Our Founders
Susan and Terry Thayer are the founders and ranch directors of Dreamhaven Ranch, a Christ-centered nonprofit located in the quiet beauty of Baker City, Oregon. After successful careers in business, they followed God’s call to create a place where people could experience healing, connection, and the peaceful rhythm of rural life.
Since opening Dreamhaven in 2012, they’ve welcomed children, families, and seniors into a setting where God’s creation speaks loudly through the rustling trees, open skies, and the calming presence of animals. Guests often say they feel peace just being here - and Terry and Susan believe that peace is the presence of the Lord.
Susan Thayer
When I was eight years old, our family moved to the country where we raised beef cattle and had horses. Ranch life was in my blood - I loved everything from stacking hay to working in the garden. But the horses were always my favorite.
My horse Frisky was my closest friend during some of the hardest seasons of my childhood. She didn’t care what I looked like or whether I fit in. She was just there - steady, patient, and comforting. I truly believe God used her to help me through those times, and that planted the dream for Dreamhaven Ranch deep in my heart.
Horses are, to me, angels in horsehair- and I feel blessed to now share that same experience of healing and hope with others through this ministry.
Terry Thayer
Growing up with a cousin who had disabilities gave me a heart for those who are vulnerable or overlooked. In school, I looked out for the kids who were picked on or left behind. That sense of purpose never left me.
Today, one of my greatest joys is watching people light up- whether it’s a child feeling confident on a horse or an elderly person smiling as they meet one of our therapy dogs. I believe God uses these moments to show people they are loved and not forgotten.
When we found the land that became Dreamhaven Ranch, we knew it was more than property; it was a place of peace, surrounded by forest, wide open skies, and the simple, grounding beauty of rural life. We believe God’s presence can be felt in every inch of this land, and it’s our joy to welcome others into it.
