Candlelight Ranch

Tara’s connection to Candlelight Ranch is deeply personal. In 2006, after losing my daughter Reese to a terminal illness, the doctor who cared for her brought my family to Candlelight Ranch for the very first time. I’ll never forget walking up to a magical, wheelchair-accessible treehouse built among the live oak trees—one of the first of its kind in Central Texas. At the time, there was still $60,000 left to pay it off. Within weeks, our community came together to raise the funds, and today it is lovingly known as Reese’s Treehouse. That moment changed my life forever. Today, children and families at Candlelight Ranch experience the healing power of nature through accessible outdoor adventures like zip lines, rock walls, kayaking, hiking, equine experiences, and more often for the very first time. Candlelight Ranch is living proof that nature can heal, restore, and transform lives.