Summit Lake Camp Introduce
For Marylanders seeking a sanctuary from the rapid pace of modern life, Summit Lake Camp serves as a beacon of peace nestled within the Catoctin Mountains. Located in the historic town of Emmitsburg, this 200-acre Christian retreat and conference center offers a unique blend of natural beauty and spiritual focus. Originally established in 1969 as the Summit Lake Bible Conference, the camp has spent over five decades facilitating life-changing experiences for church groups, schools, and families. The property is characterized by its lush, wooded slopes and a picturesque 5-acre lake that provides a stunning backdrop for reflection and recreation. Whether you are a local resident looking for a weekend spiritual retreat or a group leader planning a large-scale youth event, Summit Lake Camp offers an environment specifically designed to foster fellowship and community.
The camp recently entered an exciting new chapter through a partnership with the Damascus ministry, which has brought fresh energy and significant renovations to the site. This collaboration ensures that while the camp remains a premier destination for traditional summer camps, it also serves as a high-functioning year-round retreat center for adults and students alike. The atmosphere is undeniably Christian, encouraging guests to "open their hearts to the Creator" as they enter the gates. From the crackling fires in the lodges to the fresh mountain air, every element of the camp is curated to provide a sense of seclusion and safety, making it a favorite for those throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.
Location and accessibility are among the camp's most practical advantages. Situated at 7610 Hampton Valley Road in Emmitsburg, Maryland, Summit Lake is conveniently located near the Pennsylvania border, just minutes away from Mount Saint Mary’s University and a short drive from the historic battlefields of Gettysburg. Despite its proximity to major landmarks, the camp is tucked away in a mountain valley, offering total seclusion from the noise of the highway. For Maryland residents driving from Baltimore or Washington D.C., the journey takes just over an hour, making it an accessible getaway that feels worlds away from the city.
Accessibility on the grounds is well-managed to ensure that all guests can participate in the camp experience. The facility includes a wheelchair-accessible entrance, dedicated parking lots, and restrooms designed for ease of use. The physical layout of the camp connects the central dining hall, meeting spaces, and cabins via well-marked paths. While the terrain is mountainous and encourages hiking, the core activity areas are reachable for guests with varying mobility needs. Ample on-site parking is available for buses and private vehicles, ensuring that group coordination is seamless from the moment of arrival.
- Full-service Christian retreat hosting for groups ranging from 15 to 380 participants.
- Damascus summer camp programming for middle and high school students, focusing on spiritual growth and leadership.
- Comprehensive outdoor environmental education programs for school groups, featuring lake and forest studies.
- Family-style dining services providing three home-cooked meals a day, including fresh homemade bread and desserts.
- Winterized lodging and heated meeting rooms available from September through May for year-round retreats.
- Exclusive use of designated meeting rooms and cabins for individual groups to ensure privacy and focus.
- Canteen services (snack shop) offering candy, sodas, and camp merchandise during scheduled hours.
- Dedicated support for ski retreats, providing bag lunches and easy access to nearby Liberty Mountain.
- The Tabernacle: A 4,700-square-foot meeting hall featuring a massive stone fireplace and a glass wall with a timber cross overlooking the lake.
- 200 acres of private wooded land with an extensive network of hiking trails suitable for all ages.
- Lake Joy: A 5-acre lake used for scenic viewing, wildlife study, and seasonal waterfront activities.
- Indoor gymnasium and basketball court, providing a space for recreation regardless of the weather.
- Extensive outdoor sports facilities including soccer fields, volleyball courts, and a playground.
- Adventure activities such as a high ropes course, climbing tower, giant swing, and a 700-foot zip line.
- Amish-built cabins and Swiss-style chalets offering clean, bunk-style accommodations with integrated bathrooms.
- Outdoor campfire pits located throughout the campus for evening fellowship and storytelling.
For those interested in booking a retreat or learning more about the upcoming summer camp sessions, the Summit Lake Camp administration provides personalized assistance to help you plan your stay. Given the seasonal nature of the programming and the popularity of the retreat facilities, it is recommended to contact the director well in advance. You can reach the camp office using the following contact information:
Address: 7610 Hampton Valley Rd, Emmitsburg, MD 21727, USA
Phone: (866) 961-4153
Reservations: Contact Kathy Coley, Director of Business Operations, for pricing and tours.
When considering a campground or retreat center in Maryland, Summit Lake Camp is worth choosing for its uncompromising focus on community and spiritual integrity. Unlike public campgrounds that may be loud or crowded, Summit Lake provides a private, controlled environment where the focus remains on your group’s specific goals. The recent renovations have significantly upgraded the lodging facilities, with many cabins now featuring modern HVAC systems and improved bathroom layouts, addressing previous feedback about cramped spaces.
Furthermore, the food service at Summit Lake is a highlight that sets it apart from typical camp experiences. The commitment to family-style dining encourages conversation and connection, while the high quality of the home-cooked meals—specifically the legendary homemade bread—regularly earns rave reviews from guests. For Maryland families and organizations, choosing Summit Lake means investing in an experience that combines the rugged beauty of the Catoctin Mountains with the comfort and support of a dedicated professional staff. Whether you are seeking the thrill of a zip line or the quietude of a lakeside chapel, Summit Lake Camp delivers a premium, mission-driven experience that is truly second to none in the region.
