Vet shares dream with county Tucked away in quiet Delta, Patriot Riding Stables and Retreat, LLC, is a sparkling gem for Clay County. Founder Marc C. Frandsen had a vision and decided to do something about it. “I had a dream, very vivid, of helping disabled veterans,” Marc, a veteran himself, said. He said the dream included flash backs and they were very graphic and grim. “This dream led me to divesting all my New Orleans assets and building here. I saw the lodge in my dream and scribbled it down for ‘Little John the Marine’ to build just as I saw it,” he said. Marc was in the Army for over 14 years on active duty, including serving in Desert Storm. He started as a private at Ft. McClellan in Anniston, continuing to be promoted to other positions, advancing up to major. He ended up with a medical discharge. Although Marc and his crew aren’t completely finished with construction, the main “cabin,” riding trails, small lake, etc., are finished and the retreat has already had its open house. Well over 100 people showed up for -Marc Frandsen the day-long festivities held in November of last year. “My goal for the retreat is to break even while providing jobs for good folks, providing a sanctuary/retreat for wounded warriors and their families every third week of each month and using any profit to help church groups and special needs children come to the camp for free,” he said. “We are planning events for special needs kids in local schools right now.” They are currently doing site prep now for a six-suite cabin along the lake. The cabin will have four small rooms and two big ones and is set to be completed early March. “I’m wide open and just following the road the good Lord puts in front of me,” Marc said.
“I had a very vivid dream of helping veterans.”
Marc and several chamber representatives at the Grand Opening in November 2010. Clay County Life
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