Family owned and operated since 1956, Mountain Meadow Ranch continues to provide excellence in camping amidst the beauty of the Sierra Cascades in Northeast California. Second-Generation Owner/Directors Jack and Jody Ellena have carried on the tradition of providing fun and challenging camp activities that are simply the vehicle used to help stimulate personal growth, self-confidence, and foster new friendships and memorable experiences that last a lifetime. By limiting our enrollment, we the owner/directors and our counseling staff are able to focus on each individual’s needs and abilities with greater attention, providing each child with a more personalized camping experience. Nestled on a 900 acre ranch near Susanville, California, just 75 miles northwest of Reno, Nevada and Reno-Tahoe International Airport, Mountain Meadow is a place where you can be assured that the safety and well-being of your children are constantly looked after by our caring team of staff and directors. We invite you to explore our website to learn more about all the many activities we provide, and most importantly, the philosophy which guides those activities and has become the cornerstone of our success.

Owners - Directors

Jack “Chip” Ellena Jr. was born into the camp business and experienced every facet of Mountain Meadow while growing up. Chip holds a B.A. degree in Fine Arts from Cal. State University of Long Beach, has served as a school teacher, a Community College Director of Student Activities, and manager of a private boarding home for teenaged boys, but his lifetime at Mountain Meadow has been his greatest and most useful education. As program director and staff director from 1983 to ’87 and then as camp director since 1988 and owner of Mountain Meadow Ranch since 1993 Chip’s role is that of Chief Director and, more importantly, as the camp Dad. As father to the camp family he has his fingers gently on the pulse of the camp family. It is his goal to daily get around to everyone in camp to check face to face and eye to eye how everyone is doing and everything is going. Jody is the perfect match & complement as co-owner/director and more importantly, as the camp Mom. Her experience as Co-Chief Executive of her family’s chain of gas and grocery stores, her concern for efficiency, and her integrity assure that the Mountain Meadow operation keeps running smoothly. More importantly, though, is her heart and passion for young people. Jody is the heart of Mountain Meadow. She is Director of T.L.C. (Tender Love for Campers) and as a mother of three can readily relate to all aspects of a young person’s time away from home, both from the camper’s and the parent’s point of view.

Mountain Meadow Ranch is home for Chip & Jody and Camp is their life. Both work directly with the campers on a daily basis and are totally involved in every aspect of camp life. Mountain Meadow Ranch is a full-time, year-round operation and Chip and Jody have dedicated their lives to young people and the camps success. For them, it is their life mission.

Founders - Mentors

Jack and Jacquie Ellena established Mountain Meadow Ranch in 1956 shortly after Jack's graduation from UCLA. The Bruin All-American continued his football career with the L.A. Rams, further developing and operating his summer camp during the off-season. Jack and Jacquie’s dream became reality as they provided a camp and ranch-life experience for boys and girls. Striving for excellence has been the goal of Mountain Meadow since the beginning. Today we enjoy the reputation of being one of the finest camps in America.

History

Our secluded valley, now home to Mountain Meadow Ranch Summer Camp, was once a favorite hunting camp for the Maidu Indians. As time moved on the faces of the hunters changed but the popularity of the area remained. In 1910, a wealthy bear hunter from Reno built a permanent summer retreat here. George Wingfield, who made his fortune in the Nevada gold fields, created a ranch that became the showplace of his time. People came from miles around to see his beautiful estate with buffalo and elk grazing in the meadows.

The 20’s arrived and with it a new life for the ranch. Several local businessmen turned it into a country club with a nine-hole golf course meandering through the lower meadows. Prospects changed again in the 30’s when the property was purchased by cowboy movie star Buck Jones. His dream of retiring to the ranch was cut short by his untimely death in Boston’s tragic Coconut Grove fire. Hard times fell upon the ranch and it was not until 1955 that the sun would once again shine on Mountain Meadow Ranch. Upon graduation from U.C.L.A. Jack Ellena Sr., remembering the ranch from childhood days nearby and envisioning it as a site for the Boys Ranch he hoped to create, pursued an opportunity to acquire it. It’s natural beauty, abundance of space and spring water, temperate summer climate and distinctive western flavor made the site a perfect choice. Mountain Meadow Ranch for Boys was established in the summer of 1956. By the early ‘60’s sisters begged to come and Mountain Meadow was expanded to include girls. Today boys and girls come from all over the world to enjoy a summer of magic at Mountain Meadow Ranch.

View our history album