History of Epworth Forest

Making Disciples for Jesus Christ

The history of Impact 2818 Outdooor Ministries spans back to almost a century ago, beginning with Epworth Forest Conference Center.

Epworth Forest Conference Center

• 1889 - Organization of The Epworth League; gathered almost 10,000 youth

• 1916 - North Indiana Methodist Conference first Institute at Oakwood Park

• 1923 - Property purchased and named Epworth Forest

• 1924 - Auditorium and Hotel built; First Institute at Epworth Forest

• 1928 - Administration Building and Chapel built

• 1932 - Two Institutes

• 1936 - Three Institutes

• 1941 - Six Institutes

• 1943 - Pell Lodge built; Camp Adventure begun

• 1945 - Pell Lodge destroyed by fire

• 1948 - New Pell Lodge built

• 1953 - Construction of 6 two-story cottages begun

• 1958 - Construction of 6 two-story cottages completed

• 1961 - Construction of 6 dorm lodges begun

• 1963 - Cokesbury, Amphitheatre, Admin Building complex, and Pell Lodge Classrooms built

• 1964 - Construction of 6 dorm lodges completed

• 1968 - Methodist and EUB unite

• 1996 - Freeland House Hotel renovations begun through help and support of Friends and Alumni of Epworth Forest (FALEF)

• 1999 - Freeland House Hotel expanded and remodeled; state of the art facilities meet all modern codes for safety and reliability

• 2006 - Clarified Epworth Forest as Epworth Forest Conference Center to differentiate us between Epworth Forest neighborhood

• 2009 - First That Thing high school camp at Epworth Forest Conference Center

Impact 2818 Outdoor Ministries

Impact 2818 Outdoor Ministries began in 2009 as the camping ministry of the Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. We have seven camp sites across the state of Indiana and minister to over 3,200 students each summer. Click here for a full history of each of our seven camp sites.