Valley View Village: Love in Action

Map of Valley View Village Phase I showing farm, barn, childcare center, clinic, chapel, amphitheater, El Centro, storage and creek along a road network.

A Community in Need

Across the Highland Lakes, many families are trapped in cycles of instability, scarcity, and generational poverty. These are the quiet struggles of our neighbors—parents working tirelessly yet falling short, children growing up without consistent support, and individuals longing for purpose, belonging, and a path forward.

At Ark of Highland Lakes, we believe we are called to walk by faith and bring the love of God to our community in tangible ways that lead to real and lasting transformation.

A Vision for Restoration

Want to Join the Work?

Valley View Village is the vision to live out that calling.

Situated on 211 acres, Valley View Village is a community of restoration—a place where spiritual, physical, emotional, and financial needs are addressed through a holistic, whole-person approach.

Here, families, children, and individuals won’t just receive services—they will experience belonging, purpose, support, and the opportunity for new life.

Sign-up for a Valley View Work Day HERE

Restoring Lives, Not Just Meeting Needs

At Valley View Village, individuals and families will experience:

Purpose Through Work

On-site opportunities in agriculture, trades, administration, and more—building dignity, skills, and stability.

Support for the Whole Person

Access to food, transformational living accommodations, hygiene items, medical resources, counseling, mentorship, and job training.

Spiritual & Emotional Support

Through mentorship, pastoral care, and community support, individuals are encouraged to grow in faith and discover renewed purpose.

A Community That Loves Well

Churches, neighbors, volunteers, and partners united in a shared vision to restore hope and transform lives.

El Centro

El Centro will be the future home of Ark’s offices at Valley View Village and a central gathering place for the Highland Lakes community. This beautiful 15,000-square-foot multi-purpose space is being designed to provide oversight and support for all that will take place across Valley View, while also serving as a welcoming hub where people can gather, connect, and celebrate. From daily operations to long-term vision, El Centro will help anchor the life and mission of this village. More than an office, El Centro will be a premier community event center - created to host weddings, community gatherings, special events, and meaningful moments of every kind. It will be a place where beauty, purpose, and hospitality come together, reflecting our heart to create spaces that serve both our neighbors and the broader community. As Valley View Village continues to grow, El Centro will stand at the center of it all - a place of connection, celebration, and hope.

The Chapel

The Chapel at Valley View Village is being created as a peaceful, sacred space where people can gather to pray, reflect, worship, and grow in their love for Jesus. It is meant to be a place of quiet devotion and meaningful connection with God. Open to Valley View residents and the wider community. More than a formal gathering space, the chapel will offer room to slow down, be still, and encounter the presence of God in a setting marked by peace, beauty, and hope. It will also be a place for sacred moments and special ceremonies, including weddings, devotionals, prayer gatherings, and other meaningful services. At the heart of it all is the desire to create a space that feels welcoming, grounded, and set apart - a place where people can come as they are, draw near to Jesus, and share in moments that matter deeply.

Warehouse Supplies

The Supplies Warehouse at Valley View Village will be a place where practical needs and long-term opportunity come together. This space is designed to help develop valuable skills in automotive and construction trades - equipping residents with hands-on training that can lead to meaningful work while helping meet the growing demand for these trades in our community.  The warehouse will also serve as a place where construction materials and supplies can be repurposed and put back into use. Instead of letting valuable resources go to waste, this space will help steward them well for the good of our neighbors and the growth of the Village.

The Sports Field

At Valley View Village, we want to create a place where every part of life is welcomed and cared for - and that includes space for play, laughter, movement, and joy. The sports field will be a place where kids can run freely, families can gather, and neighbors can connect through recreation and shared experiences. It will be a space that brings life, energy, and celebration into the heart of the Village. This field will serve both children and adults alike, offering a place to play, build friendships, and enjoy the gift of community.

Meat Processing Center

The Meat Processing Center at Valley View Village is being built as a self-sustaining model that helps solve multiple challenges at once. In partnership with our Hill Country Hunger Alliance, this space will help provide much-needed protein to local food banks while also creating opportunities for job training, skill-building, and meaningful employment for Village residents. It will also serve the broader community by offering local meat processing for a fee, helping support the ongoing work of the Village. More than a facility, this will be a place where practical needs are met and resources are used in a way that strengthens both individuals and the community as a whole.
Video Tour of our Progress

Pod of Cabins

Each pod will include seven thoughtfully designed two-bedroom, one-bath cabins where residents in our Transformational Living program can experience safe, stable housing while walking toward lasting transformation. More than just a place to live, these homes will offer the foundation families need to heal, grow, and rebuild with dignity. Rooted in the heart of our Transformational Living community, the pod model is designed to foster both independence and belonging. Residents will be surrounded by a supportive community that walks alongside them through practical challenges and personal growth, helping them move from crisis toward self-sufficiency. At Valley View, these pod communities will reflect our hope to create not just housing, but a Christ-centered neighborhood where lives are restored, relationships are strengthened, and neighbors can truly thrive.

Built by a United Church. For the Good of the Community.

Valley View Village is possible because local churches, volunteers, donors, and community partners are choosing to build something together that no one could build alone.

This village is a testimony to what happens when the Church becomes visible in love and united in action — neighbors serving neighbors, pastors linking arms with leaders, and ordinary people offering their time, resources, and gifts to make refuge real.

What is being built here will meet practical needs, yes. But it will also tell a deeper story: that no one is forgotten, healing is possible, and hope has a home in the Highland Lakes.

Valley View Cabin Framing Ark of Highland Lakes

Services with Purpose

  • Market & agriculture
  • Automotive & mechanical trades
  • Event spaces & venues
  • Storage & warehouse facilities
  • Tiny home construction
  • Mixed-use residential spaces

Each element is designed to serve both residents and the broader region—supporting long-term community resilience and economic impact.

The Ark Warehouse already proves this model works—meeting needs, creating jobs, and blessing the community with no cost to those in crisis.

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An Invitation

Your investment in Valley View Village is not just a gift—it is a declaration:

  • That hope is stronger than hardship.
  • That transformation is possible.
  • That no one should walk this journey alone.

Together, we can build more than a village.

We can build a future.

Will You Join Us?

This vision meets people where they are and walks with them toward healing, purpose, and faith in Christ.

It’s a long-term commitment that requires bold investment—but one that can ripple through generations.

Together, we can create a village of transformation—one act of love at a time.

GIVE
SERVE
PRAY

Valley View Village Tours

Come see what God is building in the Highland Lakes.

Valley View Village is more than a vision on paper. It’s 211 acres of land taking shape into a place of refuge, healing, and belonging… and we’d love to walk it with you.

Our guided tours give you the chance to step onto the property, meet a member of the Ark team, and see the progress firsthand. You’ll hear the story behind Valley View, learn how local churches and volunteers are making it happen, and get a real feel for the work happening across the land.

Why Take a Tour

Whether you’re a neighbor curious about what’s going on out on FM 1855, a church leader exploring how to get involved, a prospective volunteer, or a supporter who wants to see your giving at work, a tour is the best way to experience Valley View. You’ll come away with a clearer picture of the mission, the people behind it, and the families this place will one day serve.

What to Expect

Tours are led by an Ark of Highland Lakes team member and typically last about 45 minutes to an hour. We’ll walk parts of the property, talk through what’s already in motion, and share what’s coming next. Comfortable shoes are a good idea. Bring water, especially in the warmer months.

Schedule Your Visit​

Tours are offered by appointment so we can give you a thoughtful, unhurried experience. Reach out below to find a time that works for you and we’ll get you on the calendar.

Schedule a Tour