Our History
Camp Highroad's roots can be traced back to the Methodist Camp Meetings, which started in the late 1700’s and continued into the 1950’s. The camp was built in 1949 as a place where Sunday School groups could come to camp and, under the direction of their pastors and teachers, could learn about the outdoors in a Christian setting. The original site had approximately 55 acres, a swimming pool, a dining hall, and several wooden cabins. Horses were borrowed from a neighboring farm to show the campers how to ride, and many nights were spent around a campfire cooking S’mores and singing camp songs. One summer evening in 1959 a fire destroyed the dining hall, but the next day a large tent was erected and all the campers were fed.
Our name came about as a result of a naming contest. A young girl from one of our churches suggested the name “Highroad,” the highroad taken by the young man in the story Pilgrims’ Progress. Although many people try to add an “s” onto our name, Camp Highroad is meant to honor only one road, and it is the road less traveled.
Over the years the size of Camp Highroad has grown, with thirteen different parcels having been obtained since 1949. Today the camp encompasses 620 acres and contains a pond, three heated and air conditioned lodges, two private staff quarters, an office, a maintenance area, 32 other buildings, a swimming pool, an archery range, a mountain board park, a challenge course complex, a climbing call, and five miles of hiking/nature trails. The camp has also grown in its ability to serve a range of guests. Where Highroad initially supported a summer camp program just for Methodist Churches, it is now open year-round and serves all groups whose teachings are compatible with the Methodist faith.