The Hope Ranch

In the winter of 2005, Mark Horrocks made a trip to Memphis to look at a property owned by Alan and Katherine Barnhart. He had been directed to the property by a board member and close friend of the Barnharts. When Mark entered the driveway of the place, he was immediately moved by the beauty and space of the dwelling, out buildings and land that was available. Second only was his immediate recognition that the property must be worth significantly more than he had to offer. After Mark walked the property and looked at the home, the Barnharts quickly contacted him and offered to work alongside Habitat for Hope for the ministry to acquire the property. Habitat for Hope is purchasing the property in stages, while it is secured by Mark and Mylissa Horrocks.

The 48 acre property of rolling hills is landscaped beautifully with many species of trees and plants. There are wooded trails throughout the land for quiet walks and horseback riding. The main house is 4000 square feet and three stories. The top floor of the home has a bath and 2 guest rooms that sleep a total of 5, and the middle floor houses Mark, Mylissa and their family, and holds main gathering and cooking areas. The bottom floor of the home is a 1000 square foot fully furnished apartment that can house a family of 6.
Mark and Mylissa live in the home as house parents and pay rent to Habitat for Hope. The rest of the home is provided for immediate and extended family members of sick children cost-free.
Also on the property is a 2500 square foot metal barn affectionately called “Romper Room”. Inside this facility is an indoor playground, basketball court, train table, foosball, bikes, scooters, and ride-on toys.
Recent additions include a large handicap accessible outdoor playground and an expanded horse barn and round pen.

Capital Campaign and Building Project

 Within the next 5 years, we hope to use the Habitat for Hope property to create an even greater availability for respite care and community among families with sick children. This includes paying off the rest of the property, building a main ‘lodge’ facility that will be for gatherings, large meals and worship, and 8 three-bedroom cabins that will house families of up to 6 people. Two of these units will be handicap-accessible and a few of them will offer seclusion and privacy, as well as medical necessities for families undergoing the end-of-life care of a child. In addition to providing housing for families seeking treatment for a child in the Memphis area, we will also create respite-care weekends and retreats for families from all over the world that have been caring for a sick child.
For more information about the Capital Campaign and how to get involved, please email Mark at mark@habitatforhope.org