Kanuga Conference Center
Encyclopedia
Kanuga Conference Center (Cherokee
: ᎧᏄᎦ) is affiliated with the Episcopal Church, USA. It is located on 1400 acres (5.7 km²) near Hendersonville, North Carolina
, with scenic Kanuga Lake at its center. Yearly, more than 35,000 guests utilize the facilities, which include the Conference Center, Camp Kanuga (for Boys and Girls), Camp Bob Summer, and the Mountain Trail Outdoor School. Most of the cabins at Kanuga Conference Center are a part of the Kanuga Lake Historic District, a registered Historic Place.
, a Charlotte
banker, real estate developer, and newspaper publisher. Kanuga Lake Club was designed to be a place for families from the "low country" of South Carolina
and North Carolina
to take vacation. Stephens employed John Nolan as his planner, and Richard Sharp Smith
as his architect.
After 950 acres (3.8 km²) were purchased, a dam was built over Mud Creek, creating a lake (much larger than the current Lake Kanuga). Thirty-nine cottages, an inn with dining rooms, and a lakeside pavilion were built. Utilizing his successful businesses, American Trust Company (now Bank of America
and his newspapers, the Charlotte Observer, and the Asheville Citizen, Stephens attracted people to Kanuga.
In 1916, tragedy struck. After heavy rains, the dam to Lake Kanuga broke, sending water through Hendersonville and Ashville. Subsequently, Kanuga went broke and was closed. Four attempts at reorganizing the facility ended with four bankruptcies.
of the Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina
spearheaded the effort to purchase the land and open a camp and conference center for the North Carolina and South Carolina Episcopal dioceses.
Money was raised for the operation, and in the 1940s, Scottish architect S. Grant Alexander was commissioned to build the Chapel of the Transfiguration. The chapel was built out of pine wood, not as strong a wood as Alexander had hoped, so support beams were later added to prevent the chapel from collapsing.
In 1931, a summer camp facility was built near the inn. In 1962 an additional camp for boys was built farther away, allowing the first facility (now Camp Bob Campbell) to be used as a girls' camp. In the 1970s the boys' and girls' camps were combined on the second campus. In 1999 the first campus was redesigned as Camp Bob Campbell and is utilized for underprivileged children in the summer and as an outdoor education facility throughout the rest of the year. Now, there is also a summer camp for girls and boys. There are two 10-day sessions, and three 14-day sessions. 15-17 year olds can also participate in a Trailblazer Program where they hike 50+ miles for 8 days on the Appalachian mtns.
Due to age and inadequate facilities, the inn was replaced in 1968 by a new inn, built on the site. This new inn allowed Kanuga to become a year-round conference center.
Kanuga continues to grow, adding on to the many buildings on the campus facility. Nearly all of the original cottages and the outdoor Chapel of St. Francis are on the National Historic Registry.
Cherokee language
Cherokee is an Iroquoian language spoken by the Cherokee people which uses a unique syllabary writing system. It is the only Southern Iroquoian language that remains spoken. Cherokee is a polysynthetic language.-North American etymology:...
: ᎧᏄᎦ) is affiliated with the Episcopal Church, USA. It is located on 1400 acres (5.7 km²) near Hendersonville, North Carolina
Hendersonville, North Carolina
Hendersonville is a city in Henderson County, North Carolina, USA, southeast of Asheville. In 1900, 1,917 persons lived in Hendersonville; in 1910, 2,818; and in 1940, 5,381 people lived here. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,223, up fivefold in one century. It is the county...
, with scenic Kanuga Lake at its center. Yearly, more than 35,000 guests utilize the facilities, which include the Conference Center, Camp Kanuga (for Boys and Girls), Camp Bob Summer, and the Mountain Trail Outdoor School. Most of the cabins at Kanuga Conference Center are a part of the Kanuga Lake Historic District, a registered Historic Place.
Kanuga Lake Club
Kanuga began in 1909 as "Kanuga Lake Club," the dream of George StephensGeorge Stephens
George Stephens was an English archeologist and philologist, who worked in Scandinavia, especially on interpreting runic inscriptions....
, a Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
banker, real estate developer, and newspaper publisher. Kanuga Lake Club was designed to be a place for families from the "low country" of South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
and North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
to take vacation. Stephens employed John Nolan as his planner, and Richard Sharp Smith
Richard Sharp Smith
Richard Sharp Smith was an English then American architect. He relocated to the United States in 1882. He became "resident architect" of the Biltmore estate after the 1895 death of architect Richard Morris Hunt....
as his architect.
After 950 acres (3.8 km²) were purchased, a dam was built over Mud Creek, creating a lake (much larger than the current Lake Kanuga). Thirty-nine cottages, an inn with dining rooms, and a lakeside pavilion were built. Utilizing his successful businesses, American Trust Company (now Bank of America
Bank of America
Bank of America Corporation, an American multinational banking and financial services corporation, is the second largest bank holding company in the United States by assets, and the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by market capitalization. The bank is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina...
and his newspapers, the Charlotte Observer, and the Asheville Citizen, Stephens attracted people to Kanuga.
In 1916, tragedy struck. After heavy rains, the dam to Lake Kanuga broke, sending water through Hendersonville and Ashville. Subsequently, Kanuga went broke and was closed. Four attempts at reorganizing the facility ended with four bankruptcies.
Kanuga, an Episcopal Center
In 1928 Bishop Kirkman George FinlayKirkman George Finlay
Kirkman George Finlay was the first bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina.-Background and early ministry:...
of the Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina
Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina
The Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina is a diocese in the Episcopal Church of the United States of America .Originally part of the Diocese of South Carolina, it became independent on October 10-11, 1922 following nearly two years of planning. The see city is Columbia. Its cathedral is...
spearheaded the effort to purchase the land and open a camp and conference center for the North Carolina and South Carolina Episcopal dioceses.
Money was raised for the operation, and in the 1940s, Scottish architect S. Grant Alexander was commissioned to build the Chapel of the Transfiguration. The chapel was built out of pine wood, not as strong a wood as Alexander had hoped, so support beams were later added to prevent the chapel from collapsing.
In 1931, a summer camp facility was built near the inn. In 1962 an additional camp for boys was built farther away, allowing the first facility (now Camp Bob Campbell) to be used as a girls' camp. In the 1970s the boys' and girls' camps were combined on the second campus. In 1999 the first campus was redesigned as Camp Bob Campbell and is utilized for underprivileged children in the summer and as an outdoor education facility throughout the rest of the year. Now, there is also a summer camp for girls and boys. There are two 10-day sessions, and three 14-day sessions. 15-17 year olds can also participate in a Trailblazer Program where they hike 50+ miles for 8 days on the Appalachian mtns.
Due to age and inadequate facilities, the inn was replaced in 1968 by a new inn, built on the site. This new inn allowed Kanuga to become a year-round conference center.
Kanuga continues to grow, adding on to the many buildings on the campus facility. Nearly all of the original cottages and the outdoor Chapel of St. Francis are on the National Historic Registry.
External links
- Kanuga Conferences official website
- Episcopal Church USA official website