On August 25, 2025, a small but deeply meaningful gathering took place in the mountains of northern Utah. Surrounded by towering pines, fresh mountain air, and the quiet beauty of the Rocky Mountains, about 75 friends and family members came together to celebrate the groundbreaking of Hope River Ranch.
This was not just a ceremonial turning of dirt. It was the culmination of years of hope, sacrifice, and shared belief in a mission—to create a place where people struggling with addiction can rediscover purpose, healing, and joy.
A Community Built on Love and Belief
Those who attended the event were not simply guests. Every person there had played a role in helping bring Hope River Ranch to life. They were friends, family members, and supporters who had donated time, resources, and talents to help turn an idea into reality.
For many, their connection to the project was deeply personal. Some have witnessed addiction touch their families. Others have walked through recovery themselves. And many simply love Julie and Mike Dee and believe in the vision they have devoted themselves to building.
What united everyone that day was a shared conviction that Hope River Ranch will become a place where lives are changed.
Land Meant for Healing
A particularly meaningful moment came when the family who originally owned the property spoke to the group. They shared that throughout the years they had cared for the land, they often felt it held a special purpose.
Standing in the quiet beauty of the ranch, they expressed their belief that this land was always meant to become a place of healing. Hearing those words while standing on the very ground where future patients will walk, reflect, and rebuild their lives was powerful for everyone present.
The Vision of Julie and Mike Dee
When Julie and Mike Dee addressed the group, their remarks reflected both humility and gratitude.
They spoke openly about their own experiences with addiction and recovery—experiences that shaped their understanding of what people truly need when trying to rebuild their lives.
Julie shared how the idea for Hope River Ranch first began to form as she reflected on her own journey. What started as a personal dream quickly became something much bigger.
As the Dees shared their vision with friends and colleagues, something remarkable began to happen: people asked how they could help.
Instead of having to convince others, they found themselves surrounded by people eager to contribute—donating expertise, resources, time, and encouragement.
Hope River Ranch, they explained, has been a community effort from the very beginning.
A Builder with His Own Story of Recovery
Another powerful moment came when the builder for the project shared his personal connection to the ranch.
As a recovering alcoholic, the project holds deep meaning for him. He spoke candidly about the support he received during his own recovery—especially from his wife—and how that support changed his life.
Being part of building Hope River Ranch is, for him, a way to give back. Each structure that rises from the ground represents not just construction, but an opportunity for someone else to find the same hope and support that helped him rebuild his life.
A Message of Service and Gratitude
Also speaking at the event was Melissa Wayment, a close friend of the Dee family who has been helping with the marketing and communication for Hope River Ranch.
Melissa shared how deeply moved she has been by the project and the spirit surrounding it. Witnessing the passion, generosity, and faith behind the ranch inspired her in a profound way.
So much so that she has since begun serving as a missionary and group leader in the Addiction Recovery Program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, helping others find healing and support through recovery.
Her message reflected a theme that carried throughout the entire event: when people come together in love and service, powerful things happen.
Looking Ahead
While the groundbreaking marked a major milestone, it also signaled the beginning of an exciting new chapter. Construction of Hope River Ranch is expected to take approximately two years to complete.
When finished, the ranch will sit in one of the most breathtaking settings in Utah—high in the Rocky Mountains, surrounded by rivers, trails, forests, and open space designed to foster healing and renewal.
But even more important than the buildings that will rise there are the lives that will one day be changed within them.
More Than a Ranch
As the gathering came to a close on that August day, there was a strong feeling among those present that something special had begun.
Hope River Ranch is more than a treatment center. It is the product of friendship, faith, sacrifice, and shared purpose. Every person standing there that day had played a role in bringing it to life.
And in the years ahead, countless others will arrive at the ranch seeking a second chance.
Because of the vision and generosity of those who gathered on August 25, 2025, they will find it.
