NASHVILLE (BP) — Decades of memories will be on the agenda for former summer staff of Ridgecrest Baptist Conference Center at the group’s annual alumni reunion June 1-4.

The decision to incorporate a Southern Baptist “assembly” in 1907 led to the purchase later that year of 1,100 acres near Black Mountain, N.C., by the North Carolina Baptist State Convention and SBC Sunday School Board (now Lifeway Christian Resources). The same engineering firm that developed the Biltmore Estate in nearby Asheville joined the effort. By 1909 some 600 people took part in the first summer program of Ridgecrest Baptist Conference Center.

In 2020 Lifeway reached an agreement to sell the conference center and its summer camps, but the location has remained one of activity – not to mention nostalgia – for Southern Baptists like the thousands who have worked on the summer staff.

Early bird registration at $30 per person ends after Feb. 28, moving to $50 per person through June 1. Additional attendees age 6-18 will be $10 each with a paying adult. Those 5 years old and younger can attend for free.

On-site nightly accommodations are available at Pritchell ($70), Rhododendron ($89), Mountain Laurel West ($99) and Mountain Laurel East ($109). Individual meal plan options are also available.

Check-in will begin Thursday, June 1 with dinner following at 5:30. An opening session slide show at 7 will feature images from summers past, devotional/testimony and group ice breakers before an evening fellowship at the Nibble Nook.

Plenty of free time makes up the Friday and Saturday schedules, alongside volunteer opportunities, worship with current staff, devotionals and S’mores at the fire pit. Magician David Garrard will be the featured entertainment for the Friday night dinner.

The weekend will conclude Sunday, June 4, with worship and a slide show of the event.

For more information or to register, email [email protected]. Summer staff alumni updates can be found by subscribing to the group’s newsletter or joining their Facebook page.