Demolition Ranch
{{Short description|American YouTube channel}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox YouTube personality
| name = DemolitionRanch
| logo =
| logo_caption =
| image = Matt Carriker 2019 (Leon Lush screencap) (cropped 1).jpg
| caption = Matt Carriker in 2019
| birth_name = Matt Carriker
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = American
| occupation =
| website =
| pseudonym =
| channel_handle = DemolitionRanch
| location =
| years_active = 2011–2025
| genre = Firearms/Weaponry
| subscribers = 11.7 million
| views = 2.5 billion
| network =
| silver_button = Yes
| silver_year = 2014
| gold_button = Yes
| gold_year = 2016
| diamond_button = Yes
| diamond_year = 2021
| stats_update = July 17, 2024
}}
Demolition Ranch is a firearms YouTube channel owned by Matt Carriker, a YouTuber based in Boerne, Texas.{{Cite news |last=Lingle |first=Brandon |date=July 15, 2024 |title=Texas-based YouTuber expresses shock his brand associated with Trump's would-be assassin |url=https://www.expressnews.com/business/article/trump-shooter-shock-demolition-ranch-youtube-19573039.php |work=San Antonio Express-News}} The channel was active between 2011 and 2025, when Carriker announced his retirement from YouTube.
History
Founded in 2011{{Cite web |last=Marsden |first=Emma |date=July 14, 2024 |title="Demolition Ranch" owner responds to Thomas Matthew Crooks shooting Trump |url=https://www.newsweek.com/trump-shooter-reportedly-wearing-demolition-ranch-merchandise-t-shirt-1924914 |access-date=July 16, 2024 |website=Newsweek |language=en}} and having around 11 million subscribers,{{Cite web |last=WRAL |date=July 15, 2024 |title=Demolition Ranch YouTuber: 'Shocked and confused' to see Trump shooter wearing my shirt |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/15/business/demolition-ranch-shirt-trump-shooter/index.html |access-date=July 16, 2024 |website=WRAL.com |language=en}} Demolition Ranch publishes content related to firearms and their capabilities.{{Cite web |date=July 15, 2024 |title=What is Demolition Ranch, the YouTube channel on Thomas Matthew Crooks' shirt? - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-rally-shooter-thomas-matthew-crooks-demolition-ranch/ |access-date=July 16, 2024 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}} USA Today described Demolition Ranch as "a variety show of shooting, reviews and entertainment around guns".{{Cite web |last=Penzenstadler |first=Nick |title=Texas gun influencer says he's shocked to see his logo on Trump shooter |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2024/07/15/trump-shooter-gun-influencer-t-shirt/74413114007/ |access-date=July 16, 2024 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}} Weapons that Demolition Ranch has tested and that were mentioned in the media include a golf ball cannon,{{Cite web |last=Smola |first=Travis |date=September 11, 2020 |title=Golf Ball Cannon Just Looks Like Too Much Fun |url=https://www.wideopenspaces.com/video-golf-ball-cannon-just-looks-like-much-fun/ |access-date=July 16, 2024 |website=Wide Open Spaces |language=en-US}} a double-barreled AR rifle,{{Cite web |last=Smola |first=Travis |date=April 14, 2020 |title=Demolition Ranch Tests Out a Double-Barreled AR, the DBR Snake |url=https://www.wideopenspaces.com/video-demolition-ranch-tests-out-a-double-barreled-ar-the-dbr-snake/ |access-date=July 16, 2024 |website=Wide Open Spaces |language=en-US}} and custom shotgun shells.{{Cite web |last=Smola |first=Travis |date=April 9, 2020 |title=Demolition Ranch Pits Custom Shotgun Shells Against a Solid Steel Disc |url=https://www.wideopenspaces.com/video-demolition-ranch-pits-awesome-custom-shotgun-shells-against-a-solid-steel-disc/ |access-date=July 16, 2024 |website=Wide Open Spaces |language=en-US}} In addition, Demolition Ranch has videos of entertaining firearms-related activities such as shooting at an armored car's door,{{Cite web |last=Nestor |first=Eric |date=April 23, 2020 |title=Demolition Ranch Tests the Strength of Armored Bank Truck Door |url=https://www.wideopenspaces.com/demolition-ranch-vs-armored-bank-truck-door/ |access-date=July 16, 2024 |website=Wide Open Spaces |language=en-US}} microwaving a live grenade,{{Cite web |author=Staff Writer |date=July 7, 2020 |title=Demolition Ranch Tries to Microwave a Live Grenade |url=https://www.wideopenspaces.com/what-happens-if-you-microwave-a-live-grendade/ |access-date=July 16, 2024 |website=Wide Open Spaces |language=en-US}} and shooting a truck with a tank.{{Cite web |last=Smola |first=Travis |date=January 30, 2018 |title=Video: 15 of Demolition Ranch's Best and Craziest Gun Videos |url=https://www.wideopenspaces.com/video-15-of-demolition-ranchs-best-and-craziest-gun-videos/ |access-date=July 16, 2024 |website=Wide Open Spaces |language=en-US}}
