MT. BALDY, CA – On Friday, May 23, 2025, The Heroes Project will make history as it breaks ground on California’s first and only Veteran Retreat Center (VRC).
Youngren Construction is proud to be the General Contractor bringing this amazing center to life.
Located on federally managed land, in conjunction with a brand-new General Store and outfitting and guiding company. This groundbreaking initiative will create a permanent mountain sanctuary where U.S. veterans from all military branches can rest, recover, and reconnect through nature, purpose, and the power of the great outdoors.
The project is the brainchild of Tim Medvetz, a mountaineer, who rebuilt his life after surviving a near-fatal motorcycle accident. Determined to help others do the same, Medvetz founded The Heroes Project to give combat-wounded veterans the chance to rediscover their strength by
taking on the world’s most formidable mountains.
Since its inception, The Heroes Project has worked directly with combat wounded veterans to achieve incredible milestones, and highlighted numerous climbing expeditions around the world. The organization made global headlines when retired USMC Sgt. Charlie Linville became
the first below-the-knee amputee veteran on the summit of Mount Everest, redefining what’s possible for combat wounded warriors in their quest to rediscover their purpose in their postmilitary lives.
“For the first 15 years of The Heroes Project, we have asked our veterans to climb; now we are asking them to rest,” said Medvetz. “The VRC is our next summit and is the true evolution of our mission. A place where all veterans can come not just to climb mountains, but to heal, to
breathe, enhance their community and find peace among the peaks.”
More than a building, the Mt. Baldy VRC will serve as a dedicated home for the nonprofit’s acclaimed “Expeditions for Heroes” program, and its reach will extend beyond Southern California to embrace veterans nationwide. The center reflects The Heroes Project’s belief that the journey to recovery can be as powerful and transformative as any summit.
The Groundbreaking Ceremony will unite a diverse and supportive community, including combat-injured veterans, local officials and politicians, members of The Heroes Project Board, Angeles National Forest, the Mt. Baldy Fire Department, and Mt. Baldy community members. Also in attendance will be local business leaders and founding sponsors—Eddie Bauer, Equinox Fitness Clubs, Chrome Hearts, and NKFSB. In a powerful visual tribute to teamwork and perseverance, board members, veterans, and Angeles National Forest representatives will don hard hats for the symbolic breaking of ground.
As the only retreat of its kind in California, the Mt. Baldy VRC will be a living monument to service, strength, and second chances—proving that with the right support, even the tallest obstacles can be overcome.
For more information about The Heroes Project and the upcoming Groundbreaking Ceremony, visit www.theheroesproject.org/VeteranRetreatCenter.
We look forward to attending the Groundbreaking Ceremony and working tirelessly to bring the VRC to life.
In service,
The Youngren Team
