(Check out some old pictures on the Blast from the Page page)
1958 - Irvine UMC builds a spring fed swimming pool on their 84 acres at Fitchburg for their camping program called “Estill County Youth Center”. Board of Education of the KY Conference looks for centrally located potential sites.
1959 - Campsite Location Committee recommends 190 acres be purchased in Estill County and that a Master Plan be established prior to development.
1960 - 106 acres purchased at Fitchburg. Irvine Methodist Church under the leadership of Rev. O.P. Smith, donates additional 84 acres and the existing swimming pool was purchased from the church. The Master Plan was begun.
For the next few years, summer camp was held with the boys housed in the old Masonic Lodge hall, girls in the Fitchburg one room school, and meals served out of an old farm house.
1963 - Wurtland Methodist Chruch submitted the winning name and the camp was officially named “Aldersgate Methodist Camp.” Keys to the dining hall, bath house, tent platforms, water plant and sewer system were turned over to the camp committee.
1964 - Aldersgate formally opened May 24th with an open house and worship service.
1972 - Mr. Art Logue hired as first on site full-time manager. Art and Libby, his wife, served as camp manager and dietitian for 17 years.
1974 - O.P. Smith lodge winterized and 8 bedrooms built to house year round retreats.
1985 - Camp director’s residence completed. Additional 75 acres on west side purchased.
1989 - Art Logue retired and Rev Lee Padgett became first full-time on site camp director.
1990 - Two day consultation and evaluation of program and facilities conducted with Chuck Kispaugh, U.M. National Camp Consultant.
1991 - New swimming pool dedicated. (The larger) low water bridge replaced with concrete and steel bridge. Aldersgate Camp Rd paved up to parking lot for the first time.
1992 – Drainage system installed on trail to cabins and by entrance to West side of camp by Hinkle Contracting as a donation. Timber Harvest begun on West side of camp. Old swimming pool filled in. Circle drive to cottage 1 completed. Pond construction by Fitchburg Road begins.
1993 - Kaleidoscope, Inc. employed to conduct feasibility study. Cottage I completed with funding and labor from First United Methodist Church, Lexington. New Cabin #10 built by volunteers. Conference VIM teams began Cottage II.
1994 - Long Range Planning Committee formed to update master plan. Outpost camp constructed with volunteers. Low Ropes course built through Signature, Inc.. Bath house winterization begun.
1995 - Old town pond dug out. Conference U.M. Men accept challenge to build Cottage III. Additional 14.75 acres including old Fitchburg General Store and old barn purchased along north boundary on December 13.
1996 - Cottage II complete. Camp office built. Bath house winterization completed. Updated master Plan presented to KY Annual conference. Central AC added to O. P. Smith dining hall and kitchen. Suspension Bridge built leading to Backpacking camp – constructed by a joint “uniting” effort between the formal Louisville Conference VIM team and the former KY Conference VIM team.
1997 - Thirty six acres purchased on North end of camp with new house at 51% completion. Old Barn stabalized and stairs added to loft. First camp “farm” animal donated – Delila, a sheep.
1998 - Original Aldersgate Camp Web Site created. Creation Sensation, the Christian environmental education program, complete with farm animals including our first llama named Pumpkin, Lincoln, Larry; opened in old restored barn. Blackie, the faithful camp dog of 12 years, died and was buried in camp pet cemetary. Aldersgate’s Capital Campaign: “a Bridge to Tomorrow” began. Multi-purpose Chapel constructions begins.
1999 - Recreational Vehicle Park begun. Chapel and Hill House construction continues.
2000 - Hill House completed. Chapel completed and dedicated on June 20th. Three horses (Show Dancer, Roscoe and Little Bit) donated to Creation Sensation.
2001 – Cottage 3 completed. Built by camp staff and volunteers. Basement addition of Chapel is completed. Swimming Pool deck is enlarged and shaded pavillion built.
2003 – Asbury RV park dedicated. Built by Asbury UMC, Covington District.
2004 - Megazebo constructed in Asbury RV Park.
2005 - Historic Fitchburg Furnace Stabalization work begins. Aldersgate Program Director position goes full time.
2006 - Creekside Cottage ( Motel 4 ) completed. Built by NOMADS and camp staff.
2007 – New basket ball court constructed. Financed by Mars Hill home school parents. Sidewalk to bath house construction begins. New (smaller) low water bridge built by Estill Co. Road Crew (after concrete truck collapsed old one).
2008 - Sidewalk to bath house construction continues.
2009 – 2.3 acres purchased at entrance of camp including an historic oil storage tank and partially completed house. Foursquare/tetherball court constructed. Sidewalk to bath house construction continues.
2010 - Prayer labyrinth added. Built by volunteer youth group from Tennessee. Fitchburg Furnace stabalization project (phase I & II) is completed. Old oil industry engine, vacuum pump and fly wheel brought from the oil fields and put on display. Run River, inc. begins Master Plan process for all KY Conference Camps and Retreat Centers.
2011 - New Lodge and Dining Hall ground breaking ceremony on October 1st, 2011. 47 acres above camp on East Side is leased for usage.
2012 – Ga-Ga ball pit built by Anderson Hills UMC, Cincinnati OH.
