Overview
The Amon
Carter family donated their private retreat
along a branch of
the Trinity River to the YMCA in the 1940's. In 1948 the YMCA built the camp with 320 wooded acres
and a 10-acre private lake and has used it ever since to provide unique outdoor
experiences in the heart of Fort Worth. The camp has miles of hiking trails, and a
40-acre nature preserve in addition to its extensive ropes course, newly
enlarged swimming pool, outdoor basketball court, sand volleyball court and the
normal camp facilities such as Dining Hall, cabins, and Infirmary.
The
YMCA embarked on an impressive capital improvement program last year after
raising close to 5 million dollars from local fundraising drives. Several of the
dorms have already been remodeled and the rest are scheduled to be finished over
the winter, along with the Dining Hall. A new retreat center with kitchen
facilities and meeting rooms is nearing completion along with four dormitory
style cabins that will serve as housing for retreats.
Last
year (1999) they built a new softball/baseball complex on the edge of their
property as a joint project with the local school district. The agreement is
that the school can use the complex in the fall, winter and spring. The camp
uses it during the summer months.
They
are in the process of building a new equestrian center (partially visible at the
right edge of
the photo to the left) which is nearing
completion. In the
meantime the old barn is still in use, shown on the right as a camper brings his
horse out for riding class.
Overall the facility has a lot to offer and we look forward to the improvements that are being made. It should make future years even better!
