Facility profile West Virginia

Alldredge Wilderness Journey

Also known as Alldredge Academy

Closed Davis, West Virginia

Alldredge Wilderness Journey was a wilderness therapy in Davis, West Virginia, formerly run by InnerChange. It operated from 1999 to 2008.

About Alldredge Wilderness Journey

It was owned by Solacium Holdings, LLC.source It was renamed to Alldredge Wilderness Journey; dropped the Academic Phase of the program.source 1, source 2 It was run by Solacium.source It closed in 2008.source

It was founded by L. Jay Mitchell.source It was later called Alldredge Wilderness Journey and the Ayne Institute.source It was run by Alldredge Academy Inc and Ayne Institute run by L. Jay Mitchell; Greenbrier School for Girls.source

It was accredited by JCAHO comprehensive accreditation, one of first wilderness programs to receive it.source Licensing: in violation of its Forest Service permit per the GAO.source

Timeline

From the records: who ran it and the deals that moved it, its names, and the deaths, incidents, inspection findings, lawsuits and news stories on file. Point at an event, or tap "More about this", for the details.

19992001200220062007200819992008

  1. 1999

    1. Opened

      Opened in Davis, West Virginia

  2. 2001

    1. DeathFebruary 13, 2001

      Ryan Lewis, 14, died here

      Died by suicide

      Ryan Lewis, 14, died here February 13, 2001

      source

    2. Incident

      Closure order

      The West Virginia DHHR director ordered Alldredge to cease operating after investigators found numerous violations.

      Closure order

      source

    3. Incident

      Death

      A student died in 2001 at Alldredge Academy; the parents later sued the school and won.

      Death

      source

    4. IncidentFebruary 12, 2001

      Death

      A 14-year-old in the Alldredge Academy wilderness program died by hanging on February 12, 2001, a day after showing a counselor he had slashed his forearms...

      Death February 12, 2001

      A 14-year-old in the Alldredge Academy wilderness program died by hanging on February 12, 2001, a day after showing a counselor he had slashed his forearms; the instructor reportedly returned his knife.

      source

  3. 2002

    1. IncidentJune 2002

      Criminal charge

      After the 2001 death the director and a counselor were indicted for child neglect resulting in death; the center pled no contest and was fined $5,000 in June 2002.

      Criminal charge June 2002

      source

    2. IncidentAugust 2002

      License action

      In August 2002 a court-approved agreement with the DHHR let the center reopen under a new name and barred its founder from any management or staff role.

      License action August 2002

      source

  4. 2006

    1. Incident

      Lawsuit

      A 2002 negligence and fraud lawsuit by a deceased teen's parents was settled in 2006 for $1.2 million with an admission of responsibility.

      Lawsuit

      source

    2. IncidentApril 17, 2006

      Incident

      A document signed by L.

      Incident April 17, 2006

      A document signed by L. Jay Mitchell and notarized April 17, 2006 acknowledged that Alldredge Academy, Ayne Institute and Mitchell failed in their responsibility for the safety of the teen who died in 2001.

      source

  5. 2007

    1. New name

      Renamed Alldredge Wilderness Journey

      It had been Alldredge Academy.

  6. 2008

    1. Closed

      Closed

As Alldredge Academy

1999 to 2007

Deaths on record

Incidents on record

  1. 2001 Closure order

    The West Virginia DHHR director ordered Alldredge to cease operating after investigators found numerous violations.source

  2. 2001 Death

    A student died in 2001 at Alldredge Academy; the parents later sued the school and won.source

  3. February 12, 2001 Death

    A 14-year-old in the Alldredge Academy wilderness program died by hanging on February 12, 2001, a day after showing a counselor he had slashed his forearms; the instructor reportedly returned his knife.source 1, source 2

  4. June 2002 Criminal charge

    After the 2001 death the director and a counselor were indicted for child neglect resulting in death; the center pled no contest and was fined $5,000 in June 2002.source

  5. Criminal charge

    Lionel Mitchell was indicted on charges of negligent child abuse after a resident at Alldredge Academy committed suicide.source

  6. August 2002 License action

    In August 2002 a court-approved agreement with the DHHR let the center reopen under a new name and barred its founder from any management or staff role.source

  7. 2006 Lawsuit

    A 2002 negligence and fraud lawsuit by a deceased teen's parents was settled in 2006 for $1.2 million with an admission of responsibility.source

  8. Lawsuit

    A lawsuit against Alldredge Academy and Ayne Institute named L. Jay Mitchell among the defendants; the complaint alleged racketeering, negligent child abuse, fraud, assault, battery and negligence.source

  9. April 17, 2006 Incident

    A document signed by L. Jay Mitchell and notarized April 17, 2006 acknowledged that Alldredge Academy, Ayne Institute and Mitchell failed in their responsibility for the safety of the teen who died in 2001.source

News coverage

  • Woodbury Reports Oct 1, 2001 General

    Seen and Heard - October 2001

    This industry newsletter compilation details various administrative updates, staff appointments, program expansions, and leadership changes across multiple therapeutic boarding schools, wilderness programs, and youth residential facilities for October 2001. Notices include new program accreditations, facility curriculum updates, and personnel transitions within the troubled teen industry.

