Historic Camps of Bethel

2013

WELLSPRINGS ADVENTURE CAMP at CAMP HOPE

   Severed ties with the town of Canton and Camp Hope after a legal battle involving neighbors and the Town of Canton; neighbors claimed the camp was not being used for its intended purpose.

2021

CAMP HOPE

Suffered devastating damage during the deluge of Tropical Storm Fred

BETHEL/CRUSO CAMPS - DATES

Camp Daniel Boone – 1941 – today on Little East Fork

Camp Henry – 1959 – 2000 in Black Mountain; 2002 – today at Lake Logan

Camp Hope – 1926 – 2021 in Cruso

High Valley Camp – 1934 – 1961 in Springdale in Cruso

Land of the Sky Wilderness School (LOTSWILD Camp) – 2003 – 2008 in Swannanoa; 2009 – today with base camp on Burnette Cove in Cruso

Wellsprings Adventure Camp – 2005 – 1913 at Camp Hope in Cruso

HISTORIC BETHEL/CRUSO CAMP BUILDINGS THAT CONTINUE TO EXIST:

CAMP DANIEL BOONE

  • Dining Lodge
  • Vance Lodge (training facility)
  • Osborne Lodge (ranger’s house)
  • Damtoft Lodge (health lodge)
  • Reuben Robertson Lodge (camp program lodge)
  • Boonesboro Village (living history museum
  • Chip’s Chapel
  • Lake Allen

CAMP HENRY

  • Utilizes all East side campus buildings at the Lake Logan Episcopal Center
  • Main Lodge
  • Johnson Dining Hall
  • Weinhauer Dorm
  • Cabins in the Woods
  • Little cabins for staff: Cherry, Chestnut, Hemlock, Oak, and White Pine.

CAMP HOPE

  • Rock Pavilion that includes open areas, kitchen, and dining hall
  • Restrooms
  • Several small camp buildings

LAND OF THE SKY WILDERNESS SCHOOL (LOTSWILD CAMP

      Base camp cabins in Burnette Cove in Cruso

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bethel Rural Community Organization's From New College to Springdale DVD, Doug Chambers Productions, 2016.

Bowling, Caitlin. “Canton's Fight to Keep Camp Hope Takes a New Turn.” The Mountaineer, January 16, 2013.

Bowling, Caitlin. “Couple Alleges Canton Not Adhering to Deed Restrictions for Camp Hope Property.” The Mountaineer, June 13, 2012.

Boy Scouts of America – Daniel Boone Council.  “Council History.”

Haney, Dee Anna. “Camp Hope, Then and Now.” The Mountaineer, Aril 17, 2013.

Hyatt, Vicki. “Camp Hope Takes a Beating.” The Mountaineer, September 13, 2021.

Lake Logan – Our History. https://www.lakelogan.org/about/history/

The Mountaineer. “Boy Scouts of American – Daniel Boone Council, Council History.” June 13, 2012.

AUTHOR AND ASSISTANTS

Evelyn Coltman, Historic Preservation Committee Chair of Bethel Rural Community Organization, authored this report with assistance from others listed below. Thanks to everyone who helped with this project.  

Dick Alexander – deceased (High Valley Camp, New College, Springdale)

Nancy Armstrong (Camp Henry)

Spencer 2 Dogs Bolejack (LOTSWILD Wilderness Camp)

Sadie McNair (Camp Henry and Outdoor School at Lake Logan Episcopal Center)


*Data for this report is from sources listed in the Bibliography as well as from oral information.  Determining correct dates and precise information about camps , some from one hundred years ago for which there is little written documentation and with details derived from oral sources, means that information may need correction or updating.  

Contact Bethel Rural Community Organization's Historic Preservation Committee at haywoodbrco@gmail.com or write to us at PO Box 1333, Waynesville, NC 28786 if you have verifiable data to augment this report.


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