Pizza Ranch to Blaze a Trail in Oak Park Heights

Saddle up, Oak Park Heights: Pizza Ranch is coming your way.

The legendary pizza, chicken (renowned for being The Country’s Best Chicken®), salad and dessert buffet beloved across the Midwest and Great Plains announced today it has signed an agreement with local entrepreneurs and lifelong Stillwater residents, Ernie and Kris Swanson, along with their son, Ernie Swanson Jr. and daughters Julie Hove and Jennifer Swanson, to open the first Pizza Ranch in Oak Park Heights. It will be the brand’s 41st location in the state.

“From the very first time we stepped foot into a Pizza Ranch, we knew that it would be a perfect fit for our hometown,” said Ernie Sr., a seasoned restaurateur who also owns a Pizza Ranch restaurant in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Swanson is planning for a Winter 2016 opening. “The mission and vision that Pizza Ranch has set forth aligns closely with our own personal beliefs, and we are excited to share all that Pizza Ranch has to offer with the community.”

Based in Orange City, Iowa, Pizza Ranch restaurants have earned adoration in their communities for hot and delicious pizzas, golden crispy broasted chicken and fresh healthy salads, all in a fun, authentic, ranch-themed environment.

Beyond the delicious meals it serves, Pizza Ranch in Oak Park Heights, and in every town, goes above and beyond to serve its communities. The restaurant partners with local schools, churches, non-profits and other organizations to host fundraisers and social functions. Restaurants also offer Community Impact Nights, during which members of a participating organization help serve Pizza Ranch guests, while earning donations and a portion of sales from that night. Pizza Ranch prides itself on its commitment to support the communities it calls home, providing these genuine opportunities to raise awareness and much needed funding for local groups and programs that represent and serve their hometowns. True to the brand’s vision, Pizza Ranch locations aim to glorify God by positively impacting the world.

“We’ll be bringing all of the Pizza Ranch features that fans of the brand have grown to love,” added Ernie Sr. “We’ll have community gathering rooms, a drive-thru and of course, the legendary buffet.”

The new Pizza Ranch arrives amid a dynamic growth phase for the brand. In addition to this new location, Pizza Ranch has several additional openings planned for 2016, including Sterling, Illinois and St. Joseph, Missouri. Pizza Ranch’s consistent dedication to evolving its iconic buffet with trending recipes and ingredients, while sustaining favorites such as the Tuscan Roma, Roundup™ and Buffalo Chicken, has won over a loyal and growing base of guests that clamor for the brand in their communities.

The Pizza Ranch experience doesn’t end in the Oak Park Heights restaurant. Pizza Ranch provides its loyal fans with opportunities to enjoy all buffet items, specialized group meals and more outside the ranch through delivery, pick-up and catering options. For more information about Pizza Ranch in Oak Park Heights and elsewhere, visit PizzaRanch.com.

About Pizza Ranch

Cultivating its mission “To give every guest a legendary experience” since its inception in 1981, Pizza Ranch connects with its communities in a way that provides bridges for friends, family and colleagues to come together. Today, Pizza Ranch is based in Orange City, Iowa and owns, operates and franchises more than 195 locations in 13 states. Consistent growth has been a Pizza Ranch staple, with the brand becoming a beacon of community involvement and exceptional food. The Pizza Ranch buffet features legendary pizzas, The Country’s Best Chicken®, salads and desserts, and is delivered with unmatched service quality.