Camp House Celebrates a Major Milestone

For a century, laughter, prayer, and community have filled the pines and shores of Camp House in northern Minnesota. Founded in 1923 by railroad employees seeking rest from the grueling work of the Iron Range, the site has grown into a sacred gathering place for thousands who have discovered faith, friendship, and renewal on the banks of Lake George.

The camp’s early years were modest — pine-branch mattresses, meals cooked over an oil stove, and a few repurposed logging cabins. Yet from those simple beginnings, families quickly recognized the beauty and peace of this wilderness setting. That spirit of joy and discovery became the heartbeat of Camp House.

Last month, dozens gathered on site to mark the camp’s 100th anniversary. Former counselors reconnected with campers they had led in the 1960s, stories were told around the table, and a celebratory meal was shared. Through it all, a common thread ran: gratitude for the generations who kept Camp House alive.

In his remarks, Travis Aufderheide, Executive Director, reminded attendees of their role in the ongoing story. “Each generation has been entrusted with a portion of the story. None of us carries it alone. We are entrusted with the care of this sacred ground—not to keep it exactly as it was, but to guard its spirit, to tend its ministry, and to hand it forward in strength and hope.”
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Camp House has faced closures and rebirths, from church transitions in the 1960s to a full restoration in the 1990s led by volunteers with hammers, paintbrushes, and prayers. Today, it stands once more as a place where faith takes root, friendships form, and lives are renewed. As the camp looks ahead, the celebration affirmed one truth: God’s story here is still unfolding.

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a grand celebration

Thank you to everyone who joined us in August to celebrate 100 years of Camp House! Former campers, staff, neighbors, and friends gathered in worship, storytelling, music, and fellowship. The weekend was a beautiful reminder of why Camp House has long been a sacred place of rest and renewal in God’s Northwoods.

Moments of praise, prayer, and music filled Camp House with gratitude as we gathered to thank God for a century of ministry.

Friends from across generations reunited to share stories, laugh together, and remember their time at Camp House.  From sunrise to sunset, Camp House’s Northwoods beauty reminded us of God’s gift of creation.