Take a Tour of Hidden Valley Ranch

Hidden Valley Ranch in Ramona draws applause as well as criticism, according to owner Kevin O'Connor.

The long-term residential care operation includes four properties that serve people with acquired brain injuries.

O'Connor's proposal to expand the main property — Stone Mountain on Highland Valley Road — was rejected this month by the advisory after vehement opposition by some neighbors. 

Some opponents as well as supporters of Hidden Valley — including family members of clients — are due to converge at  a hearing on the proposal before the county Planning Commission on Friday.

"There'll be fireworks there that day," O'Connor said.

The ranch provides care for clients with acquired brain injuries. Over the nearly 20 years O'Connor has owned Hidden Valley, clients have included teachers, lawyers, football and polo players, firefighters, children and veterans, he said.

"Most people who get brain injuries from accidents are males ages 15 to 25," he said. "Some are weekend warriors; they think they're immortal."

Others have been in accidents they didn't see coming, such as a head-on with a drunk driver, O'Connor said.

Stone Mountain is currently permitted to house 15 residents, he said. O'Connor proposes to add three one-storey residences and a gym so that 52 clients can be served. The work would be done in three phases over at least eight years, he said.

The plans have drawn passionate protest from some neighbors who say clients from Stone Mountain have wandered out of the gates or over the fences and frightened them on their own properties over the years. Some neighbors told the planning group that they made 9-11 calls about the incidents.

Patch will research the files on Hidden Valley further in our series on this subject.

We asked for a tour of the four properties that comprise Hidden Valley Ranch, and O'Connor agreed.

This photo gallery shows Stone Mountain and Ruske House on Highland Valley Road, Boyne Valley Ranch on Haverford Road and The Kremlin on Vista Ramona Road.

O'Connor's wife is Russian. He said Kremlin translates into English as "strong house" or "solid ground." Boyne Valley is a reference to the location of "the last great battle of Ireland," he said. O'Connor is Irish.

Stone Mountain is the oldest location. It was built in about 1967, and it houses the less ambulatory of the clients, O'Connor said. The administrative offices are also at Stone Mountain and supplies are delivered there. Delivery truck traffic is another point of contention raised by opponents.

Each property has a pool and a small area where residents can exercise. All the properties except Stone Mountain are homes.

Residents can come and go as they wish, O'Connor said.

"I can't violate their rights if they want to go out but I can ask them if they'd like to sit down and have a coffee and think about it," he said.

All the properties are gated. Stone Mountain is double gated.

During our tour, the properties were mostly unoccupied. O'Connor said some of the clients work at the plant nursery owned by his company on Highway 67. Others have other jobs or go to school, he said.

Some clients have rooms of their own. Some share bedrooms. Their walls are lined with memorabilia from their lives and items that bring them comfort and interest: crucifixes, a football jersey with their number on it, posters of the galaxy.

Each property is located in a tranquil setting with an expansive view of Ramona Grasslands, Mt. Woodson or other countryside.