Summit Grove Camp & Conference Center

What Summit Grove Camp & Conference Center does

Summit Grove Camp & Conference Center is a private, faith-based nonprofit operating a 43-acre retreat and event venue in New Freedom, Pennsylvania, situated at the highest point of land between Baltimore, MD and Harrisburg, PA. Founded in 1875 during the Second Great Awakening, the organization has run continuously for 223+ years as a hub for camps, retreats, conferences, and community gatherings, with documented historical ties to circuit riders and the Underground Railroad.

The core product is physical space and hospitality: overnight lodging (lodge rooms, motel rooms, A-frame cabins, dorm rooms, and 15 newly added RV sites with full hookups), food service sold as event meal packages, indoor and outdoor meeting spaces anchored by the historic open-air Tabernacle pavilion, and nature-based outdoor activities. Programming includes annual Family Camp (July), Day Camps, Pastors Retreats, Tabernacle Gathering, Cowboy Weekend, and partner-led collaborative events. A Cottage Ownership Program places 38 individually owned cottages on-site, creating a seasonal residential Christian community from mid-April through mid-October.

Revenue is generated through per-event and per-unit pricing — RV site rentals ($75-$1,100), Family Camp meal packages ($6-$170), and meeting/lodging fees — supplemented by donations, capital campaigns, and thrift retail. Go-to-market is direct-to-customer via the website, phone, and email, layered with programming partnerships (most strategically the Eastern and Mid-Atlantic Districts of the Alliance) and an industry membership in the Christian Camp and Conference Association (CCCA). The company employs 11-50 people and is currently running an Executive Director search alongside a "Something New" capital campaign and Tabernacle roof repair initiative.

Name

Summit Grove Camp & Conference Center

Legal name

Summit Grove Camp & Conference Center

Website

https://summitgrovecamp.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1875

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Summit Grove Camp & Conference Center is a faith-based nonprofit operating a 43-acre Christian retreat and conference venue in New Freedom, PA, offering lodging, food service, meeting spaces, and programming for churches, families, and youth groups since 1875.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conference and Retreat Venues

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (72121), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Campgrounds (721211)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Hotels & Motels (7011)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAGALAG

Conference Retreat Hotels

Travel & Hospitality/Lodging & Accommodation/Convention & Conference Hotels

SECONDARYTHAGAOAI

Group Camping & Scout Camps

Travel & Hospitality/Lodging & Accommodation/Camping & Glamping Facilities

SECONDARYTHAGALAC

Resort Convention Hotels

Travel & Hospitality/Lodging & Accommodation/Convention & Conference Hotels

Keywords

• Camp and conference center
• Retreat venue services
• Faith-based lodging
• Event hosting facilities
• Spiritual retreat programs

Headquarters

HQ city

New Freedom

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Overnight Accommodations: Revenue from overnight lodging including lodge rooms, motel rooms, A-frame cabins, dorm rooms, and RV sites. Pricing varies by accommodation type and duration.
2. RV Site Rentals: RV site rentals with water, sewer, and electric hookups (30/50amp) ranging from $75.00 to $1,100.00 depending on duration.
3. Food Service and Meals: Meal packages for Family Camp and other events including adult meals ($11.00-$170.00) and children's meals ($6.00-$85.00).
4. Event and Conference Hosting: Rental fees for meeting spaces, the Tabernacle (large outdoor pavilion), and campus facilities for retreats, conferences, and community events.
5. Cottage Ownership Program: 38 cottages on property are owned by individuals who pay fees to Summit Grove for the privilege of having seasonal residences on camp grounds (mid-April through mid-October).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Summit Grove Camp & Conference Center is a faith-based retreat and event venue operating on a 43-acre property in New Freedom, Pennsylvania. The organization sells overnight lodging (lodge rooms, motel rooms, A-frame cabins, dorm rooms, and RV sites), food service packages, meeting spaces (including the historic Tabernacle open-air pavilion), and programming such as Family Camp, Day Camps, Pastors Retreats, and partner-led events. It also offers a Cottage Ownership Program for 38 on-site privately-owned cottages occupied seasonally from mid-April through mid-October.

