Meridell Achievement Center was founded in 1961 by Janet and Wayne Lippold, originally on a 5-acre campus in the Jollyville area of north Austin, TX. Janet discovered her passion for psychiatric care for children while training in Topeka, KS under the famous psychiatrist, Dr. Karl Menninger. After moving to Texas and working various psychiatric nursing jobs, Janet with her husband Wayne self-financed the opening of Meridell as a daycare for children and adolescents with mental health needs, but before the first student enrolled, the couple received increasing demand for 24-hour residential care and thus opened with both programs initially.

As the legend goes, Janet Lippold chose the name “Meridell” because of her family’s Scottish heritage. Meridell in Scotland is believed to mean a “peaceful, safe-haven”.

1961 - Meridell Opens

Meridell Achievement Center opens daycare & residential program for boys & girls aged 5 to 17, on 5 acres in Jollyville, admitting first child on August 1, 1961.

1963 - Residential Programs Expand

Daycare program discontinued in order to focus on expanding residential programs.

1964 - Campus Grows

Patients’ families help finance expansion to build 36-bed residence & 4-room schoolhouse.

1967 - Westwood Program Opens

The 300-acre campus opened for the adolescent boys ranch program in Liberty Hill & named Westwood program.

1975 - Meridell Sold

Meridell Achievement Center sold to program staff, including psychiatrist Dr. Michael Wiener.

1982 - Lippold Hall Built

Lippold Hall, an 18-bed residence is built on Liberty Hill campus, named after founders.

1985 - UHS Acquires Meridell

Universal Health Services, Inc (UHS, Inc) acquires Meridell Achievement Center, including the Jollyville campus & current 63-acres of the 300-acre Liberty Hill campus.

1986 - Windridge Program Opens

Jollyville campus relocates to Cedar Park with the building of a new 46-bed residence & named Windridge program.

1989 - Liberty Hill Renovated

On Liberty Hill campus, new residences & buildings for administration, therapy offices, school, cafeteria, & gymnasium are built & pre-existing buildings removed, except Lippold Hall.

1995 - Specialty Neurobehavioral Program Created

Meridell Achievement Center develops & debuts a one-of-a-kind neurobehavioral specialty program for adolescents with aggressive & impulsive behaviors.

2001 - Cedar Park moves to Liberty Hill

Cedar Park campus consolidates onto Liberty Hill campus after a new 64-bed residence is built on the Liberty Hill campus, bringing the total single-campus bed capacity to 112.

2008 - Meridell Increases Children

20-bed residence built for children’s program, in order to serve more adolescent girls, increasing licensed bed capacity to 134.

2016 - Residential Program Expands

Physical bed capacity expanded & children’s program discontinued in order to address growing residential treatment needs for adolescent girls.