The school opened in July 2006 and was closed in 2020 amid reports and lawsuits filed by former students alleging child abuse, as well as due to an investigation conducted by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

As part of an investigation involving various state agencies, including the Cedar County Sheriff's Department, "at least 24" students were removed by local child protective services in August 2020.

[3][7] The ranch largely evaded detection by authorities due to a law that protected faith-based schools from the requirement of basic oversight.

[9] Amanda set up a TikTok account in May carrying the bio: "My parents own an abusive boarding school for girls.

Videos by Amanda and former residents describing abuse at the ranch amassed more than 33 million views—and finally prompted action.

These residents alleged, among other things, that they had been raped, molested, denied food and water, handcuffed, chained, and forced to stand in front of a wall for hours on end.

[16] "At least 24" students were removed by local child protective services in August 2020 as part of an investigation involving several state agencies, including the Cedar County Sheriff's Department.

They have stated that the allegations against them are false and that they were created by former residents "whose lives didn't turn out the way they wanted after they left the ranch".

[4] In 2021, representatives Rudy Veit and Keri Ingle introduced Missouri House bills 557 and 560, which requires private faith-based facilities and schools[clarification needed] to have basic oversight.

[2][5][27] The ranch was also a subject of the 2023 docuseries Let Us Prey: A Ministry of Scandals, which documented accounts of abuse in the Independent Fundamental Baptist movement.

[5][30] The Householders maintain their innocence, and their defense attorney petitioned for them to be released on bond, stating that they are "very good people ... [with] outstanding reputations and spotless records".

Their bond hearing was held in the Vernon County Circuit Court in the city of Nevada, as the Householders had moved after the closure of the ranch.

[37] In 2023, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey offered Stephanie Householder a plea deal that would involve her testifying against her husband, which she declined.