The Abandoned Church Camp Ruins at Warren Dunes
The skeleton of an old church camp sits back in the woods at Warren Dunes – near Weko Beach just a stone’s throw west of Bridgman.
The camp was once operated by First Church of Chicago beginning in 1935 until it finally closed down for good in the mid-1980s.
Looking at the bare bones of this once-upon-a-time church camp, you can tell it was impressive. It included a lodge that had a great view of Lake Michigan from the top of one of the dunes. The lodge’s main floor included a dining area; it was surrounded by porches/decks with several different amusements, including ping-pong tables.
Among the many buildings were 15 cabins, an awesome wooden staircase that descended towards the beach, a water-pumping station that looks like part of a castle, lifeguard stations, and tennis courts.
After closing down, the camp was purchased in 1985 by the State of Michigan to expand the Warren Dunes State Park.
The sad part – the structures of the former camp were destroyed by fire shortly afterward, very likely by an arsonist, although there was no recorded proof. All that was left were the concrete foundations and some equipment (sink, bathtub, and refrigerator among them). The water-pumping station still stands, but the impressive grand stairway that led to the beach is long gone.
Scroll down a way and see a gallery with images of the ruins, sitting back in the woods at Warren Dunes...