Spence’s True North Legacy Ranch is a veteran- and clinician-led trauma recovery and leadership retreat center located on 715 acres of serene, high-fence land at 603 Deer Run Rd in Cadiz, Kentucky—the historic site formerly known as the Knight & Hale Ranch. Founded by Edward J. Spence—a decorated U.S. Marine Corps veteran, nationally recognized trauma recovery coach, and board-certified chaplain—this ranch represents the culmination of a lifetime of service, sacrifice, and unshakable faith in restoration.
Our mission is to restore and empower the lives of those who’ve given everything to serve others: veterans, first responders, hospital personnel, trauma survivors, and their families. Through immersive, nature-centered, trauma-informed care and faith-led coaching, we offer a sacred space where people reconnect to purpose, rediscover peace, and begin again. Spence’s True North is not just a facility—it’s a legacy in the making. A generational place of healing, built from lived experience, forged in hardship, and driven by love.
What We Offer (and Who We Serve):
1. Trauma Recovery Programs (for Veterans, First Responders, & Medical Staff):
Clinically sound and trauma-informed, our cohort-based programs integrate somatic coaching, peer support, cognitive-behavioral tools, and chaplain-led care.
2. Executive Leadership Retreats:
For law enforcement leaders, public servants, C-suite professionals, and veterans in transition. Built on the Quadrangle of Leadership model.
3. Marriage & Conflict Resolution Retreats:
Faith-based intensives to rebuild trust and intimacy, especially for trauma-affected couples and families.
4. Pre-Marital Counseling (Spiritually Grounded):
Chaplain-led premarital coaching rooted in biblical values and emotional maturity.
5. Nature-Based Healing & Whitetail Hunting Experiences:
Purposeful guided hunting and outdoor immersion designed for therapeutic engagement, emotional regulation, and reconnection with creation.
6. Youth Mentorship Camps and Outdoor Adventure Programs:
Designed for at-risk teens and young adults, combining leadership development, wilderness survival, and emotional healing.
7. Grief Support Retreats:
Specialized weekends for those experiencing deep loss—offering comfort, processing tools, and a supportive community.
8. Faith-Based Men’s and Women’s Spiritual Renewal Weekends:
A safe space to reconnect with God, release burdens, and find new direction.
9. PTSD Caregiver Respite Retreats:
Designed for family members and spouses of trauma survivors to recover, connect, and receive tools for ongoing support.
10. Veterans & First Responder Storytelling and Legacy Journaling Retreats:
Participants are guided through structured reflective writing, video journaling, and storytelling sessions to help process trauma, preserve legacy, and create meaning from their experiences. This program not only promotes therapeutic expression but also helps families, communities, and future generations understand the sacrifices and resilience of those who serve.
The Land & Infrastructure:
- 715-acre high-fence sanctuary
- 7-mile perimeter trail
- 25+ miles of internal trail systems
- Diverse landscape: hardwoods, open pastures, food plots
- Full-time caretaker onsite (Barry)
28 Revenue Streams Across 5 Strategic Phases:
- One-on-one trauma coaching (in-person)
- Group trauma coaching (retreat-based)
- Online trauma recovery programs
- Executive leadership retreats
- First responder PTSD weekends
- Marriage and family intensives
- Pre-marital counseling packages
- Faith-based grief recovery coaching
- CBT-based anxiety/depression coaching
- Veteran retreat cohorts (weekly model)
- Whitetail deer hunts (therapeutic and guided)
- Cabin and bunkhouse lodging rentals
- Team-building retreats for companies
- Onsite workshops and certification events
- PTSD caregiver weekends
- Chaplain-led spiritual growth retreats
- Book and curriculum sales (Transformative Leadership Made Simple)
- Branded merchandise and outdoor gear
- Digital content subscriptions
- Mobile app subscription (trauma support)
- Faith-based men's and women's weekend retreats
- Trauma-informed wilderness skills courses
- Licensing of trauma curriculum to other organizations
- Continuing education training for chaplains, coaches, and clergy
- Mental health CEU-accredited programs
- Agricultural use of land (leased or managed)
- Peer support coach certification programs
- Facility rental for aligned outside organizations
Future Vision: PTSD Treatment Center (Phase 5 Expansion)
