Echo Hill Ranch
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Summer camp |
| Founded | 1953 |
| Founder | Dr. S. Thomas Friedman and Minnie Samet Friedman |
| Defunct | 2013 (first period of operation) |
| Fate | Closed in 2013, revived in 2021 |
| Headquarters | Kerrville , United States |
Area served | Texas Hill Country, United States; nationwide (Gold Star families) |
Key people | Marcie Friedman (director, 2021 revival), Roger Friedman (director until closure) |
| Products | Summer camp programs including swimming, horseback riding, sports, arts and crafts, performing arts, camping activities, archery, riflery, leadership development |
Number of employees | Volunteer staff (2021 revival) |
Echo Hill Ranch encompasses 400 acres as a summer ranch camp situated in the Texas Hill Country, close to Kerrville and Medina. Operating as a private Jewish summer camp from 1953 until 2013, it was revived in 2021 with a renewed mission serving Gold Star families.
1953–2013
Established in 1953 by Dr. S. Thomas Friedman and Minnie Samet Friedman, Echo Hill functioned as a noncompetitive ranch camp catering to boys and girls aged 6 to 14. While the majority of campers and staff hailed from Texas, there were also some international participants. Although the camp primarily served Jewish children, it was inclusive of youngsters from all religious backgrounds.
Following Minnie Friedman's passing in 1985, her relatives along with close family friends Floyd and Joan Potter took on the responsibility of managing the camp. The Friedman family maintained active involvement with the American Camping Association (ACA).
The camp’s offerings featured swimming, horseback riding, multiple sports, arts and crafts, performing arts, camping activities, archery, and riflery. For teenagers preparing for staff roles, leadership development programs were available.
After Dr. Tom Friedman's death in 2002, leadership passed to his son Roger who, alongside his wife Roselynn, directed the camp for ten summers before deciding on closure. On July 24, 2013, an announcement confirmed that Echo Hill would not reopen for the 2014 season.
For close to two decades, Echo Hill also operated the Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch; however, this initiative was discontinued due to difficulties in securing adopters attributed to the camp’s remote setting.
2021–present
Marcie Friedman, the youngest child of Tom and Minnie and an ACA-certified camp director, spearheaded the revival of Echo Hill Ranch as a tuition-free camp dedicated to Gold Star families—children who have lost a parent in military service. The program is supported by volunteer staff alongside contributions from various organizations and individuals. The initial summer session planned for 2020 was postponed to 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In its 2021 reopening year, the camp welcomed 62 children representing 14 states. Plans for 2022 included doubling camper enrollment and launching programs tailored for children of Afghan refugees.
Echo Hill Gold Star Camp draws participants nationwide. Volunteers, predominantly military personnel, assist with both facility upkeep and day-to-day operations.
Notable people
Texas musician, author, and gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman resided at Echo Hill Ranch until his death on June 26, 2024.