River Valley Ranch History

As young boys growing up in a suburb of Glasgow, Scotland, Peter and John Bisset had always been fascinated by American cowboys. They dreamed of going to America and seeing cowboys for themselves. In the spring of 1930, these teenage boys got that opportunity as they sailed into Ellis Island and eventually settled on the East Coast.

Founders, Peter and John Bisset

Having been raised in a Christian family, Peter and John were taught to love God and to spread the Good News about Jesus Christ. This inspired them both to become ministers, and in 1948 they began a Christian radio program in Baltimore, Maryland.

With a passion to reach youth, Peter and John would soon realize their longtime ministry vision of a Christian youth camp… nothing like this existed anywhere in the area!

In 1952, a real estate agent suggested they look at a property in Carroll County, Maryland. As they drove into the beautiful lush valley with the Gunpowder Falls River flowing through it and the little pre-civil war town of Roller in the center, they immediately knew this was the place. It was purchased with $100 down payment… and River Valley Ranch was born!

The first RVR promotional movie ever made (1950's).

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