Status: 🔴 A Christian youth camp organization whose doctrinal statement clearly outlines the erasure of trans people, funded by fossil fuel billionaire Phil Anschutz. Sky Ranch will not accommodate any group or individual whose activities contradict its statement of faith — effectively excluding trans people from its camps and retreats.
Sky Ranch is a Christian recreational camp ministry operating five locations across Texas, Colorado, and Oklahoma, serving youth and families for over 70 years.[1] The organization describes itself as a year-round ministry providing summer camps, retreats, family programs, school programs, and rodeo camps.[1:1]
Sky Ranch’s mission is to “lead youth and families to know and follow Christ.”[1:2] The organization is a member in good standing of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) and is registered as a 501©(3) nonprofit.[2]
Sky Ranch is one of at least nine conservative transphobic entities funded by fossil fuel billionaire Phil Anschutz, whose $16.9 billion fortune was built on oil and gas.[3] The 2025 investigation published by Atmos and HEATED confirmed that Anschutz’s foundation has given money to Sky Ranch.[3:1]
This places Sky Ranch alongside other Anschutz-funded organizations including Alliance Defending Freedom ($110,000), Family Research Council ($30,000), Colorado Christian University, the Council for National Policy, Movieguide, and Dare 2 Share Ministries.[3:2][4]
Sky Ranch’s doctrinal statement “clearly outlines the erasure of trans people,” according to the 2025 Atmos/HEATED investigation.[3:3] The key clause appears across all of Sky Ranch’s programs:
“It would be a violation of our beliefs to provide accommodations to groups or individuals who would actively contradict, undermine, or oppose our core principles. Therefore, Sky Ranch will not accommodate or allow actions or the presentation of content that is contradictory to our doctrinal statement during the use of the facilities.”[5]
This non-accommodation policy applies to all of Sky Ranch’s programs:
The full doctrinal statement is available as a PDF on Sky Ranch’s website and reflects conservative Christian theology that does not recognize transgender identity.[5:4]
Sky Ranch has been operating as a Christian camp ministry for over 70 years, with its headquarters near Van, Texas since 1975.[1:3][6]
Sky Ranch’s headquarters and primary camp is located in Van, Texas (East Texas), which has been its main location since 1975. The property features a 90-acre lake and has served as a haven of Christian fellowship for thousands of children, counselors, retreat guests, and families.[6:1]
The organization expanded in late 2015 to acquire Horn Creek near Westcliffe, Colorado, in the Sangre de Cristo mountain range.[6:2]
Sky Ranch operates five locations:[6:3]
| Location | State | Programs |
|---|---|---|
| Van (Headquarters) | Texas | Summer camps, family programs, rodeo, retreats, schools |
| Horn Creek, near Westcliffe | Colorado | Family programs, summer camps, retreats |
| Ute Trail, near Lake City | Colorado | Summer camps, retreats, family programs |
| Cave Springs | Oklahoma | Retreats |
| Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex | Texas | Launch Camp (day camp), SkyMoms program, administrative offices |
Sky Ranch occupies a unique position in the fossil fuel-to-anti-trans funding pipeline: it is not primarily an advocacy organization but a youth ministry that uses its doctrinal statement to exclude trans people from participation. The Anschutz Family Foundation’s support of Sky Ranch demonstrates how fossil fuel money flows not only to litigation groups like ADF and lobbying organizations like FRC, but also to cultural institutions that normalize the exclusion of trans people from everyday life — in this case, summer camps and family retreats.[3:4][4:1]
Sky Ranch — Donate (lists ECFA membership) ↩︎
Atmos/HEATED — Fossil Fuel Billionaires Are Bankrolling the Anti-Trans Movement (June 2025) ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Business Insider — Coachella owner Phil Anschutz donates to anti-LGBT groups (2017) ↩︎ ↩︎
Sky Ranch — Our Beliefs (includes doctrinal statement PDF) ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