The Gathering Place

New Dining Hall & Fellowship Center

Beautiful and functional dining and meeting facility to serve present and future needs.

Beautiful lighting at night, intended to minimize effect on the night sky and stars, which we love!

“We desperately need modern facilities that accommodate all campers together. Mealtimes, meeting times, and other group activities are as essential to the Camp Zion family as they are to any other family. Now more than ever, young people and our other guests need to unplug from their media and connect with themselves, their family and friends, and their savior, Jesus Christ. ”
— Dale Stewart, Executive Director

Why Did We Need a New Dining Hall?

The old indoor dining and meeting spaces were over-crowded, hot, and noisy.

  • The vision for the Gathering Place dining and meeting facility began 20 years ago.

  • Our lack of meeting space has been a hindrance to current and potential groups, limiting the amount and types of indoor activities we can offer and accommodate.

  • The old aging dining hall, completed in 1986, did not adequately service our capacity, and the kitchen was out of date and inefficient.

  • Due to setback requirements, density and impervious surface issues, adding on to the existing building was not practical or feasible.

  • We spent hundreds of man-hours carefully researching and consulting with experts, and worked hard to minimize any negative impact on the environment and the neighborhood, while still designing a facility that would meet our present and future needs. We believe the end result was the exact right building for Camp Zion.

  • The good news is that after 3.5 years, we have an occupancy permit! But the journey has included more than our fair share of obstacles.

    · Despite broad support in the community, a small group of determined neighbors have actively opposed the project.

    · Regulatory and zoning issues were substantial.

    · We had to take our case to Federal court in order to get a permit, and our legal fees have been very costly.

    · We were essentially fully-funded soon after we signed the construction contract. But construction issues have slowed the project and raised the cost.

  • Why has all this has happened to us? Not exactly sure, but it seems clear that Satan does not want God’s good work at Camp Zion to go forward!

     But what Satan intended for harm, God intended for good. In the end, God will see this through. The Gathering Place WILL be completed and serve future generations of Camp Zion campers, where they will hear about the Jesus’ love for them and make memories to last a lifetime.

What Are the Benefits Of This Project?

Years of planning, camp-specific architecture by Fletemeyer & Lee

The Gathering Place will:

  • Enhance the guest experience,

  • Meet the increasing demand for nicer, more guest-friendly venues,

  • Replace insufficient and outdated meeting and dining facilities,

  • Better service the allowable capacity,

  • Improve the overall Camp operations,

  • Meet the needs of a broad base of user groups – youth, families, and adults – throughout the year, and,

  • Be sustainable into the future.

How Urgent is the Need? How Can I Help?

Current Construction Status

  • Construction is complete, and we received an occupancy permit on May 30, 2025. We are rejoicing in the Lord, and very happy to be in!

  • Camp Zion Open Pancake Breakfast and Open House will be on Saturday, July 5 from 7-10AM, followed by a brief dedication service and ribbon cutting ceremony.

  • We are now in the next phase of our funding efforts, which will address full functionality. The building is usable, but we now have to purchase items to get us to full functionality: carpet on the lower level, tables, chairs, sound system, technology. (See our recent appeal)

  • Pray. Pray for God’s financial provision and direction.

  • Please prayerfully consider a generous Phase II gift to help us get closer to full functionality. We believe that our donors understand the need to rapidly retire debt, and Phase III will focus on that. You can give online, or by mail.

  • Spread the word to friends, family, and churches about our awesome summer camps, guest group retreats, and the new dining hall. Host people in your home, share YOUR Camp Zion story. Camp staff can help.

  • Make a financial pledge over the next 5 years. Contact the camp office for details.