Atmosphere
HISTORY
The Pickering family started Camp Hollymont in the summer of 1983 as a sister camp to Camp Rockmont for boys. Retirement brought new ownership to both the boys camp (1987) and to the girls camp (1993).
The McKibbens family has owned Hollymont since 1993. Missy McKibbens Roper is our camp director. She began Hollymont as a camper and moved up through the staff ranks until she attained the role of camp director.
Hollymont is a privately owned, Christian camp for girls ages 6 - 15. We offer a variety of 6, 13, and 27 day session options. Our camping season runs for 8 weeks and lasts from June to August.
Our winter office is in Black Mountain. In the summer we lease the facilities of The Asheville School for our camp operations. The Asheville School is a private boarding school located in Asheville, NC. We are blessed with a beautiful campus and excellent, first class facilities.
PHILOSOPHY
Our camp motto, Living & Learning with Love & Laughter, succinctly states our priority to foster each camper's physical, social, and spiritual development in the context of a loving, Christian environment.
We want Hollymont to be a refuge where campers can disconnect from the outside world and the accompanying stresses and responsibilities.
We want Hollymont to be a place of recreation where they can re-create, trying new activities and experiencing the joy of familiar traditions.
We want Hollymont to be a place of restoration where campers can reconnect with God.
LOCATION
Hollymont is located in Asheville, North Carolina on the 300-acre campus of the prestigious Asheville School -- one of the nation's leading boarding schools!
As you travel up the long, winding, tree-lined Asheville School Road, suddenly the campus emerges complete with green fields, mountain vistas, and an interesting mix of architectural style buildings spanning from the 19th century to the present.
We are within just a few hours of several major cities. The approximate driving times are:
- Atlanta, GA - 3.5 hours
- Birmingham, AL - 5 hours
- Charlotte, NC - 2 hours
- Columbia, SC - 2.5 hours
- Greenville, SC - 1.5 hours
- Knoxville, TN - 2 hours
- Louisville, KY - 7 hours
- Nashville, TN - 5 hours
- Raleigh, NC - 4 hours
- Richmond, VA - 6 hours
- Washington, DC - 8 hours
- Winston-Salem, NC - 2 hours
About Asheville The All-American City of Asheville (population 71,600) is known for its natural beauty. It is located in Western North Carolina and is surrounded by the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. There is something for everyone - great shopping, restaurants, spas, museums, theater, and more! If you want to spend time exploring God's beautiful creation, you can drive the Blue Ridge Parkway, hike, fly-fish, whitewater raft, golf, mountain bike, and much, much more! To learn details about area opportunities, visit the Asheville Chamber of Commerce website.
YEAR ROUND STAFF
Missy McKibbens Roper is the Director of Camp Hollymont. Missy has been involved with Hollymont since 1983 and has experienced everything Hollymont has to offer for both the camper and staff member. Missy is a graduate of the University of Alabama where she also attended graduate school. Her education and background in counseling complement her wide range of knowledge in the camping community. Missy and her (late) husband, John T. Roper, Jr., MD, have one daughter, Loren Jane Roper.
Lauren G. Glass -- after spending time in both case management and camping, Lauren returned to Hollymont in 2005 as Assistant Director. She is responsible for camper recruitment and program development. Lauren has been both a Hollymont counselor and head counselor. She is a graduate of Mississippi College and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Amy E. Lewallen -- after eleven years of working in education at the Whitefield School in St Simon's Island, GA, Amy returned to Hollymont in 2007 as Assistant Director. She is responsible for staff recruitment and program development. Amy has been both a Hollymont counselor and head counselor. She is a graduate of Auburn University.
Gail L. Mashburn serves as Hollymont's Administrative Director. Since 1990, Gail has been a full-time staff member supervising the business office, camp store, and other camper/staff support services. She brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Hollymont team. Gail is a graduate of Warren Wilson College.
Merridy McKibbens Sims serves as Hollymont's Program Facilitator and ACA Officer. Merridy returned to Hollymont in 2005 serving as Hollymont's Program Facilitator and ACA Coordinator. Beginning in 1984 and for many years to follow, she experienced life as a camper and served on staff as a CIT, Counselor and Head Counselor. She is a graduate of Baylor University. Merridy is married to Terry, and they have two boys - Steele and Spence.
