Former Boys Ranch to Become Western Heritage Education Campus
Norman L. Kincaide, Ph.D.
A small group of invitees gathered in Room 107, Otero County Court House to hear from Bob Fowler of La Junta and Nancy Harrison Finley of Adams County, about the creation of a nonprofit organization that has acquired the former Boys Ranch north of La Junta. The nonprofit status of Western Heritage Education Foundation has yet to be finalized. But the acquisition of the property has been closed upon through the efforts of a partnership of local and regional entities. “Because of the complexity of the transaction, the multi-stage acquisition process required considerable time to complete and was kept confidential until the final closing.”
The campus will be operated by the newly formed nonprofit that will ensure that operational control remains entirely local. Nonprofit status opens up a diverse range of grant and fund-raising opportunities to support infrastructure and programs. There are more than forty structures on the property including dormitories, library, dining facility, gymnasium, chapel and an equestrian center as well as other facilities for hands on learning. The board of Western Heritage Education has appointed Bob Fowler as interim director. Fowler will oversee the restoration of the facility and the reopening of the campus.
The implementation of such a large-scale project will follow a deliberate step-by-step process. Once initial cleanup of the property is complete, Phase 1 structures will be brought online, among these will be the chapel, dining facility and a dormitory. The organizers plan to host a formal ribbon cutting ceremony and public open house at the campus in the next few months. The 300-acre facility will require significant upfront labor. Therefore, the Foundation is actively seeking additional individuals and community groups willing to volunteer. Former Boys Ranch employees are being sought to assist with their knowledge of the complexities of facility buildings. Few schematics or records of the Boys Ranch original utilities and underground systems have survived to aid in renovation.
The intent is to create a varied range of both youth and adult programs centered on creating meaningful life experiences. Curricula are being developed with initial offerings to include Scouting America, 4-H, FFA, regional school groups, educational field research and varied community events. Nancy Harrison Finley will be the public relations contact for the project and will provide media with updates on the progress of the development of Western Heritage Education Center.
Fowler conducted a brief tour of the facility as it stands. Weeds, overgrown cedars and elms have been cut, while City of La Junta Electric, Water and Sewer Departments are actively involved in the renovation of the facility. There has been support from Otero County Commissioners, Otero County Sheriff’s Office, La Junta Police Department and local youth and adult volunteers. Bob Fowler is excited about the possibilities for this facility: “With all of the difficult news lately, we think this is genuinely exciting, positive news for our community. It has taken a tremendous amount of work to reach this point, and we’re confident there’s a lot to be excited about as the project moves forward.”
Source: Robert Fowler, Press Release, September 27, 2026
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