Once a rundown cattle ranch, the 207‑acre property near Boulder, Wyoming, now hosts a herd of about 200 llamas—an odd yet serene image that belies its deeper purpose.
Ellis, a former Navy diver who spent two decades fishing along California’s coast, turned to llamas in 1998 after buying the land with his wife Sondra. They envisioned a place where the wounded of war could find peace.
The decision to give the ranch to the Boulder Crest Foundation crystallized after Ellis emailed veteran Fox News host Johnny Jones, who forwarded him to retired Navy bomb‑disposal specialist Ken Falke. Falke’s quick approval turned the dream into deed.
Sondra’s death in August 2025—after a prolonged battle—made the gift even more poignant. Ellis told the Cowboy State Daily that the llamas had made the log house a sanctuary for aging, a place where they could sit and watch the herd.
The opening ceremony on Friday unveiled the campus to a crowd of veterans, first responders, and local leaders. Skydivers dove over the fields, EMT Sue Briggs‑Stanfield sang the national anthem, and the Wind River Indian Eagle Spirit Dancers added cultural depth.
Boulder Crest plans to launch a volunteer program next month, with the ranch already slated to host monthly therapy‑and‑outdoor sessions for wounded veterans and first responders. The foundation will also seek state grants to expand the sanctuary.