[FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE]
Contact: Katrina Herschberger
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (417) 876-7490
 
El Dorado Springs, MO – After closing its doors more than two summers ago, Camp Galilee will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand re-opening of the facility on June 4, 2016.

In September 2014, Camp Galilee, which had been an active and popular rustic youth camp for more than 50 years, was closed by the Missouri Conference of the United Methodist Church. In late 2015, the property was put up for auction, bought and restored by prominent El Dorado Springs couples, Robin and Harold Fugate and Drs. Michael and Cammie Housh.

“We are just two local families that saw Galilee as a huge asset to the community of El Dorado Springs and didn't want to see the land divided up from its original purpose,” said Fugate. “Most importantly, we felt a divine tug on our hearts. We felt like God wasn't done with Camp Galilee.”

The Camp’s grand opening festivities will include a ceremonial ribbon cutting at 2:45 p.m. and an open house from 3-6 p.m. The open house will include facility tours, hiking and games. All events will take place at the camp (899 E. Martin St., El Dorado Springs, MO) and are free to the public. Event details can be found at www.campatgalilee.org/grandopening.
 
About Camp Galilee
Camp Galilee is a nonprofit, non-denominational Christian camping and retreat center located in El Dorado Springs, MO. During the summer Galilee offers a large variety of camps for all ages, different types of groups, and specific interest areas. The camp is also used for various groups throughout the year for reunions, meetings, receptions and retreats. Learn more at http://www.campatgalilee.org.
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Originally published by the El Dorado Springs Sun

Most locals know that the property east of town, which features a 40 acre lake, belonged to the United Methodist Church and served as a summer camp for the Methodist youth in Missouri. In the 65 years since the Southwest Missouri Conference of the Methodist Church purchased it, the property has been used for religious training in a fun summer camp atmosphere. 

When the church took possession, the campsite was largely undeveloped with hillsides covered with timber, native rocks and shrubs, ticks and copperheads. It had a large flat valley area suitable for general recreation. El Dorado Springs was the approximate geographic center of the conference and could be reached easily by all the church groups that would use the camp.