The WLD Story

The story of WLD Ranch begins in 1940. Marvin and Pauline Davis were expecting their second child, but due to complications in the pregnancy, Pauline was advised to have an abortion. Following God’s plan, she refused, and a son was born later that year. His name was Wayne Leonard Davis.

As Wayne grew up under the influence and love of a Christian home, he saw a need for Christ in his own life. In high school, Wayne often gathered neighborhood kids for Bible studies to share the truth of God with them, earning the nickname “Rev”. Wayne had a dream of building a shack out of used lumber on his parents’ back fifty acres to house his neighborhood Bible studies. Many times Wayne and his dad would walk to that plot of land and pray about his dream.

After graduating from Fairview High School in 1959, Wayne enrolled at Piedmont Bible College in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Wayne used every opportunity to share his testimony of what Jesus Christ was doing for him. After finishing his second year at Piedmont Bible College, Wayne started home to work in his local church during the summer months. But God had different plans. On May 28, 1961, while driving through Winchester, Virginia, Wayne had a car accident. The next morning, May 29, God reached down and took Wayne’s life.

Did Wayne’s dream also die that morning?

In 1963, Wayne’s parents donated the fifty acres of land that Wayne often prayed on to the Federated Church of East Springfield in memory of their son in order to start a camp for kids.

In 1964, Wayne’s “shack,” built from new lumber, was standing with a kitchen, dining hall, meeting hall, play area, sleeping quarters, complete bathroom, first-aid room, offices, and a store.

As of 2018, there are three modern bunkhouses with complete bathrooms that together hold 180 campers, two barns with nearly thirty horses, a tack shop, an indoor riding arena with heated classrooms, a large pavilion, a general store, a maintenance shop, a swimming pool, wooded areas for hiking and trail rides, and several open playing fields. Wayne's neighborhood continues to grow as groups from Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, Canada, and other areas use WLD Ranch year-round. The facilities are used for sharing God's truth to all who walk in the doors.