Retro Friday: Activities on Lake Ridgecrest

Posted by anthologycreative

Lake Ridgecrest is the center of Camp Ridgecrest for Boys. It was the intial step in creating a summer camp for boys back under the administration of the SBC Education Board. Lake Ridgecrest is a 15-acre man-made lake. This picture shows campers canoeing and sailing during their free time. For many years Lake Ridgecrest has been a popular activity among all tribes. The lake looks a little different now with a large dock, floating dock, two blobs, zipline and a slide. Of course we still have canoes and playaks. This summer we are excited that we will be adding paddleboards! Tell us your stories about Lake Ridgecrest! We’d love to hear from you!


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Retro Friday: Spilman Lodge

Posted by anthologycreative

Did you know that Spilman Lodge is the largest and oldest vertical log structure east of the Mississippi River? Spilman Lodge was built in 1942 though this picture was not taken then. Spilman is one of our most popular buildings around camp. When the bugle rings for lunch kids race into Spilman to stand behind their chairs and wait for the stop, clap, clap and “Further Along”. Our campers eat, play tribal activities and have a few different skills in Spilman. We also have a large fireplace in case council ring or campfire are rained out.

We have added an extension on the front of Spilman to include a porch, complete with rocking chairs and our new skill boards, and a wing for the Sioux to be able to eat when they are in camp. Do you remember Spilman Lodge before the extension? We’d love to hear some of your stories about Spilman!


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Retro Friday: The Old Infirmary

Posted by anthologycreative

This picture shows what is now the old Infirmary. The date on the back says 1960, however it still looks very similar today. A major change is the white walls instead of the wood. Phil recalls the beds being removed only a few years ago. This building is now used for our Central Staff during the summer. The infirmary now is one of our newest buildings here at camp. It is also in the middle of camp for easy access. Did you ever have to spend time in the infirmary? Tell us what you remember about the “old” infirmary!


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Retro Friday: Canteen

Posted by anthologycreative

At 3:00pm the Canteen bugle rings out across camp. Seconds later campers come running down from their hills to get their candy and soda. This picture shows canteen at what is now our dry storage building. These campers seem relaxed and happy to have their bottles of soda and ice cream. What is your favorite candy and drink that we have in canteen? Comment below and let us know!


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Retro Friday: Wake Up!

Posted by anthologycreative

Goooooooooood Morning Camp Ridgecrest! Every morning the boys at Ridgecrest are woken up by Reveille and Ron. Campers sprint to the two and four square courts and play until Morning Assembly. The date on the back of the picture says 1960. Does anyone remember how the campers and staff were woken up back then? Though the picture is over 50 years old, Phil still remembers the names on the back wall in that cabin when he was a camper! Do you know what cabin this is? Comment below and let us know!


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Retro Friday: Tribal Trips

Posted by anthologycreative

Each session at camp our tribes go on one trip. This picture shows a tribe getting ready to load up on a bus from Charlotte “Queen City”. The bus is even air conditioned! Notice the boys all in long pants, even in the heat of the summer! Now we rent school buses to transport our campers to and from trips. Do you know where they are going?  Comment below if you remember loading up on a bus like this one. What was your favorite trip you went on with one of our tribes? Let us know!


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Retro Friday: “Historical Ridgecrest” letter from Robert Guy

Posted by phil

Below is a scanned version of the original fundraising letter written by Ridgecrest Manager Robert Guy. Some fascinating things are mentioned, some of which I have commented on below. Enjoy, and feel free to leave your own comments!

Kita-Suma was named by a Japanese Ambassador, it means North View, and was an exclamation of awe and wonder at seeing the thirty peaks of 6000 feet high looking north from Kita-Suma.

The Honolulu Cottage was the first house built after Ridgecrest was founded. The new Camp Ridgecrest Infirmary now sits where this was built.

Echo Rock is near the top of Kita-Suma. Three distinct echo calls will respond to your voice. This is still true! Try it this summer! Echo Rock we believe is the first overlook, about three quarters of the way to the top.

Yates Ave was named for a pioneer Baptist leader.

On the Crest of the Blue Ridge, hence, We name “Ridgecrest.”

Camp Ridgecrest For Boys is a part of the program and work of the assembly. It is located near Big Lake (yes, our lake is big). It has fifteen buildings (any guess how many building we have now?) The Camp Gymnasium (Spilman Lodge) is the largest log building in NC if not in the South. (I have been told it is still the largest upright log structure east of the Mississippi.)

There is no debt on the property. (Wow.)

Did you see what a typical breakfast consisted of? Amazing!

They had some large needs didn’t they? Now one of our largest need is Scholarship Money. It’s amazing to see what the Lord has done over the years. Would you consider continuing to give to Him work being done at Camp Ridgecrest!


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Retro Friday: Old Cabins

Posted by phil

Our Cabins here at Camp Ridgecrest have made quite a bit of progress over the years. There have been a number of renovations including: adding new roofs and higher walls, painting the cabins different colors, adding sky lights, adding block stilts rather than wood, adding small platforms outside the door, adding a small deck to that platform, and now adding a covered porch. It’s neat to watch the transformation over the years! What do you remember?


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Retro Friday: Morning Watch

Posted by phil

Although Camp Ridgecrest has received a number of “face lifts” in many areas over the years, this is one area that has been the bedrock of this place…  hearing about the life of Jesus and what it looks like to follow Him, has always been the focus here at Camp. We hope that this picture, or some version of it, looks very familiar to our campers and staff over the last 80 years.


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Retro Friday: The Look

Posted by phil

So when you look at pictures from Camp Ridgecrest today compared to pictures from the 30’s or 40’s, there is quite a difference. Sure, there are less action shots and more staged pictures. You see less smiles, and almost never see anyone making a goofy face. The clothing is very different.  In the older pictures white tends to be the dominant color. But when you look deeper in the piles of pictures…when you find the one’s that didn’t go to print in the magazines or brochures…you find faces and settings that look more familiar. You can find boys playing in the woods with their shirts off on a hot summer day. You can find a group of college aged counselors cooling off in the canteen over a cold drink, sharing stories from their campouts. You might find lines wrapping the 4 square courts just like they will this summer. Some of those old pictures look like they are in a different world. But some of them look like they could have been taken last summer. Camp has definitely changed over the years, but some things about this place will always stay the same.

Here are a few pictures that you won’t be able to replicate this summer. But man, it’s really cool to look back and wonder what it would have been like to serve the Lord here  a long time ago…


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