Red Barn Ranch Improvements
Updated: September 19, 2025
Fall 2025
The 40-acre Red Barn Ranch is in rural King County, southeast of Auburn. The site was originally developed as a youth camp and included a dormitory, swimming pool, horseback-riding corrals, tennis courts, and other buildings in support of the youth camp. Most of the site was constructed in the 1970s. The property is roughly bisected by a drainage line and low point running north to south and ringed by second-growth woodland. Vehicular access and the majority of structures and infrastructure are located on the northwest corner of the site, adjacent to SE 340th Street and Lake Moneysmith Road.
The project approach is divided into three phases to support the project vision and impacts. We are currently in the second phase, focusing on demolition planning and fundraising for future site improvements.
Project Vision
Red Barn Ranch is dedicated to promoting positive social, physical, and emotional health outcomes for African American youth and other historically underserved youth. Through nature-based programs, skill-building opportunities, and the nurturing of healthy relationships, Red Barn Ranch empowers youth to build meaningful connections with both nature and each other.
The City of Seattle is engaging with EarthCorps, Buffalo Soldiers, Parents for Student Success, King County Boys and Girls Club, Seattle Public Schools, and other non-profit partners to collaborate on reviving and renovating Red Barn Ranch. Early partnerships in the spring and summer of 2024 focused on day camps run by Buffalo Soldiers and the King County Boys and Girls Club. These camps were complimented with small scale restoration, trails and garden building work led by EarthCorps. Given the project’s location in King County near Auburn it is well situated to become a valuable community resource for the surrounding County and city of Auburn residents in addition to the city of Seattle.
Project Approach
The project approach is divided into three phases to support the project vision and impacts:
Early Engagement and Planning (2023-2024): The first phase focuses on early stakeholder meetings around operations, programming, and funding, and growing partnerships with anchoring organizations (Seattle Parks, EarthCorps, Buffalo Soldiers, and Boys and Girls Club of King County).
Building Demolition Planning and Fundraising (Spring 2025 – Spring 2026): SPR has hired Osborn Architects Inc. to support the application for the King County demolition permit and needs assessment for reconnecting utilities. This phase of the project will develop a clear plan for:
- Demolition of buildings on site, except for the Assembly Building
- Re-establishment of power on site
- Re-certification of the septic system
- Establishing potable water on site through coordination with the Covington Water District
- Placement of temporary toilet room modulars on site (requiring water, septic, power)
- Renovating and re-establishing occupancy for the Assembly Building
Basic and Enhanced Site Improvements (Summer 2026 and beyond): If funding can be secured, the third phase will focus on basic site improvements to allow for safe access for day camps, early restoration, and community events. With additional funding, this phase will add basic indoor facilities to expand programming capacity, environmental restoration, curriculum development, and partner-driven programming. Several of the existing structures from the original Red Barn Ranch camp will need to be demolished first, accessibility will need to be improved, and basic site infrastructure (water, sewer, electrical) will need to be updated. As funding allows, this phase of work will also introduce a series of trails that support youth activities and community access. Additionally, early land management will begin to remove areas of significant invasive plants and take steps toward broader ecological restoration and partial reforestation of the site. Work will occur through a mixture of youth and community participation and volunteer events, Seattle Parks Department maintenance, and third-party contracting.
The third phase will also look to add retreat and indoor overnight facilities, including a full renovation of the assembly building. Continued site restoration and maintenance according to the land management plan, and agriculture development will also be explored.
Location
Red Barn Ranch; 17601 SE Lake Moneysmith Rd, Auburn, WA 98092
Schedule
Planning: Spring 2024 - Early 2026
Design: TBD
Construction: TBD
Budget
The project budget is $135,205 for early engagement and planning, site assessments, demolition planning and permitting, and fundraising for future site improvements. The remaining project budget and scope are contingent on additional funding sources.
Red Barn Ranch History
39-acre site, developed as a recreational camp with farm space
- 1966: Elgin Baylor purchased property and advocated to develop the Red Barn Ranch to be used as a youth sports camp. Black property ownership in service for Black youth.
- 1970: City purchased Property with RCO funding
- 1971-83: SPR renovated property & operated youth camp
- 1983-1994: Site used for contracted recreation uses and education programming, with periodic site closures
- 1995-2011: Camp Berachah operated an equestrian camp
- 2011-14: Camp Berachah & Seattle Tilth incubator farm
- 2014-18: Seattle Tilth farm operations alone
- 2018-present: Site vacant
Community Participation
Please watch this page for opportunities to participate in the engagement process.