Property

Welcome to Colorado like you have never experienced it before!

Spring Canyon sits on pristine 110 acres of Colorado alpine land and rises to 9,026ft above sea level. Surrounded by the San Isabel National Forest, and featuring multiple spring-fed ponds, there is so much to experience and enjoy when it comes to the facilities and property.

History of the Property

First purchased in 1962 from Ethel Poundstone by the ROACT (Rocky Mountain Association for Christian Training), these 110 acres are covered with pine and aspen trees and surrounded by the San Isabel National Forest. Mrs. Poundstone and her brother Ray Summe provided an extremely generous offer because they desired a Christian organization to purchase the land and buildings. Located approximately 125 miles southwest of Denver and 100 miles west of the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Spring Canyon was the perfect location for military members in the western United States to enjoy “vacation with a purpose” and for Air Force cadets to experience regular retreats. Situated between Mt. Princeton and Mt. Yale in the Collegiate Peaks region – which contains many of Colorado’s famed 14er’s – Spring Canyon views “The Hook,” a massive hook-like formation on the north face of Mt. Princeton. At just under 13,000 feet, The Hook became the iconic view for guests each time they returned. From an aerial view, Mt. Princeton also looks like a fishing hook – reminding us that Jesus called his disciples to be “fishers of men.” The natural underground spring which flows at 500 gallons per minute feeds not only our three ponds and South Cottonwood Creek, it also provides some of the cleanest drinking water in the entire U.S., reminding us that we must drink from the “Living Water” to be truly filled and refreshed.

Originally, only a few buildings existed – Poundstone Lodge, which originally contained the kitchen, dining room, meeting space, and guest rooms; Pioneer Cabin; the Prayer Chapel (originally staff housing); and Columbine Cabin. Several chalets were built in the first ten years of Spring Canyon and were designed for families or small groups of close friends. The original Fort Shine Lodge (now staff housing, called Cornerstone Lodge) was built and greatly increased the number of guest beds available. Construction of Hartley Holmes Lodge was completed Memorial Day 1974, providing a greatly improved kitchen and dining facility as well as a larger meeting room, classrooms and office space. In recent years, the OCF “Growing and Building” campaign enabled construction of the new Fort Shine and Veteran’s Memorial Lodges and expansion of the Hartley Holmes Lodge kitchen and dining room – doubling the guest capacity of Spring Canyon and completing the array of excellent facilities we enjoy today.

The Spring and Ponds

Spring Canyon gets its name from a crystal-clear mountain spring that flows year-round through the heart of the camp. This water is supplied to all of our lodges and chalets, and is actually bottled and sold by Colorado bottled-water companies. The spring also feeds our ponds, which are stocked with ample trout for fishing. We also supply canoes, kayaks, and life vests for our guests. Come experience the beauty of Spring Canyon and drink from some of Colorado’s freshest mountain spring water!

^{John 4:14}“But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”