grat·i·tude: the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.
Nature Immersed
Fitness & Wellness
MedFit at Gratitude Ranch in Murrieta, CA is a serene, nature-immersed wellness destination created to support restorative health, personal growth, and community connection. Set on 15-acres of tranquil grounds, this property will be a gathering place where movement, mindfulness, and nature converge to nurture whole-person wellness. MedFit at Gratitude Ranch offers a backdrop of calm and inspiration.
Fitness and Event Center
At the heart of the property is the 2,800-square-foot Fitness & Event Center, designed as a hub for movement, education, and community gatherings.
This versatile space hosts:
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Personal training sessions rooted in MedFit’s expertise
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Wellness seminars and educational events
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Community meetups and retreats
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Training clients benefit from an infrared spa, offering a restorative environment to support recovery, relaxation, and balance after physical activity.
Services
Equine Therapy and
Future Retreat Space
We are excited to introduce Equine Fitness and Therapy experiences on site. The stables will soon offer opportunities to engage with horses in programs that support emotional wellbeing, movement exploration and therapeutic connection to animals.
Plans are underway to develop an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) on the property as a dedicated retreat space, providing overnight accommodations for visiting practitioners, small group retreats, immersive programs, and continuing education experiences.
A Place to Grow Wellness
MedFit at Gratitude Ranch is not just a destination, it’s a vision for inclusive wellness rooted in nature, movement, education, and support.
Whether you’re participating in a fitness workshop, enjoying quiet time on the trails, or engaging with our therapeutic offerings, Gratitude Ranch invites you to slow down, move deeply, and reconnect with what matters most.
Message from the Founder
Some of you may know that I was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2024. I am happy to say that I am on the other side of this journey now. It has been a challenging and life-changing experience.
At first, I was in denial. During my annual physical, everything appeared to be fine, and then my mammogram revealed cancer. I was angry —“No, I don’t want cancer!” My dad had battled cancer four times, and hearing that I had it was my worst nightmare. I fell into a spiral of denial, thinking, “This can’t be right?! Why is this happening to me?” I had always eaten a healthy, clean diet and exercised every day. After denial came sadness, followed by anxiety and depression.
During this difficult time, I visited La Cresta/Murrieta, CA, and spent time at a horse sanctuary and around farm animals, which lifted my spirits when I didn’t know how to keep them up. I realized that I couldn’t simply “breathe” my way out of a cancer diagnosis.
After these uplifting visits, I’d return to the reality of dealing with my diagnosis and the stress of managing my medical fitness center in Costa Mesa. The stress led to high blood pressure, and I knew I had to make significant changes for my mental and physical health.
I made the decision to close my center in Costa Mesa and sell the building. My apartment lease was up at this time.
I needed to find a new place to live that would offer a more healing and stress-free environment. After searching on HorseProperties.com, I discovered a 15-acre equestrian ranch that I felt could serve as my new home and the future site for my nonprofit project, MedFit, which I have been running for the past 13 years.
I have relocated my mission to La Cresta, where I’ve established MedFit at Gratitude Ranch. This space will offer fitness, equine therapy, hiking, education, and special events. I will have horses and other animals, hoping they will bring comfort to visitors, just as they did for me. The ranch has spectacular views and a healing energy.
I choose to view my cancer diagnosis as a gift. It has made me reevaluate many aspects of my life in a positive way. I am grateful every day that I am alive—something I used to take for granted.
About the Area
MedFit at Gratitude Ranch sits in the Tenaja area of the Santa Rosa Plateau; Tenaja encompasses approximately 6,400 acres of spacious rural land in the Santa Rosa Coastal Mountain Range between the city of Murrieta and the Cleveland National Forest.
The Ranch is uniquely positioned near one of Southern California’s most treasured ecological landscapes, the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve and the surrounding La Cresta countryside. This protected natural area offers an extraordinary example of California’s biodiversity.
The Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve protects thousands of acres of rare and diverse habitats, from oak woodlands and coastal sage scrub to native grasslands and seasonal vernal pools. (Its vernal pools are home to unique species, including fairy shrimp that live in these seasonal wetlands and exist nowhere else on Earth.)
With miles of multi-use trails, the Plateau invites activities like hiking, birdwatching, horseback riding, and interpretive nature walks, perfect for mindful movement, trail runs, or restorative walks in nature.
Throughout the surrounding La Cresta hills and plateau countryside, community trails provide endless opportunities for exploration, trail running, horseback riding, and nature connection.
Close by, natural features like Tenaja Falls in the Cleveland National Forest offer a refreshing destination for hikers and outdoor explorers seeking the beauty of seasonal waterfalls and lush canyon terrain.
Just a short drive from Gratitude Ranch is the beautifully restored Murrieta Hot Springs Resort, a historic Southern California wellness destination known for its mineral-rich geothermal waters. With dozens of naturally heated pools and a relaxing spa atmosphere, it’s a perfect nearby spot for rest, recovery, and rejuvenation.
Traveling to Gratitude Ranch
Nearby Airports
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McClellan-Palomar (CLD): 55 miles
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Ontario International (ONT): 57 miles
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John Wayne (SNA): 65 miles
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San Diego (SAN): 78 miles
Nearby Hotels
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Comfort Inn & Suites Murrieta Temecula Wine Country (approx. 6.2 miles)
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Holiday Inn Express & Suites Murrieta – Temecula (approx. 6.3 miles)
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Hampton Inn & Suites Murrieta Temecula (approx. 6.3 miles)
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Courtyard by Marriott Temecula Murrieta (approx. 6.4 miles)
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Residence Inn by Marriott Temecula Murrieta (approx. 6.4 miles)
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Murrieta Hot Springs Resort (approx. 6.5 miles)