Plans in works to turn horse farm in unincorporated Crete into campus for those on road to sobriety
Rob Hughes | WLS-TV (May 20, 2026)
Rob Hughes of ABC 7 Chicago reported from 2nd Story Ranch in unincorporated Crete, where Executive Director Jim O’Connor and program participants discussed the development of a long-term recovery campus centered on housing, work, and sobriety support for men leaving treatment. The segment followed residents and participants working on the 68-acre horse farm while outlining the ranch’s broader mission to help people rebuild stability through daily structure, employment, and community connection.
The story featured participants who described the challenges of maintaining sobriety and rebuilding their lives after addiction. O’Connor connected the ranch model to his own recovery experience, explaining how work responsibilities, accountability, and supportive relationships shaped his path to long-term sobriety. The report also detailed plans for a 7,000-square-foot residential lodge and highlighted ongoing fundraising efforts to complete the project and expand recovery housing capacity in Will County.
