Deep in the heart of the Texas Panhandle, the Palo Duro Canyon stretches wide. Its rugged red walls reveal untamed beauty at every turn. Dirk and Kristin van Reenen know its secrets well.
To them, this land is more than a scenic backdrop—it’s a calling.
As the second-largest canyon in the United States, Palo Duro Canyon spans 120 miles in length, stretches up to 20 miles wide, and plunges as deep as 800 feet. Years ago, when money was tight, it became the Van Reenens’ refuge. They pitched tents, rode bikes, and found peace in the quiet wonder of the canyon. Those moments sparked a vision: to one day create a private park where others could experience the same connection to nature—and to each other.
That vision became MERUS Adventure Park.
Dirk van Reenen has always been an entrepreneur—someone who sees potential in people, in ideas, and in the land itself. Over the years, he built successful businesses and led teams with a passion for service. “I’ve always loved business, building great teams, and providing amazing service to customers,” he says.
But Dirk is more than a businessman—he’s also a husband and a father. He and his wife, Kristin, have been married for 18 years and are raising two kids, Jaxson and Kate. In 2020, during the quiet of the pandemic, they felt a pull to slow down and reconnect with each other and nature.
It was on a family camping trip that Dirk felt a spiritual nudge. “I felt God tell me that it was time to build the park,” he recalls. The vision for MERUS Adventure wasn’t just about business—it was about creating a place where people could unplug from the noise, experience the land in a raw and meaningful way, and connect deeply with themselves and others.
When Dirk began looking for a lending partner to bring MERUS Adventure Park to life, his dad, a farm and ranch real estate agent, recommended Plains Land Bank.
“From the first time I met Clay Conrad and the team at Plains, they’ve always taken great care of us,” Dirk said. “The communication, customer service, and ability to help us move our vision forward have been instrumental.”
That trust has only deepened over time. Plains Land Bank has remained a steady partner in MERUS Adventure Park’s journey, from its earliest days to the thriving, community-centered destination it is today.
Set on 5,500 acres of ranch land bordering the canyon’s rim, MERUS Adventure Park brings together everything Dirk and his family love about the outdoors: off-roading trails, hiking paths, hidden caves, and wide-open skies.
Since opening, it’s drawn visitors from across the country, created local jobs, and hosted veteran-focused events that offer connection and healing through the outdoors. For Dirk, it’s also deeply personal. His children now help steward the land, developing the same love and respect for Palo Duro Canyon that inspired MERUS Adventure Park in the first place.
It stands as a powerful example of what’s possible when entrepreneurship and legacy go hand in hand. And with each guest who visits, MERUS Adventure becomes not just a park but a place where connection grows and stories begin.
