Ridgecrest Camps

Since the last update on the Beehive, things are still moving along quite nicely! We have had some rainy days, which doesn’t help the workers out a whole lot, but we have also had some beautiful days, too. I’m sure they are enjoying the warmer temperatures we have been having this week, though! Since our last construction blog, quite a bit has happened. The porch and railings are finished that surround the building. They have also finished putting the green metal roof on – and it looks great! The steps and the ramp up to the porch have been built, as well as the steps up to what will be the Crestridge Museum. The windows and doors have also been installed and look good! Currently the electrician is working inside so we can have some power in The Beehive. Things are going well. We are excited for everyone to see it in person, but until then, hopefully these pictures will give you an idea of what it’s looking like!
   

For more pictures of the Beehive construction, check our Facebook page.

The Beehive is a busy place right now!  Construction began back in October with taking down the existing Store and Landsports Hut.  Then they dug out where the Beehive was going to sit.  The next step was to build the foundation.  They put down the block and concrete floor for the basement.  A couple weeks ago, they began framing the Beehive.  I am amazed each time I go over to Crestridge and see how much the workers have accomplished!  They work so fast!  They are currently working on the porches and finishing the roof.

Check out our Facebook page for more pictures and updates!

Work on the Lower Tribe cabins continued this week, as workers quickly and skillfully put new roofs on all nine cabins under construction. The new cabins will have green metal roofs, and, so far, the results have been impressive. These new roofs will offer an element of nostalgic comfort when it rains, while adding the property protection that shingled roofs cannot. New sky lights have been installed as well; one on each pitch of the roof. These new skylights are made from corrugated, clear plastic, and allow more light in than the old skylights. They will provide enough light to eliminate the need for the lights to be on during the day. Lastly, the porches of cabins three and four are finished, and have proven to be excellent additions to both cabins. Next on the list…exterior walls get an upgrade to help protect the cabins for many more years. Check back soon for another update…

This past weekend was incredible here at Camp Ridgecrest. We had a strong showing of current campers and staff as well as alumni, parents, and friends of Camp Ridgecrest. Looking back, here are the three best things about this past weekend.

1) Peak Weekend – People travel from all across the southeast to see the leaves here in Black Mountain this time of year. The leaves were beautiful, and still are.

2) The People – Seeing about 30 of your camp friends is always a plus. With all star staffers from the 80′s, 90′s, and 2000′s, it was a blast to hang out and share stories of this great place. We even got to celebrate the 15th birthday of one of our Choctaw Campers who of course ended up in the Lake!

3) The Projects – We completed a ton of projects this weekend! We added some landscaping behind Rogers Retreat. We added a Ladder Ball (Redneck Golf) course on the side of the Infirmary. We added some trees and split-rail fencing down by the Tennis Courts. We over-seeded the grass on the middle green. We started rebuilding the ramp onto the Spilman Porch. And we ran some wire to add a lantern at the steps to the “Swol Shack” from the lake road. Lots of improvements that will make camp even more amazing this summer!

Thanks to the crew of about 30 that came out to help! Sometimes it feels more like a reunion, but that’s the way it should be. Check out all the pics below….

This week, the Apache cabins are getting new roofs. The new roofs will cover the porch  and increase the ceiling height inside the cabin, giving the cabins a barn-like atmosphere. This will make the cabins feel bigger and more open, while maintaining the classic Ridgecrest Cabin feel. The work crew continues to blaze ahead at an impressive speed and hope to have all of the Apache roofs, as well as the one on the SALT cabin, by the end of the week. After that is done, the the new porches will be added. These porches will provide a much needed covered space for individual cabins on rainy days. More pictures and updates coming soon. If you haven’t subscribed to these posts yet, do that now…click the link at the bottom right of the page.

Renovations began Monday on the new cabins in Apache and Shawnee. A six man team was able to dismantle three of the buildings down to their walls and studs in one day, finishing cabins one and two before mid-day. The crew spent the next two days finishing Apache circle as well as the SALT cabin and cabins five through eight on Shawnee hill. Once the roofs and rafters have been removed from all the cabins, the remodeling will begin. The project focuses primarily on improving the structural integrity of the cabins as well as over-all appearance. While the cabins will look almost identical from the exterior, the interior will be dramatically improved while keeping our rustic feel. Stay posted because the next few weeks will be incredibly exciting as the cabins are built. (Interested in helping us complete this Cabin Restoration Project? Please follow the “Give” link at the top of the page.)

It seems that soon after we give an update, a lot more gets finished the next day.  As of now, all the Chippewa and Chickasaw cabins have new roofs, new decks, and the new bathrooms framed.  They are looking great!  The decks are fully covered which makes them look even bigger.  They have put the new showers in the cabins and also started on the plumbing in Chippewa 1.  Check out the new pictures:

I’m not sure if you can notice any of the leaves in the background, but they sure are beautiful.  I think the color is almost at it’s peak.  It’s a great time to be in the mountains!

We were nervous about it’s location, but man, the New Infirmary is beautiful and fits perfectly in it’s new home on the middle green. Once used for Arap Chapel, this spot was the home site for the original house in Ridgecrest! Now, the new Arap Chapel is nestled into a piece of woods with a little more character, and privacy.  And we have put a comfortable and inviting building back onto the middle green. With an large front porch and a view of the lake, the nurses new home will also house the new nurses station as well as a place for campers and staff to hang out on the porch and rock during free time. If you have not seen this building in person, then you will no doubt be impressed. We look forward to seeing you soon….camp is just around the corner!

The new infirmary at Boys Camp is nearing completion, with electrical fixtures like heating and lighting being installed recently with fans are in each of the bedrooms. Also, hardwood flooring is down in the bedrooms, and the vinyl flooring is down in the nurse station and sick bay area. Water has been hooked up to the building now, which is an all important necessity. In order to do this, a large trench was dug in the middle of the lake road. It has since been covered back up, but for a few days, people walking around the lake had to detour over the middle green. From here, the new infirmary will be hooked up to the power lines, and sod will be put down on the bare soil surrounding the building.

After snow put off the completion of the woodwork on the Spilman Addition, workers were finally able to put up the railing along the outside of the porch. Their work looks fantastic! Most of the woodwork for the railing was done in a workshop, so the entire railing was done over the course of the day today. Now all that is left to do is paint it and  put rocking chairs on it!