(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 Mr. 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. Low water bridge replaced with concrete and steel bridge.
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. Confernece U.M. Men accept challenge to build Cottage III. Additional 14.75 acres purchased along north boundary on December 13.
1996 - Cottage II complete. Camp office built. Bath house winterization completed. Updated master Plan presented to conference.
1997 - Thity six acres purchased on North end of camp with new house at 51% completion.
1998 - Original Aldersgate Camp Web Site created. Creation Sensation, the Christian environmental education program, complete with farm animals including our 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.
1999 - Recreational Vehicle Park begun. Chapel and Hill House construction continues.
2000 - Hill House completed. Chapel dedicated on June 20th. Three horses (Show Dancer, Roscoe and Little Bit) donated to Creation Sensation.
2001 – Cottage 3 completed
2005-present - Fitchburg Furnance renovations.
2006 - Creekside Cottage ( Motel 4 ) completed.
2009 – 2.3 acres purchased at entrance of camp including an historic oil storage tank and partially completed house.
2010 - Prayer labyrinth added.
2011 - New Lodge and Dining Hall ground breaking ceremony on October 1st, 2011
