May 19, 2025

The final Apple Tree Children’s Center building is going to fill again — with a new child care center.

Hollie and Brock Scott are opening Ark Academy at 3309 E. 26th St.

She previously worked at a city-owned child care center in her hometown of Montrose 20 years ago before getting into the insurance industry. Scott credits her pastor at Faith Family Church for helping her realize she wanted to take a different career path.

“I’m all about helping people, and kids are really where my heart is,” she said. “Everyone will tell you that’s around me that I’m a mama bear.”

She was part of the first early childhood education program at Southeast Technical College and credits God for leading her “back to kids,” she said.

Her own children are both younger than 5, and she struggled at times to find the right fit for care.

At Ark Academy, “we’ll keep our ratios low so we don’t have staff burnout,” Scott said. “It will be 1-to-5, so we’ll have low ratios and run it a little different so it feels like a home. There will be stations like a living room and a kitchen, so it will be fun. The lead teacher will stay with a group of kids and grow a bond. If they start as an infant, the lead teacher will stay with them until they leave and go to school.”

After deciding to start a child care center, she drove by the building and texted it to her husband one day, and he agreed to look at it.

“We walked in, and this building was full of stuff — toys, art supplies, furniture — because they had sold their north location and moved everything in here, so it was just bursting,” she said. “It was a little overwhelming, but all I could see the was vision God had given me. I could see kids running around, and it was just really fun, and I said this is the building.”

That was in early December, and while it took some time to work through the numbers, the Scotts reached a deal to lease the building first and then purchase it. They’re giving the paint and carpet a face-lift and putting up a new sign but will be able to use the equipment and furniture already in the building.

“It’s very exciting to see Hollie follow her calling and step into the day care space,” said Isaac Jorgensen of Bender Commercial Real Estate Services, who brokered the space.

“Her passion and care for kids was so obvious the first time we met. Having her lead a center in our community is going to be a blessing to many families.”

There were a variety of uses interested in the location, including nonprofits, other care providers and office users, he said.

“The location, size and layout attracted a lot of interest, but ultimately a day care was the best user for the space being that it was already set up for it — little toilets and all, “Jorgensen said.

Ark Academy is enrolling kids infant through pre-kindergarten and hiring staff. The plan is to start providing care in mid-June, with an open house in early June.

“We’ve seen some good response” now that a temporary sign is up, Scott said. “A lot of families want to get in and see it, but we’re not ready. Once we get carpet installed, we will start opening for tours.”

She also plans to reserve space and be flexible for children in foster care as a way to further serve the community.

“I need an avenue to help the foster system and a way to open up doors for more people to be foster parents,” Scott said.

Three of the four Apple Tree locations closed in March 2024. Along with the 26th Street location, the one at 4101 W. Valhalla Ave. also became a child care center. Vibrant Minds Learning Center opened last year. Volunteers of America, Dakotas purchased the building at 700 N. Sycamore Ave. for its day services programming, which serves adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.