R
ancho Mission Viejo, a 23,000‑acre master‑planned community and working cattle ranch in Orange County, California, has been selected by the Global Wellness Institute (GWI) as one of the world’s largest intentional wellness real‑estate projects. The community is one of only 13 featured in GWI’s new “Build Well to Live Well” case‑study report, underscoring its measurable health benefits.
“Being recognized by GWI is a tremendous honor and confirms our long‑standing belief that thoughtful community design can drive wellbeing,” said Jeremy Laster, President of Rancho Mission Viejo. “From land stewardship to neighborhood layout and resident programming, we’ve always aimed to give people easy access to nature, space, and connection so they can pursue all aspects of wellness at any life stage.”
The GWI report highlights The Ranch as a model for how large residential developments can achieve tangible wellness outcomes. A recent “America at Home” study found wellness to be the top factor influencing housing choices, and a resident survey revealed that 82 % of residents feel their overall wellbeing is supported by living on The Ranch.
Teri Slavik‑Tsuyuki, Co‑Chair of GWI’s Wellness Communities & Real Estate Initiative, noted, “Rancho Mission Viejo demonstrates what can happen when wellness is woven into every element of a community. It’s more than amenities; it’s about creating opportunities for healthier, more connected, and meaningful lives.”
Wellness permeates every layer of the built environment: preserved open space in the Nature Reserve, walkable streets, intergenerational Gavilán 55+ homes, a community farm, cutting‑edge amenities and sports parks, climate‑resilient design, wildfire adaptation measures, and a vibrant calendar of resident events that foster connection.
Katherine Johnston, Senior Research Fellow at GWI, added, “Wellness real estate is the fastest‑growing sector in the U.S., projected to grow 15.2 % annually from 2024 to 2029 and surpass $1 trillion globally. While many projects remain small and boutique, Rancho Mission Viejo shows how to scale wellness real‑estate successfully.”
For more information, visit www.ranchomissionviejo.com.
**About Rancho Mission Viejo**
Rancho Mission Viejo, LLC is a family‑owned, privately held company that manages ranching, farming, planning, development, and financial operations on 23,000 acres in unincorporated South Orange County. Since 1882, the O’Neill/Moiso/Avery family has owned the land, which once spanned over 200,000 acres and now includes Ladera Ranch, Las Flores, Mission Viejo, and Rancho Santa Margarita, as well as Caspers Wilderness Regional Park, Starr Ranch Audubon Sanctuary, O’Neill Regional Park, and Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.
The community is developed in partnership with DMB Associates, an Arizona‑based real‑estate firm with holdings across Arizona, California, Hawaii, and Utah.
SOURCE: Rancho Mission Viejo
