Tall Tales Ranch is a Colorado 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded to support people living with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) like Autism and Down Syndrome. For more than ten years, the Tall Tales organization has been laying the groundwork for their vision to create an extraordinary life sharing, mixed-use residential community on land of Schweiger Ranch in Lone Tree. The land was donated to Tall Tales Ranch via a land lease by the Schweiger Ranch Foundation. The new community would provide a living, supportive and cooperative environment for both people with and without disabilities that honors their individuality, celebrates their uniqueness and helps them to reach their full potential.
The vision for Tall Tales Ranch began ten years ago with the founders, Pat and Susan Mooney and their son, Ross. Ross was not born with a disability, however, at the age of 14, he was diagnosed with x-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, an aggressive genetic disease that deteriorates the white matter in the brain and eventually leads to death. Ross received a bone marrow transplant in 2008, which was successful in halting the progression of the disease. Today, Ross is living with an acquired brain injury and requiring more resources and support. Ross’ healthy obsession with tall people and a tendency to stretch the truth inspired the name “Tall Tales Ranch.”
“As Ross’ parents, we want for him what all parents want: a safe, supportive, and wonderful place to live,” said Susan Mooney, Founder. “A place where he can experience community, responsibility, challenge, fulfillment, and acceptance for the unique man that he is.”
The Mooney’s quest to build an inclusive community for their son where neurodiversity is celebrated has been elevated over the years due to the lack of current housing available for people with IDD. Because most adults with IDD live with their ageing parents due to lack of viable options, without access to housing, they are at risk of homelessness, institutionalization or are displaced from their community into the “next empty bed” which may be many miles from their local community.
“We consider this a housing crisis as this is not being effectively addressed in any community for people with IDD,” added Mooney. “At Tall Tales Ranch we are building a once in a lifetime opportunity for individuals to live in their own apartments, work at our coffee shop and be a part of the greater community.”
Tall Tales Ranch, a four-acre property located on the east side of I-25, directly across the street from the light rail station at I-25 and RidgeGate Parkway, will include a residential village with two sets of paired residential cottages leased to 30 residents with IDD. The new community will include a central community building encouraging gathering, socialization, and activities for the residents and visiting family members. Intentionally separate from, but near the residential part of the campus, a retail coffee shop and community event barn will offer opportunities for vocational training and earned wages for those with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities. Weekly programming will include life skills classes, yoga, music, socialization and fellowship, as well as outdoor activities in the property’s raised bed vegetable gardens and orchard. The community event barn will also be a rentable venue for gatherings such as weddings, meetings and conferences for approximately 120 guests. The upper level of the barn will house offices of Tall Tales Ranch and a community learning space.
“At Tall Tales Ranch, our friends who are differently abled are called our ambassadors, and they are at the heart of everything we do,” said Mooney. “At the end of the day, we are set out to enrich the lives of people with IDD with an inclusive community of Tall Tales Ranch so nobody is left behind.”
The Final Site Improvement Plan for Tall Tales Ranch was approved by the City of Lone Tree in 2020 and since then, the organization aggressively launched a $15 million dollar capital campaign to bring the Tall Tales Ranch vision to reality. Construction of Tall Tales Ranch is expected to begin in 2025. For more information or to donate to support the Tall Tales Ranch mission, visit talltalesranch.org., email info@talltalesranch.org, or call 303-806-9141.