  • The New York Times Jul 15, 2001 Expose

    States Pressed As 3 Boys Die At Boot Camps

    Following the deaths of three teenagers at separate outdoor and wilderness programs in 2001, state lawmakers and child advocates increased calls for stronger government regulation and oversight of the troubled teen industry. The article examines disparities in state laws governing camp operating standards, personnel qualifications, and medical safety.

  • Seen 'n Heard Jan 1, 2000 General

    Seen 'n Heard - Jan, 2000 Issue (page 3)

    The issue provides brief news items about several residential programs, noting a lawsuit by former employees of Cross Creek Manor, the announced closure of Royal Haven, and various program activities such as presentations, graduations, and service expansions. It reports on updates from multiple facilities without detailing individual incidents.

As Alldredge Wilderness Journey

2007 to 2008 | InnerChange

Lawsuits

News coverage

Staff

Administration

  • Lionel J. Mitchell

    Former Founder and Director, Director (1999, r/troubledteens wiki)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • Patrick O'Brien

    Former Village Program Directorsource

  • Michael Beswick

    Former Head of Schoolsource

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • Jim Browning

    Former Executive Director (2007, r/troubledteens wiki)source

  • Angie Scenic Shockley

    Former Directorsource

    Elsewhere in the industry

Notable staff

  • James R. Morton, Jr.

    Former Curriculum developer (before 2009)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

    • Achievement Transitions Group Founder, 2004
    • Achievement Transition Group, Inc. CEO, 2009
    • Mount Bachelor Academy Wilderness department staff, before 2009

  • Ashley Auchterlonie

    Former Director of Marketing (2007)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

    • Solacium Group Marketing Director, 2007
    • Alldredge Academy and Greenbrier Academy Director of Marketing, before 2007
    • Greenbrier Academy for Girls Director of Marketing, 2007
    • Solacium Sunrise, LLC – Sunrise RTC Director of Marketing, 2008
    • Fulshear Treatment to Transition – The Ranch Director of Marketing, 2009
    • Insight Intensive at Gold Lake Director of Business Development, 2011
    • New Haven Director of Marketing, 2009
    • Fulshear Treatment to Transition director of marketing

  • Marian J. Browning

    Former Financial and Human Resources Director (2007)source

  • Ron Schwenkler

    Former Co-developer, After Care program (before 2007)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • John Grago

    Former Admissions Director (2007)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • Glenn F. Bender

    Former Director of Admissions and Marketingsource

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • Sandra J. Schmiedeknecht

    Former Medical Directorsource

    Elsewhere in the industry

    • Eckerd Youth Academy Aftercare & Alumni Coordinator
    • Achievement Transition Group, Inc Director of Admissions and Marketing
    • Novus Director of Admissions and Marketing
    • Q & A Associates Life Coach
    • Eckerd Youth Alternatives Staff

  • Lance Wells

    Former Staffsource

  • Ray Gwilliam

    Former Director of Extended Staysource

  • L. Jay Mitchell

    Former Staff (1994-2022, r/troubledteens wiki)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • Carrie Hawkins

    Former Wilderness Field Supervisorsource

  • Tom Harvey

    Former Wilderness Field Supervisorsource

    Elsewhere in the industry

    • Wisdom Ranch School Staff

  • John Weston White

    Former Counselor (2001, r/troubledteens wiki)source

  • Paul Fowler

    Former Staffsource

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • J. Weston White

    Former Employeesource

  • Audrey Peavey

    Former Staffsource

    Elsewhere in the industry

    • Right Direction Adolescent Services Staff, before 2012
    • Q and A Associates Admissions and Marketing Director, 2012
    • Wisdom Ranch Admissions and Marketing Director, 2012
    • New Horizons for Young Women Admissions Director
    • Greenbrier Academy for Girls Director of Admissions and Outreach
    • Potomac Programs Outreach Director
    • Behavioral Health Director of Admissions and Outreach
    • Natsap Staff

  • Gary Mullenax

    Former Staffsource

    Elsewhere in the industry

    • Q & A Associates Staff

  • Jennifer Randall

    Former Staffsource

    Elsewhere in the industry

    • Q & A Associates Staff

  • Joan Huffman

    Former Staffsource

    Elsewhere in the industry

    • Q & A Associates Staff

  • Joe Hunter

    Former Staffsource

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • Keith Bishop

    Former Staffsource

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • Sarah Fletcher

    Former Staffsource

    Elsewhere in the industry

  • Scott Huffman

    Former Staffsource

    Elsewhere in the industry

    • Q & A Associates Admin Asst and Manager of Deerfield

Connections on the network map

The companies, people and programs our research map ties to this program. Open it on the network map.

Other staff

Documents

Documents on file (15)
Woodbury Reports Mentions (14)

Research that mentions this program

The whole research library

From SCIAD NET

2 documents about Alldredge Wilderness Journey that Kids Over Profits does not hold a copy of. SCIAD NET keeps them on Google Drive, where they open.

Program Documents (1)
Program Info (1)

Wiki entries

Materials and links

External links

A program's own website is linked as an archived snapshot, so the page reads as it did when it was captured.

Government records

4 of these from SCIAD NET.

Other links

Record updated . Generated from the Kids Over Profits facility database. Suggest a correction