About Us
Our History
Early Years
The secluded valley now home to Mountain Meadow Ranch Summer Camp, was once a favorite hunting camp for the Mountain Maidu Native American tribe. 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 silver mines, created a ranch that became the showplace of his time. He named it Meadowbrook Ranch, and people came from miles around to see his beautiful estate with his own deer, buffalo, and elk grazing in the meadows.
In the 1920s, several local businessmen turned the ranch into a country club with a nine-hole golf course meandering through the lower meadows. In the 1930s, the property was purchased by cowboy movie star Buck Jones. He loved the ranch but his dream of retiring there 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.
Country Club Turns Camp
Upon graduation from UCLA, and while playing pro football for the Los Angeles Rams, Jack Ellena Sr. remembered the ranch from childhood days nearby and had a vision to give it new life. He pictured Meadowbrook Ranch as the ideal site for the Boys Ranch Camp he hoped to create, and pursued an opportunity to acquire it. Its natural beauty, abundance of space and spring water, temperate summer climate, and distinctive western flavor made the site a perfect camp location.
Mountain Meadow Ranch for Boys was established in the summer of 1956. By the very next summer, their sisters begged to come and Mountain Meadow Ranch Summer Camp became co-ed.
Building a Legacy
Soon enough, it became time for Jack Sr. to retire. His middle child, Jack Ellena, Jr. (“Chip”), had been bitten by the camp bug. After a season away from camp, studying Fine Art at Cal State Long Beach, Chip heard the call of the ranch once again. He returned to Mountain Meadow and worked alongside his father and mother, Jacquie Ellena (née Dumbauld). Married in 1989 to local Jody Ellena (née Bertoluzza), they slowly took over management and ownership of the camp.
Under Chip’s stewardship, Mountain Meadow Ranch Summer Camp deepened its mission to meet the needs of new generations of campers and staff. Chip introduced the heart of Servant Leadership, taking inspiration from the Mountain Maidu’s “Serve All” ideal. The values of stewardship, true listening, integrity, inclusivity, and encouragement formed the backbone.
Today and Beyond
As Chip and Jody have phased into retirement, two of their three daughters (pictured right) with their husbands now carry on the legacy as third generation directors.
Chip’s legacy of Servant Leadership still thrives. Mountain Meadow Ranch Summer Camp’s values have evolved to inclusivity, authenticity, empathy, integrity, stewardship, and mindfulness that guide each summer’s group of campers in personal growth and connection. Chip and Jody continue to be active participants and advisors, although in the well-earned supportive roles that allow them plenty of time to be with their grandchildren.
We look forward to continuing our mission and forming new summer traditions with your camper, and we love keeping in touch with our Mountain Meadow Ranch alumni!
Mailing Address | PO Box 610, Susanville, CA 96130
Google Maps | Mountain Meadow Ranch Summer Camp
Phone 530.310.9281
Email [email protected]