Location
Customer Reviews
At first I was skeptical about this camp.But I knew not to judge a book by its cover.The location of the camp is inside of a forest.There are playgrounds, a canteen for buying snacks (think, candy, drinks, sodas, and etc.) and even a clean and safe pool for swimming. There is also beautiful lake, but unfortunately the canoes cannot be used for safety and health reasons.The cabins were in fact clean; there were no bedbugs or anything like that but there were occasional insects flying into the cabins. The bathrooms are quite cramped, so it’s best to change clothes outside of the stalls since there will be no room to change clothes. We eat food 3 times a day. At 8:30,12:15 and 5:15. The food really isn’t bad, there is a really large variety of foods. But if you’re just not feeling the food then like I said, you can go to the canteen but you will need your own money or buy a canteen card. The canteen cards cost 5 dollars and have 6 dollars worth of money I believe.This is a Christian camp so bring a bible and flashlight and also a journal. You can bring your phone, but since there is little to no cell reception you will not be able to access the Internet. There is WiFi but it is only available to certain people. You’ll spend the majority of the day outside, and there are a lot of insects so bring insect spray and also sunscreen if you need it. If you plan on swimming in the pool, definitely bring a swimsuit and a towel. If you’re worried about your clothes getting wet, there is a hanging line behind each of the cabins where you can hang wet clothes. I recommend bringing tennis shoes as well, because sometimes the grass can be slippery, so definitely not a good idea to wear slippers outside either. There is an indoor gym with a basketball court, outdoor basketball court, a soccer field, as well as a water slide. Well, there was a waterslide for me when I came at least.My experience at this camp is really enjoyable and entertaining. I hope you can enjoy the same way I did. It is a really nice experience. 5/5
Absolutely gorgeous camp. It's a little lacking on activities compared to others, and cabins could invest in better mattresses, but an overall great place.It is a camp, though, so don't expect the luxuries of cozy beds and cell service!
1.The night our group arrived the camp dinner was frozen pizza not cooked through soggy and smell frozen fridge and horrible pizza I have ever eaten. The kitchen stuff also said “ I have to throw away if our group doesn’t arrived on time to eat pizza” that was uncalled for. That was very rude and not kind at all.2. The next morning one person per One tinny waffle and small piece of broken bacon for each person. I felt like I am in the jail the way this camp treated our group. We paid $172 for each person and this is not ok.3. The camp has 3 seniors Kitchen stuff and they have to do what they have been told.4. I can definitely understand that no one will ever come back for this camp.5. I don’t feel welcome at all6. Friday Lunch time…..taco beef is salty, hard shell was very old it was stilled.7. Friday Dinner is better chicken tenders and I asked more and the couple kitchen stuff was very nice and she gives me more.8. The camp did not cook anything by themselves. All Desserts are store bought and it was horrible. Too much sugar in it.9.We lived in 21st century and we all need to use our phone for communication but I was surprised that the summit lake camp didn’t have WiFi at all. The camp office gives some of us WiFi and I can only used around dinning area. My church group lodge doesn’t have WiFi connection at all.10.The office lady is very rude. She speaks to our group not being in the dinning area when foods are served. She can speak nicely but she scream at our camp leaders and members.11. The summit lake camp should not be a Christian camp for sure.They are not act as Christian camp at all.Bottom line is foods are not fresh, No Second for some items, even when the kitchen stuff gives second they are very stingy( very little) Most lodges are very old, everything you asked most of the time they say “No”. The camp should hire younger people so that they can really do works. Instead they hire senior people and they cannot do much. Keep in mind that “ No Wifi” in any of lodging. Only dinning area and very weak connection. The summit lake camp definitely needs to change if they want to do business with Christian there is No Way they are Christian camp.Lake has boats sitting around the lake and the sign said No Boat allow to used. They also have pool, but no one can use it due to remodeling but whatever. They have all these facilities but our group is not able to use anything at all. This is such as waste of our money to come . I will definitely tell my group not to come again. This camp is bad reputation of being Christian. I am very shameful for them.
I live with my church for 3 days and then was amazing it was one of the best ever the food yeah I'm not going to lie I was kind of not my style but it was good the church was really big and pretty and the boat for you can go in there with fun and the sleeping area it was actually really fun and we had a lot of space it was really good I recommend
This was fun, the food was great, and we did a lot of activities. There was a pool, a basketball court, a Horse, Motorcycles, K-9 dogs, a volleyball court, a bonfire, 'Olympics,' 'Marathon,' cheers, Capture The Flag, arts and crafts, paddle boating, and Gimp. The counselors and staff were really nice, and the shower was a bit small, but it was great. The cabin was cool, and everything was really exciting. Everyone got to socialize, and it even got emotional. Best camp ever. Even though it was my first overnight one, it gave me a great experience and made me feel at home. I recommend this camp to everyone who is a patrol.
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