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Camp
Alta Mons is a year round camp and retreat facilities owned and operated by
the Roanoke District of the United Methodist Church. The present 850 acres was
once a mountain resort back in the 1900’s and prior to that the hunting grounds
for several native American tribes.
A bottling company purchased 350 acres back in the 1890's from the Crockett family, bottled and shipped, under the label of Crockett Springs Bottling Co., half-gallon containers of spring water around the country. A thriving resort built up around the famous healing waters. A hotel, accommodating 300 guests, sprung up as families began spending their summer months in the cool mountains away from disease infested and hot crowded cities. The resort fell on hard times during the depression of the 30's. In the 40’s the large hotel was stripped down to one-third of its original size.
The Roanoke District of the Methodist Church was looking for a site to conduct a district camp. The property was purchased for $25,000 in 1957, then the adjoining 400-acre Rakes farm for $13,500. The name Alta Mons was the result of a naming contest and means, loosely interpreted in Latin, "High Mountains." The churches had big visions for the hotel and surrounding property, but found little interest in the 60’s for the rundown hotel. The hotel was eventually torn down and an ambitious $100,000 building program was undertaken with great success.
From those trying early years until the present day, the United Methodist churches uses volunteers and committed supporters to create a beautiful outdoor sanctuary for persons to spend the day or overnight with their families, children, congregations and community organizations. Now, the comfortable winterized facilities and seasonal rustic cabins, tent and RV campsites hosts thousands of visitors and guests each year as well conducts a summer resident camp for children and youth from surrounding communities and towns.
Camp
Alta Mons is finishing a three year capital campaign. This campaign has seen,
among many other improvements, a horseback area constructed, a complete renovation
of the old reatreat house, the forming of a new lake, improvments to roads,
and aquisition of many beautiful acres of land. These improvments have helped
increase the ministry of Camp Alta Mons. This all culminated in 2007 as we celebrated
our 50th anniversary.