Staff Reports | Community Updates
Lexie’s Voice, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to empowering families raising individuals with autism and developmental disabilities, will soon open Lexie’s Ranch, a first-of-its-kind therapeutic day program and inclusive community space in Scottsdale.
The 1.32-acre property, located near Cactus and Scottsdale Road, was purchased by the Sunnyside Lodge LLC and is being leased to the nonprofit, allowing Lexie’s Voice to expand its mission in a deeply meaningful and permanent way, according to a press release.
Scheduled to open in fall 2025, the ranch will offer daily programming, equine therapy and on-site therapeutic services in a welcoming, nature-based setting, the release states.
“This space is more than a ranch, it’s a dream realized,” said Andrea Robertson, founder of Lexie’s Voice. “We’re building a place where people of all ages with autism and other developmental disabilities, like my daughter, can feel joy, safety and freedom—and where their families can find community, relief and support.”
Plans for the site include transforming the existing stables into an activity barn and gym with a sensory room, creating a walking track designed for movement and exploration and adding a park with inclusive equipment for all abilities. A petting zoo featuring horses, Highland cows, chickens and other animals will also be introduced to enhance therapeutic interaction and joy.
The new Lexie’s Voice Day Ranch Program will operate daily and serve up to 12 individuals of all ages. Scholarship support will be available through the Lexie’s Voice Day Program Scholarship Fund to assist families facing financial barriers. A separate Equine Therapy Program will run after school and on weekends, with its own dedicated scholarship support.
“We’re creating the kind of place our families have never had access to, but always deserved,” Ms. Robertson said. “Our hope is for the ranch to go beyond a day program and become a true community gathering place, hosting inclusive events, family celebrations and future milestones, such as proms, for individuals who may never have had access to such experiences.”
Tori Heintzelman, whose son Brady is already enrolled in Lexie’s Voice Day Program, shared what the ranch means to her family.
“This space is everything we’ve hoped for,” she said. “It’s a place where Brady can be himself, feel supported and experience joy every day.”
The generosity of David Larchez and Nate Waite of Compass, along with Compass Corporate partners Sean Zimmerman and Lexie Carlson Fabor, assisted the organization by donating their commission from the sale directly to Lexie’s Voice. The support and services of Premier Title Agency in Paradise Valley also played a role in bringing Lexie’s Ranch to life.
