|
The former Gaines estate is the site of
Spirit Lake Recovery Center, currently
undergoing renovation and set to open later
this year.
A new rehabilitation facility is expected to
open in McKenzie the first of December
offering those with drug and alcohol
addictions hope for a better life, according
to local organizers.
Spirit Lake Recovery Center is being
privately developed and will incorporate
some of Celebrate Recovery program, along
with a Christian 12-step program modeled
after Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and
Narcotics Anonymous (NA).
The facility is located at the site of the
former Ben and Ludie Gaines estate on Old
McKenzie Road, just outside McKenzie city
limits.
Principal owner of the new facility is Dr.
Dan Sumrok, who operates a private medical
practice on Cedar Street in McKenzie. Other
principal parties include Jimmy King, Warren
Hartz Jr., Mike Kelley and other interested
persons. Judge Larry Logan serves on the
facility’s board of directors and CPA John
Wright will serve as accountant.
The residence is currently undergoing
renovation to modify it into the
rehabilitation center. Local contractor
Micah Beasley is overseeing the renovation
project, along with TLM Architectural firm
of Jackson.
The center will have a capacity for 15
clients initially, and will offer equine
assisted psychotherapy, music therapy, art
therapy, as well as A.A. and N.A. individual
and group psychotherapy. Plans call for a
140 ft. x 200 ft. indoor arena for equine
assisted programs, as well as sports and
recreational activities, said Kelley.
“Our program is unique in what it offers
with treatment in a faith-based,
Christ-centered atmosphere,” he added.
Staff will be on duty at the facility 24
hours a day, 7 days a week for the private
pay clients. Staffing will initially begin
with 13-18 personnel. A facility
administrator will oversee day-to-day
operations at the center. Several local
ministers are also expected to be involved
in the recovery process.
The 67-acre grounds are being designed as an
educational experience, said Kelley.
Multiple walking and riding trails will be
utilized in learning and healing.
Additional outpatient group therapy is
currently available at the local office of
Dr. Sumrok, and one night per week a support
group will meet at Common Grounds, a local
coffee shoppe on Cedar Street in downtown
McKenzie, beginning in August. These
activities are combined with the program at
Spirit Lake Center.
Dr. Sumrok said principal officers of the
group have been in contact with other drug
treatment centers in adjoining counties, who
are very receptive to working with Spirit
Lake Center.
The program is designed to be a 40-day
in-house stay and will incorporate some of
Saddleback Church Minister Rick Warren’s
Purpose Driven Life message in discovering
“one’s own purpose.”
Fourteen years ago, Saddleback Church in
California launched Celebrate Recovery with
43 people. It was designed as a program to
help those struggling with hurts, habits,
and hang-ups by showing them the power of
Jesus Christ through a recovery process.
Since that time, Celebrate Recovery has
helped more than 7,500 people at Saddleback,
attracting over 70 percent of its members
from outside the church.
The local recovery program’s goal is to
primarily assist clients in west and middle
Tennessee, but will assist people “from
wherever they come throughout the U.S.,”
added Dr. Sumrok. |
The McKenzie Banner
