History
The history of the Cedar Ridge is important because it connects us to the past, highlights the hard work and vision that built the camp, and inspires future generations. It shows the camp’s legacy of faith, community, and growth, helping everyone appreciate its mission and work together to shape its future.
CEDAR RIDGE CAMP: A Brief History
In June 1957, Charles and Dorothy Sibley gave their home and land to Louisville Presbytery to create a camp. They asked that they could still live in the house and tend a garden. The Presbytery promised to take care of the camp and help the Sibleys with money.
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A group of people, led by Dr. Emory Willey, started making plans to turn the land into a camp. By October 1957, experts helped choose areas for picnics, day camping, and fun activities. In the spring of 1958, they dug a lake, filled it with fish, and cleaned up the 62-acre property.
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In June 1958, a letter went out to church members asking for help. Volunteers came every weekend to build picnic tables, tear down old buildings, and get the camp ready. By 1960, the camp had a big lodge, and cabins were being built.
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In 1961, a home for the pastor was built on the property. In 1963, Don Hopkins became the first camp director, and under his leadership, the camp grew. By 1966, a big fundraising campaign began to build a swimming pool, buy more land, and add more improvements. By 1967, they had raised $64,400.
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Over the years, Cedar Ridge continued to grow and change. In 1990, Tommy Brown became the camp director, and by 1993, Cedar Ridge started a big project to improve the camp. They raised money for new buildings, a swimming pool, and more.
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In 1999, Lane Mahaffey became the camp director and helped make Cedar Ridge a place for more kids to enjoy.
By 2001, Rev. Andrew Hartmans became the director and helped improve the camp even more by adding new buildings, new activities, and making the camp better for everyone.
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On July 1, 2020, Cedar Ridge broke ground for the site of the Calvin Chapel. After setbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic, the chapel is now scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2025.
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Today, Cedar Ridge is a 64-acre camp with a 2-acre lake. Kids can enjoy canoeing, fishing, hiking, zip-lining, and playing on the low ropes courses. The camp is a special place where people can connect with nature, each other, and God.