Whisper Valley Ranch: A Retreat Born out of the Ashes
In this Perspective piece, ranch owner Michael McConnell shares with us life experiences that have led to what is now Whisper Valley Ranch in Santa Margarita.
The recipe of my life is made up of the ingredients I choose to put into it. While attitude, drive, passion and compassion are my foundation, perspective is my life’s key ingredient. It has served me well. We all have a disability of some sort, but mine you can see. Knowing that there is always someone with more challenges puts things into perspective and fills me with gratitude. It is that little reminder that helps keep me on track, keeps me motivated to do more and be more.
Whisper Valley Ranch is a special place, it’s transporting. Situated on 160 acres in Santa Margarita, CA., it naturally boasts old oak trees, a seasonal stream, amazing rock formations, and three hiking trails. Before we purchased the property, on my very first visit here, I was taken back to my days as a kid climbing trees, exploring the outdoors, and getting my hands in the dirt. As a child, that’s the good stuff.
When I became paralyzed in a car accident at age 16, these types of places became less accessible to me. The old home on the property built in the 1980’s needed some heavy updating and more accessibility, so we spent the better part of a year renovating, while trying to maintain the ‘cabin-in-the-woods’ charm. During construction, there was no way for me to even get into the house in my chair. However once the ramps were in, the connection became real — I could go in and out as I pleased without having to ask for help. When barriers are removed, it does wonders for one’s spirit and quite often, it’s the little things that make the biggest difference. Since then we have had a few folks in wheelchairs visit and share that same joy, which is what excites me and continues to drive us.
In time we’re hoping to develop this land so it’s accessible for those who rarely get the opportunity to engage in an environment like this. We’d like to invite families with children in wheelchairs so they can get together, break bread, share stories and life experiences, laugh and smile, all the while enjoying a beautiful environment that’s welcoming and accommodating. It does quite a lot for one’s spirit, the more barriers we remove. I want this to serve as a reminder of how we all can play a pivotal role for inclusion. It makes me happy knowing we have the potential to make sure that everyone feels seen and celebrated, particularly those with challenges who typically do not get to experience the outdoors quite like this.
Currently the ranch is a short-term rental that we have made as inclusive as possible for myself and others. We offer enhanced experiences for our guests where one can hire a private chef to do the cooking, or enjoy workshops on the property like jam making sessions with Hartley Farms, photography hikes, olive oil tastings, and craft cocktail courses by Yes Cocktails. We’ve partnered with FarmsteadEd to help put these experiences together for those who stay. It’s a retreat and an opportunity for everyone to get away and create memories that will be remembered. In the end, the best thing about memories is making them.
MY best memory in all of this is watching our boys go out and climb rocks, get their boots and hands dirty and come back in time for dinner. It is in those simple moments that I am most grateful that I can provide this environment; this space in the world where we can just be a family and shut out all the noise and challenges of daily life. That is my wish for everyone.
