MADISON, Miss. (WJTV) – After nearly three decades, The Ranch in Madison, a beloved daycare, was closed. According to Madison leaders, the daycare facility failed a Mississippi State Health Department (MSDH) inspection, which included fire code violations, like missing alarms and sprinklers.

On Saturday, a prayer walk was held in support of The Ranch. The owner, Austin O’Kelly, said the support from the community is appreciated.

“I never dreamed that this many people would come together and and care about us and want us to keep going. And so, I felt like I needed to spend my Saturday and Sunday out here just letting them come pray for us in person opposed to online,” he said.

Mike Land, who lives in Madison, said The Ranch has always been a respectable place that promotes prayer.

“I can tell you, from raising three children here from birth to now, all of them are around 30, we don’t have enough in Madison for children, an atmosphere, a Christian atmosphere like this,” Land said.

The city clarified that it did not shut down The Ranch, but they said it was informed by the facility last Friday that it could no longer operation. Officials said they regret that parents were not notified until this past Monday.

O’Kelly invited the community to come out and join him every weekend for more prayer walks.