The grand opening of Honor Ranch, a rescue ranch sponsored by American Legion District 21, will take place between 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15. Honor Ranch is located at 3974 CR 104, between Brownwood and Bangs.
Captain Paul Wade stated the goal of the ranch “to save a life, feed the hungry and provide a place of rescue.”
Wade added that an average of 28 veterans nationwide take their own life daily, and including four in Brownwood area in 2025.
“This place is the first of it’s kind,” Wade said. “This is set up so people can come out and it’s free for veterans and their families.”
Non-veterans are also welcome to attend the Honor Ranch, the only cost is the equipment, such as paint and supplies in the arts and craft area.
A Purple Heart recipient, Wade said on Jan. 15 Honor Ranch will fly a 1971 combat flag from his service time in Vietnam that features the blood of two soldiers.
The first area of the ranch that will open on Jan. 15 is the arts and crafts therapy area.
“The first portion of it, because there’s so much that we are working on, is with arts and crafts,” Wade said. “My wife is a trained art therapist, she worked with the Red Cross in Singapore, and she’s won awards at Stars of Texas.”
Equine and plant therapy will be the next additions to the ranch.
“We have 47 acres, and we’ve got the horses now and next month we’re looking at starting the equine therapy program,” Wade said. “I also want to work with people to provide an area that’s 60 foot wide by an acre and a half long, allotments, for gardens. We’re actually starting to work on a Texas garden. That’s a probably a month or two out, but if people wanted right now they could help us build it, put the dirt in. One of local garden company here gave us 84 cubic yards of top soil.”
There will also be a meditation garden on site, as well as nearly 40 acres of walking trails.
Wade added, “The classroom we’re using had been an old bakery. We have three stoves, all kinds of stuff out there if someone wanted to come out there and cook for their family and have a family outing. It’s all in there.”
Wade is the American Legion District 21st representative for the Veterans Assistance and Rehabilitation group.
“With the 21st district of the American Legion, that’s 28 posts, and with the state league we have more than 400 posts,” Wade said. “The three American Legion posts in the Brownwood are represented by almost 300 members, and there’s 65,000 members statewide. I’m 100 percent disabled, my wife and I are both 78, so we’re not in a great hurry to do everything these days, so we need some help.”
Kohler and The Home Depot have already offered assistance.
“There’s people willing to help,” Wade said. “Kohler has provided us with the equipment for a bathroom that we already have in the workshop. The Home Depot provided us a 4 foot by 3 foot solid metal sign that says Honor Ranch. The community seems to be very interested.”
Wade added that since Honor Ranch is under the American League banner, everything contributed to it is 501c3.
Honor Ranch is also currently seeking technical support.
“We don’t have a website yet and I’m not the greatest at creating one,” Wade said. “If there’s anyone that wants to work with us to make a website, that would be great.”
For more information, contact Wade at 512-560-0194.