying home memories, friendships, and often, a life-changing encounter with Jesus.
As Jeff Chesemore, a 34-year staff veteran who met Jesus at Frontier in July 1983, beautifully puts it: "Frontier Ranch is one of God's 'thin places' where heaven and earth meet, a sacred space where he changes lives for eternity. Lives like mine."
Whether it was around a crackling campfire, during a conversation on a mountain trail, or in the quiet moments of reflection overlooking Colorado's majestic peaks, Frontier Ranch became the backdrop for countless "aha" moments with God.
The Unexpected Pause
Then came 2020, and with it, challenges that nobody could have predicted. In response to the decline in camping ministry and business demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Young Life made the strategic decision to scale back operations at Frontier Ranch. For the first time in seven decades, the sounds of laughter and late-night conversations began to fade from the mountain air.
Even as operations scaled back, the wheels were already turning on something bigger, something better, something that would ensure Frontier Ranch could serve future generations for decades to come.
The Next Frontier: A Campaign of Renewal
Enter "The Next Frontier," our campaign to restore and renew Frontier Ranch. This isn't just about fixing what's broken; it's about reimagining what's possible. The infrastructure needs that accumulated over seven decades of ministry are being addressed head-on, with engineering, planning, and permitting processes already underway.
This isn't just maintenance, it's ministry preparation. Every dollar raised, every plan approved, every beam restored is an investment in the next generations of young people who will walk these trails, share these meals, and encounter the same God who has been moving at Frontier for over 70 years.
Building Tomorrow's Memories Today
The vision driving the Restore Frontier campaign is both ambitious and deeply personal. Restoring and renewing Frontier Ranch so the next generations can know Him. It's about ensuring that the magic that has happened here for seven decades doesn't end with the current generation.
Imagine: somewhere out there is a teenager who doesn't know it yet, but their life is about to change at Frontier Ranch. Maybe it will be their first time away from home, their first real conversation about faith, or their first glimpse of how big and beautiful God's love really is. The Restore Frontier campaign is making sure that teen—and thousands like them—will have the same opportunity that over one million guests have had before them.
The Adventure Continues
As fundraising and restoration efforts continue to gain momentum, there's an electric sense of anticipation in the air. One thing is crystal clear: Frontier Ranch's best days aren't behind it—they're ahead of it.
The same God who moved Jim Rayburn to pray for this property in 1950, who orchestrated its miraculous purchase in 1951, and who has been faithfully changing lives here for 70 years is still at work. The Next Frontier isn't just about restoring buildings and updating infrastructure, it's about restoring hope, renewing purpose, and ensuring that this sacred space continues to be a place where heaven and earth meet.
For those who have walked these paths, slept in these cabins, and felt God's presence in these mountains, the Restore Frontier campaign represents something deeply personal. And for those who have yet to experience the magic of Frontier Ranch, it represents endless possibilities.
Welcome to the Next Frontier. The adventure is just beginning.
Join us as we kick off our journey to restore and renew Frontier Ranch with a virtual event October 2 to unveil the vision, remember inspiring stories, and share how you can help preserve the legacy. Join us for this virtual event (open to all) on OCTOBER 2, 2025.