CampRivercrest.Org

Rivercrest Our History

Written by Paul Andreas and Jon Malvig

Prior to 1959 the various churches of eastern Nebraska held their annual District Youth Camps in several locations including Camp Ashland, of the Nebraska National Guard, near Ashland, Nebraska. Our problem was one of scheduling the camp at a convenient time which eventually conflicted with the Army's training program. During 1958 the district superintendent, the late Mr. C. R. Thomas with a group of pastors scanned the eastern Nebraska area for a permanent camp location and the purchase of a possible camp site.

They located a piece of ground on the south side of the Platte River about 4 miles southwest of Fremont. It was a "spectacular" purchase of approximately 30 acres of land for an amazing $4,100 or approximately $135 an acre. Ten acres of it consisted of a flat grassy meadow while some 20 acres consisted of woods, bluffs, or slope which gradually descended in elevation some 80 feet to the Platte. The dimensions of the camp were 660 feet wide, with the western boundary approximately 1900 feet long.

The camp is located on the most sacred land of the Pawnee Indians (Pawhuk Ridge).

In the early days all services were held in a tent as were all the sleeping quarters. Eventually the different churches of the area were assigned individual cabin-building projects. Two churches were assigned the responsibility of building the two restrooms. The building of the dining hall was a District-wide project where the men of the entire district donated their labor.

The next major project occurred after a summer storm when tornadic winds destroyed the tent. It was time to build the chapel. Like all the projects up until that time the chapel was built by 95% donated labor and took nearly three years to complete. Some three years later the annex was added which contributed to the attractiveness of the camp. 

Camp facilities began to grow. Someone added the popular "snack shack" while various businessmen provided monies for the basketball court, the patio floor and the 60 foot lookout tower with the breathtaking view of the Platte Valley. The tower was visited by the Nebraska Game and Parks Director, Eugene Mahoney. As a result the great lookout tower at the Platte River State Park, 30 miles to the south was built.

The ever greens surrounding the camp were planted in 1962 by Omaha High Schoolers and, thereafter, the fence and gate were added, The evergreens in the gate area were brought potted from Bemidji, Minnesota at the cost of only 50 cents each.

There are three memorial plaques in the Chapel Annex. They are for Kenneth Steel of Fremont, the Vietnam War casualty for whom the chapel is named; Lyle Pugh of the Omaha Gospel Tabernacle who was killed on his way home from a Camp Rivercrest work day; and Terry Caldwell whose memoriam was given to the camp in remembrance for his devotion to young people.

In the early 80's a much need swimming pool was installed. The swimming pool can handle a maximum of 130 bathers and cost approximately $56,000, some $48,000 was enthusiastically raised by the various churches of the district. By way of a will and donations, through the Rosemont Alliance Church, monies were sent to provide materials for the $19,000 bathhouse completed in 1984. It is, as one state inspector reported, "the finest camp bathhouse in Nebraska".

A loan from the Western District provided the money for the prefabricated caretaker's quarters and the caretakers, Mr. And Mrs. Milo Stumbo, were secured. Glen Morrison of the Omaha-Fremont area, purchased and built a much needed steel warehouse.

The 90's brought more significant changes. The most notable was the addition of the much needed shower house to service the west cabin area.

In 2004 the Mid America District renewed the commitment to push forward with the vision to transform Camp Rivercrest into the "premier camp of the prairies." Out of this vision came the launching of the"Never be the Same" capital campaign. This campaign plan includes new lodging, dining, and recreation facilities that will serve thousands more guest during summer camps and new retreat season programs.

The initial phase of this campaign is complete. Two new state of the art dorm style lodges are now nestled in the woods overlooking the river. These beautiful lodges are a huge blessing and are a foretaste of the many changes to come. God has done great things at Camp Rivercrest since 1958. He is sure to do many more great things in the 50 years to come.