In 2018, Demolition Ranch had to remove some of their videos due to new YouTube rules.{{Cite web |last=Smola |first=Travis |date=April 3, 2018 |title=Video: Demolition Ranch Talks YouTube's Gun Content Policies, His Channel's Future |url=https://www.wideopenspaces.com/video-demolition-ranch-talks-youtubes-gun-content-policies-his-channels-future/ |access-date=July 16, 2024 |website=Wide Open Spaces |language=en-US}}
In July 2024, Demolition Ranch received media coverage when images and videos showed that the perpetrator of the attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Pennsylvania was wearing a Demolition Ranch shirt during the shooting. On January 28, 2025, Matt announced that he would be leaving YouTube in order to spend more time with his family.{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=Joshua |title=Demolition Ranch Is Retiring from YouTube |url=https://gamerant.com/demolition-ranch-retiring-from-youtube/ |date=February 3, 2025 |access-date=May 19, 2025 |website=Game Rant}}
Carriker's other ventures
= Vet Ranch =
In addition to owning the Demolition Ranch YouTube channel, Carriker is a veterinarian, and owns the veterinary YouTube channel Vet Ranch, which was founded in 2014{{Cite web |date=April 7, 2016 |title=Vet Ranch heals animals, helps them find homes |url=https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/animals/vet-ranch-heals-animals-helps-them-find-homes/273-124675855 |access-date=July 16, 2024 |website=kens5.com |language=en-US}} and has around 2 million subscribers. Carriker graduated from Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in 2008. The channel treats dogs, cats, and other animals in poor medical condition, often taken from the animal shelter San Antonio Pets Alive (SAPA). The channel follows the animals during their veterinary treatment, including surgical procedures, until they are fully recovered. Profits from the channel's ad revenue are used to pay for the surgeries that the animals receive. Karri McCreary, a fellow Texas A&M graduate and veterinarian, also features prominently on the channel.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Connor |date=September 1, 2015 |title=Former A&M student utilizes YouTube to save at-risk pets |url=https://thebatt.com/news/science-technology/former-am-student-utilizes-youtube-to-save-at-risk-pets/ |access-date=July 16, 2024 |website=The Battalion}}
Carriker has stated that in general, injured animals have no chance of getting adopted, and that Vet Ranch gets these animals healthy then sends them to a no-kill shelter for adoption. Some conditions that they treat on Vet Ranch include mange, broken legs, blindness, malnutrition, and animals hit by cars.{{Cite web |date=February 19, 2016 |title=Dog has amazing reaction after vet saves his life and helps him see again |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/12164648/Dog-has-amazing-reaction-after-vet-saves-his-life-and-helps-him-see-again.html |access-date=July 16, 2024 |website=The Telegraph |language=en}} Carriker sums up the channel as "we show the most exciting five minutes of those few months" of veterinary treatment.
= Other businesses =
Carriker also has a vlogging channel called Off The Ranch (previously named Matt Carriker), the influencer clothing company Bunker Branding, and the Desperado Resort in Boerne, Texas.
In January 2025, Carriker announced his retirement from YouTube and revealed that he had listed the Desperado Resort for sale. He expressed interest in slowing down and spending more time with his family.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-29 |title=Demolition Ranch retires from YouTube and puts $15M property up for sale |url=https://www.dexerto.com/youtube/demolition-ranch-retires-from-youtube-and-puts-15m-property-up-for-sale-3050456/ |access-date=2025-01-29 |website=Dexerto |language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{URL|https://bunkerbranding.com/}}
- {{YouTube|handle=DemolitionRanch}}
- {{URL|https://desperadorange.com/}}
- {{YouTube|handle=OffTheRanch|title=Matt Carriker}}
- {{YouTube|handle=VetRanch|title=Vet Ranch}}