Imagine having your morning devotional in a comfortable room with a large window overlooking an exquisite coastal river vista complete with an island and miles of shimmering water. The Camp Piankatank Commission has been working for several years to make that vision a reality for Virginia Baptists.
Piankatank Camp and Conference Center, located on a bend in the Piankatank River just west of the Mathews Bridge on Virginia Route 3, overlooks 12-acre Berkley Island, also owned by the Baptist General Association of Virginia.
Tiny Berkley Island sits in the Piankatank River, just offshore Virginia Baptists' camp near Hartfield.
The story of Virginia Baptists' acquiring the camp leaves little doubt that a divine plan inspired its acquisition. The man who bought this property was a retired minister from Gloucester County who had no money. He had heard that a group of Maryland investors were planning to purchase Berkley Island in the Piankatank River to build a gambling casino.
The thought disturbed him because he believed God had other plans. Sensing only that he should go to the courthouse, which was then in Saluda, he went. As he was loitering about, a very wealthy oilman named Herschel Shackleford asked him what he was doing. The minister did his best to explain his mysterious presence at the courthouse. Shackleford was touched, withdrew his checkbook, and said, “Go buy it!”
Edward Harrow, chairman of the commission, has become a strong voice championing a dream first described by Reggie McDonough, former executive director of the BGAV. McDonough believed Piankatank to be ideally situated for a family retreat center. Because of McDonough's vision, the Camp Piankatank Commission was formed.
In a meeting at the camp on Oct. 22, the 15-member commission approved proceeding with architectural drawings in preparation for a new hotel-type lodge on the river's bank. The architectural firm of Moore and Goldman, which has already provided basic elevation drawings for the project, will provide the construction drawings. The commission noted that this firm drew the renovation plans for the Cedar Crest Hotel at Eagle Eyrie.
The plans call for a three-story hotel with three floors above ground on the river side and two above ground on the camp side. The hotel will include dining and conference rooms as well as about 40 guest rooms offering awe-inspiring river views.
To date, the commission has spent over $100,000 on site preparation and surveys. “We've done a great deal of preparation,” Harrow emphasizes. “These things have been done in the past four or five years. They were necessary but not visible.”
The present plans for a new hotel and the master plan currently being developed by the commission will do nothing to compromise Piankatank's being a camp for girls and boys, however. “I want to be absolutely clear on that,” Harrow emphasized. “In fact, we are going to do some things immediately that will benefit the camp. We are going to expand the number of boys and girls the camp can take. Some buildings may have to be moved or perhaps even taken down and others built, but we are committed to making Piankatank a camp all Virginia Baptists can be proud of.”
Piankatank directors Steve and Niki Gourley have developed a strategic plan for the camp that has complemented the work of the commission and provided a platform for developing the camping portion of the master plan. More than 600 children attended Piankatank Camp and Conference Center last summer.
Although cost estimates will be more precise after drawings have been completed, Harrow estimates that the retreat center will cost between $8 million and $10 million. The commission is now ready to proceed at full speed.
The commission has established four subcommittees — development and construction, finance, fundraising and program. Harrow says, “All of these folks are working pretty hard right now to get all of this accomplished. I will probably work as the fundraising chairman. I really don't think we'll have a great deal of problem raising this money. I'm really encouraged at the response I'm getting from people who really are interested and want to be involved in what we are doing here. And I really want Virginia Baptist churches to be involved.”
Harrow expects that construction on the hotel will begin by the end of 2008 but emphasizes that the improvements for the camp itself will begin immediately.
“I love Eagle Eyrie,” he said passionately. “They have the mountains and they are beautiful. But in my opinion nothing surpasses the beauty of that river and the Chesapeake Bay.”
“I want Virginia Baptist churches to participate [in developing the family retreat center], but the discouraging thing is that so many Virginia Baptists just don't even realize what they have down here. It's about 69 acres of prime real estate the likes of which just cannot be located anywhere, and Virginia Baptists own it! I think we need to support this as much as we do Eagle Eyrie. I think this can be as important to Virginia Baptists as Eagle Eyrie. They both have their place. As many non-Baptists use the camp as Baptists, they seem to know more about what we have than we do!”
Aside from its natural beauty, the commission believes there to be other practical reasons for developing Piankatank Camp and Conference Center. According to demographic figures cited, 70 percent of Virginia Baptists live within a three-hour drive of the camp, making it easily accessible to most. Also, the Tidewater property which undulates gently toward the river's edge contrasts sharply with the steep and rugged beauty of Eagle Eyrie. For those unable to meet the rigors of the mountaintop terrain, Piankatank offers a more accessible gathering place.
Asked what message he would like to share with Virginia Baptists, commission chairman Harrow responded fervently: “Listen, we have something down here that I really believe God has given us and if we are going to be responsible, we need to develop it so it can serve all the people both young and old. I believe it is a mission that Virginia Baptists need to take to their hearts. I want them to pray about it. Come see it. And help us do what needs to be done with this property to make it be what I really believe God wants it to become.”