2087 Kings Chapel Rd, Cadiz, KY 42211 – 11,200 sq. ft.
- 18 bedrooms, 9 bathrooms, 4 wings
- Group rooms, wraparound porches, firepit
- Ideal for inpatient PTSD programming
- Seasonal use: Spring green-up, summer recovery intensives
- Staffed by willing relocation team: nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists
- Currently working with the Veterans Administration Community Care Network to meet all qualification requirements for veteran care referrals and reimbursement
- In contact with the National Fire Administration regarding national alignment and best practices
- Ongoing support and guidance from Congressman Comey (KY) and Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY), with Congresswoman Tenney offering extensive insight and assistance to help ensure this vision becomes a reality
Leadership & Credentials
Edward J. Spence Founder, Executive Director & Lead Trauma Recovery Coach
- 36+ years frontline leadership (USMC, fire/EMS, trauma coaching)
- Board Certified Master Christian Life Coach (BCMCLC)
- Board Certified Master Mental Health Coach (BCMMHC)
- Diplomate, American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress
- Certified in CISM/CISD (University of Maryland & ICISF)
- Fire Dept Chaplain, Oakfield FD
- Crisis Chaplain, American Red Cross Integrated Care Team (national deployments)
- Member, WNY Stress Reduction Program (7-county coverage)
- Ordained and licensed chaplain
- Author, Transformative Leadership Made Simple
Wendy S. Spence Medical Advisor
- ER Nurse Manager, Rochester Regional Health
- Master’s in Nursing Leadership & Management
John Unger Ranch Operations & Facilities Director
- Military veteran
- Maintenance Supervisor, Hood Yogurt
Alyssa Unger Director of Administration
- Administrative Office Manager, Rochester Regional Cancer Institute
Katie Spence, LMHC Clinical Programming & Retreat Design Lead
- Licensed Mental Health Counselor
- Specializes in trauma, emotional recovery, and faith-integrated care
Darren Palmer Ranch Manager
- Oversees daily operations of hunting, planting, and sustainable deer herd management
- 15 years of leadership and guiding experience with disabled veterans
- Deep understanding of therapeutic hunting experiences and what it takes to ensure success for clients in recovery
Joshua Perhson Director of Security Operations
- U.S. Navy veteran (4 years) as Military Police
- Current security professional at Batavia Downs Gaming and Casino
- Training in de-escalation, perimeter surveillance, radar acquisition, infrared and camera deployment
- Responsible for leading a trained guard staff and maintaining the Ranch’s gated, pin-entry security system
- Actively enrolled in leadership and advanced security education to ensure safety and modernized protection protocols
Why This, Why Now
Every acre of this land, every phase of this vision, and every member of this team exists to carry out one mission: to restore the brokenhearted, strengthen the weary, and offer peace where chaos once lived. This Ranch is not just a business. It is a movement—a direct and urgent response to the national crisis of untreated trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and depression among those who serve.
We are not speculating. We are building. And we are prepared to lead. With land secured, leadership fully credentialed, and infrastructure underway, Spence’s True North is positioned to become a national standard in trauma-informed, faith-integrated care. Alongside our retreat model, we will launch a double-blind study in collaboration with licensed psychologists and psychiatrists, testing and validating our trauma recovery protocol. Results will be published to establish a new, replicable national model for holistic trauma care.
This is not theory. This is a tested, principled, and people-first response that blends clinical expertise with emotional truth. We are asking you—donors, investors, grant makers, and stakeholders—to stand with us. Partner with us financially. Help us build this new gold standard. If you believe in truth, healing, and legacy, then this is your chance to be part of history.
Let’s redefine recovery. Let’s do it now. And let’s do it together.