Friday, September 27, 2024
A new sanctuary for veterans and first responders struggling with mental health challenges has officially opened its doors in Granbury — promising a supportive retreat in the serene setting of Blue Branch Historic Ranch.
Nestled among the trees near Lipan at 2811 Clay St., Anxiety Solutions of America offers a tranquil experience and sanctuary for our local heroes, as they disconnect from reality and relax in nature’s calming embrace.
Former veteran Kolton Krottinger, the brainchild of the organization, officially cut the ribbon on his 22-acre mental health retreat Sept. 19, as a way to offer a place of healing and peace to veterans and first responders — completely free of charge.
During the ribbon cutting, Krottinger explained that the land has been in his family for about 50 years, but they always had the intention of developing it into something meaningful.
"Whenever I came here for the first time two years ago, I knew that this was going to be a special place,” he explained. “I sold my home and pretty much everything I had to come out here and build this — that was a year ago, and this is where we are today.”
According to a previous interview with the Hood County News, Krottinger served in the Navy from 2009 to 2013, including a deployment in Somalia. As a result of his time in service, he now lives with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety.
After leaving the military, he found himself in a homeless shelter, where he started documenting his battles with anxiety. Driven by a desire to share his story, he wrote and self-published his first book, which became a bestseller in just 12 hours, selling over 60,000 copies.
This success allowed Krottinger to move out of the homeless shelter, and he subsequently founded Facebook groups to raise awareness about mental health among veterans. These groups have grown to include more than 250,000 members, reaching 30 million people each month on social media.
Inspired by the overwhelming support from his online communities, he envisioned creating a physical space dedicated to mental health and healing.
“It’s so much more rewarding in my opinion when you can do something physical,” Krottinger previously told the HCN.
He convened a meeting with his family to explore how to bring his vision to life. During the discussion, Krottinger’s grandmother suggested using his grandfather's property, which has been in the family since it was purchased in 1973.
Now known as Blue Branch Historic Ranch, Krottinger got to work putting his plan into action — eager to see his vision come to life.
The rest, as they say, is history.
“We had a diamond in the rough, 22 acres full of trash, burn piles, ants, no access to water or electricity, no toilets, no showers, but a big vision bigger than the land,” Krottinger said in a Facebook post. “We started off with nothing but some dirt and a dream.”
Now, the walls are up on his projected 8,000 square-foot facility — but Krottinger said this is only the beginning for the retreat.
With plans for an outdoor balcony, a walkway to the 30-foot-tall viewing tower, and cabins nestled by the water, Krottinger hopes this retreat will serve as a safe space for veterans, first responders and their families.
“I didn't go to college. I'm not a therapist. I'm not a counselor. I pretty much just tried to build something that I wish that I had whenever I was having really bad issues after I got out of the military,” he explained.
The 22-acre retreat also pays homage to the 22 veterans who commit suicide every day, with Krottinger noting there will also be 22 campsites — each dedicated to a different veteran’s memory.
“The one thing guiding me to do this is creating a place that could have helped me during my dark time,” Krottinger said, in a previous interview with HCN. “I’ve lost 52 service members, mostly to suicide. I think of them, and I wonder (how different things might have been) if they could disconnect for a week or a weekend and (have the opportunity) to seek some help in a safe setting."
The retreat will not only feature activities like kayaking, camping and fishing, but will also offer therapy and counseling as part of its comprehensive approach to mental health support.
“We can work on disability claims, financial assistance, spousal support — anything mental health and really anything veteran-related, so we're building offices here for that,” Krottinger said. “This is bigger than me; it always has been. Mental health is a very serious thing.”
As a way to kick off the new organization and retreat, Krottinger held Granbury’s first Super Soaker Battle Sept. 21, to promote a big “splash” into mental health awareness.
“Anxiety Solutions of America is now established with so many incredible people and organizations making this happen,” Krottinger wrote on social media. “There is a board of directors and the collective is delivering on the mission.”
Several board members also shared their experiences of healing since becoming involved with the retreat.
"I've been coming here since this place was empty,” Radio Host Erin Wilde said. “I've been affected by suicide and PTSD from being married to a first responder, so it was really hard for me and my family. But I literally got healing out here all summer long, by just helping, being together, getting in the river, and forgetting about the outside world and talking to people who have been through it.”
Yogi Jones, president of the Riley Stephens Memorial Post 7835 VFW Auxiliary, said she has been coming to the ranch since the beginning and has already experienced its benefits.
"My boyfriend also suffers from PTSD, and there's been times I come out here and he or another are just sitting in the middle of the field, just living,” she said. “It's a good retreat place. It's a good place to just unwind and just be with nature, and it's very calm out here.”
“You got the tower where you can look at the stars,” Wilde added. “It’s like you can shut off this crazy world and heal in nature with great people.”
Board member and Precinct 1 Commissioner Kevin Andrews explained that it feels “absolutely amazing” to contribute to something as important as Anxiety Solutions of America.
"You know, I remember the first time I came out here and walked the grounds and saw the different things that you could do — kayaks down here, fishing poles just sitting there ready to go,” Andrews said. “This place is beautiful and amazing, and I saw the vision at that time, Kolton's vision, and said, ‘You know, I'm 100% on board with this.’”
As Krottinger continues to expand on his vision, he emphasizes that Anxiety Solutions of America will extend beyond Texas.
“We are open to impacting all 50 states,” he wrote on social media. “Always remember, connection is the cure.”
He added that this journey never would have been possible without the thousands of people who stood by him and his team.
“Blue Branch Historic Ranch is officially open to veterans and first responders and it will never cost them a penny,” Krottinger said. “With the American and Texas flags flying high, we celebrate not just a building, but a community rising from struggle to strength. This is only the beginning.”
