Text saying 'our history' in large orange letters on a black background.

Wooden sculpture of a figure with long hair and beard, standing outdoors amidst green trees in a park

Durley Camp and Retreat Center is a place where people of all ages can take a break from the fast-paced and busy nature of modern life. Our youth and family camps, men's and women's retreats, and other events throughout the year provide opportunities to support and nurture the spiritual, physical, mental, and social well-being of children, teens, and adults.

Vintage sepia photograph of a large group of people outdoors in front of trees, with some tents in the background. The group includes men, women, and children, many seated or standing in multiple rows. There is a handwritten note at the bottom that says, 'X is Seth - mother's arms' and the year 1901.

1875

Christian holiness camp meetings begin on the current site of Durley Camp. Worshippers numbering 3,000-5,000 in these early years come to camp in horse-drawn buggies and by train, with the railroad giving a special rate to Durley attendees. There are no permanent structures on the grounds, so it is tent camping only.

An old sepia photograph showing four people standing outside a tent or booth, with three women in long white dresses and a man in dark trousers and a light shirt.

1879

The Bond County Laymen’s Association is organized and officers are elected. The association votes to begin raising funds to build a tabernacle.

Three people hugging each other by a lake at sunset, with trees along the shore and their silhouettes visible against the colorful sky and reflection in the water.

1893

The camp becomes a Free Methodist entity with the incorporation of the Greenville District Free Methodist Camp Meeting Association.

Black and white portrait of a man with a beard and mustache, wearing a suit jacket and a collared shirt.

1895

James H. Moss deeds 15 acres to the camp for $2.

A sketch of a church with a large, steep roof and wooden support beams, surrounded by trees, with a sign that reads 'Peace Memorial Baptist Church' and the address '4904' visible on the roof.

1905

Construction is completed on the first tabernacle. Due to donations of materials and labor, the entire debt of $207 is retired with offerings received at the dedication service.

1925

Old wooden church building with a sign that reads 'Free Methodist Campground' and the year 1901, surrounded by trees.

Ownership of the camp is transferred to the Free Methodist Central Illinois Conference, today known as the Gateway Conference.

Nighttime view of a sign for Durley Camp in a wooded area with a gravel path and trees in the background.

1950s

A dining hall, dormitories and youth chapel are built to accommodate youth camps and family camps.

1968

Black and white aerial view of a large lake with surrounding farmland and scattered buildings.

Children paddling a boat on a lake with other boats in the background and trees on the distant shore.

The 775-acre Governor Bond Lake is built by the city of Greenville, turning Durley into prime lakeside property. That same year, the conference votes to consolidate all youth camps at Durley. The camp’s waterfront and water-related activities are key attractions for campers of all ages.

Small house with an A-frame roof, dark green door, and white walls, elevated on wooden supports, surrounded by trees and grass.

A room with green walls and wooden floors, containing four metal bunk beds with green mattresses, a small white plastic drawer, a ceiling fan, an air conditioning unit in the window, and a wall-mounted electrical panel.

1975

The first ten youth cabins are built. They are rustic one-room units with eight beds and no indoor plumbing. More cabins of the same design are added over the next two decades. Today there are 15 still in use.

1992

Outdoor scene with a large wooden cross, benches, and potted plants arranged on a circular brick patio in front of a brown building surrounded by green trees.

An empty event space or pavilion with white chairs arranged in rows, a large ceiling fan, and large windows showing trees outside.

The 1901 tabernacle is removed and replaced with a new tabernacle on the same site.

A beige house with large windows reflecting trees, a wooden deck with chairs, surrounded by trees with autumn foliage, on a partly cloudy day.

1997

A period of intense development begins on the grounds as several new facilities are constructed over the next decade. Improvements include a new caretakers’ residence, ministry lodge, shower house, septic system, teams challenge trail and zip line in the woods, and dock at the waterfront. Much of the labor for these projects is donated by the free methodist organization Craftsmen for Christ.

2004

The old dining hall and dormitory is demolished and replaced with Young Lodge, funded in part by an estate gift from Fern Young. The building includes a commercial kitchen, 250-capacity dining hall, elevator, activities rooms, offices, and restrooms. Contrary to its name, however, Young Lodge does not include overnight lodging.

A wooden building with a sign reading "Lounge Lodge" on the front, set against a backdrop of trees with autumn-colored leaves and a blue sky with white clouds.

A modern house with a large front porch, several people standing and talking, and outdoor seating on the patio.

Learn more

2022

The board announces a 3-year campaign to build a new 64-bed youth lodge to address the critical need for more hotel-style lodging. The $2.5 million comprehensive campaign is named the 150th Anniversary Campaign for Durley, with a target starting date for the lodge in 2025, the 150th anniversary of Christian camping on these grounds.

2025

Durley Camp celebrates 150 years of Christian camping on the grounds. The camps commemorate the rich history of the campground, while preparing the next generation for the next 150 years of spreading the Gospel to youth, family and more in a beautiful nature setting.

Group photo of people gathered outdoors in front of a large building, celebrating 15 years of Durley Camp.