Product overview

Summit Grove Camp & Conference Center is a traditional retreat and event venue that has operated since 1875, offering a single integrated hospitality experience rather than a software platform. The core offering centers on providing physical space for spiritual retreats, camps, conferences, and community events on a 43-acre property between Baltimore and Harrisburg, PA. Accommodations include lodge rooms, motel rooms (renovated and standard), A-frame cabins, dorm rooms, and RV sites. Meal services are offered as add-on packages for multi-day events. The facility includes the historic Tabernacle open-air pavilion, meeting spaces, and various outdoor activity areas. Programming includes Family Camp (the flagship annual event), Day Camps, Pastors Retreats, and collaborative partner programs. Additional offerings include a Cottage Ownership Program for individuals owning on-site cottages and RV site rentals. The venue does not provide any technology products, software platforms, APIs, or AI-powered services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Retreat and Event Venue Services Core retreat and event venue offering space for ministries, churches, youth groups, regional gatherings, conferences, and community activities on the 43-acre property. Customers include organizations booking group retreats and individuals/families attending faith-based programs.
• Lodging Accommodations

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Eastern District (Alliance)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEastern District of the Alliance is a key programming partner that helps organize and promote events like Family Camp. They work with Summit Grove to provide spiritual programming and ministry opportunities for member churches.
• Mid-Atlantic District (Alliance)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMid-Atlantic District of the Alliance collaborates with Summit Grove on programming including Family Camp, bringing together churches from the region for spiritual growth and community building.
• First Fruits FarmminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProgramming partner that collaborates with Summit Grove on events and activities.
• Encounter Worship PAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorship ministry partner that provides musical worship programming at Summit Grove events.
• NEPA AglowminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional ministry partner that supports and promotes Summit Grove programming.
• JHOPminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProgramming partner collaborating on events and activities at Summit Grove.
• Northern Central RailwayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides excursion and tourism-related programming opportunities for Summit Grove guests.
• Christian Camp and Conference Association (CCCA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry association membership providing credibility, standards alignment, and networking within the Christian camp and retreat industry.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mount Hermon Christian Conference Center: Christian conference center in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California providing lodging, meeting spaces, and church retreat programming. Directly comparable as a faith-based multi-day retreat and conference venue.
• Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center: Methodist-affiliated conference and retreat center in North Carolina offering lodging, meeting spaces, and denominational programming. Comparable scale and mission of hosting religious gatherings, retreats, and community events.
• Holt Retreat Center: Christian retreat center in Pennsylvania offering lodging, meals, and meeting space for church groups and ministry events. Comparable in Mid-Atlantic geographic footprint and faith-based retreat focus.
• Pine Cove: Christian summer camp and conference operator in Texas hosting family camps, youth programs, and church retreats. Comparable in operating cabins, dining services, and faith-based group programming.
• Ridgecrest Conference Center (LifeWay Ridgecrest): Large Christian conference center in the Blue Ridge Mountains serving churches, families, and ministries with lodging, meeting space, and retreat programming. Comparable in core offerings and faith-based event hosting model.
• Camp Koinonia: Christian retreat and conference center in the Mid-Atlantic region offering lodging, meeting spaces, and church group programming. Comparable as a regional faith-based camp and conference venue.
• Sandy Cove Ministries: Christian conference and retreat center on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland, serving churches, families, and youth groups with lodging, programming, and event hosting. Directly comparable in mission, customer base, and Mid-Atlantic region to Summit Grove.
• Kanuga: Episcopal conference center and camp in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina featuring lodging, programming, and church group retreats. Directly comparable in faith-based retreat, conference, and camp offerings.

Others

• Christian Camp and Conference Association (CCCA): Industry membership association for Christian camps and conference centers that Summit Grove already participates in. Relevant as an ecosystem enabler and peer network rather than a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Kalahari Resorts: Large resort operator with full-service conference, lodging, and family programming across multiple locations. Comparable in offering integrated lodging, meeting space, and family programming but at significantly larger scale and secular positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCbx8xsN0uB3VUJp3tENKRXg/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/summitgrovecamp
• Instagraminstagram.com/summitgrovecamp1875
• Xx.com/summitgrovecamp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Summit Grove Camp & Conference Center