Mrs.
T. C. Delaney of Memphis, TX brought girls to this
beautiful area in 1918 when she was Conference Director
of Youth Work for the Missionary Society. A stained
glass window in the tabernacle states Mrs. Delaney's
camp motto, "OTHERS." Ice
blocks were brought in twice a week.
Tents were used for sleeping, lanterns were used
for light, and campfires were used for cooking food.
The charge for one week of camp was $1.00.
In 1925 Northwest Texas Conference bought 316
acres of this canyon. Improvements came slowly.
The tabernacle was built in 1928 through the
generosity of the Women's Missionary Conference.
An earthen dam and a natural spring made the first
swimming pool. The first brochure was available
for Mrs. Delaney's Girl's Camp titled, "Jubilee
Summer Conference with the Young Peoples."
In 1939 2,500 campers used the camp. A dormitory
was sponsored by the young people of the Conference,
and propane was installed in the dining hall. Also,
the Trustees requested $2,000 in apportionments
to assist in the liquidation of indebtedness and
improvements for the year. At that time there was
a nine hole golf course here with no fairways, 9
sand greens, and a very rough rough. A concrete
swimming pool and telephone lines came in 1940.
Electricity came in 1946 and in 1947 15 army barracks
were brought in "to be used for a few years" as
cabins. In 1950 the second dining hall was built.
It held 300 people. That year 4,484 campers attended
camps with 59 conversions reported and 65 answering
the call to full-time Christian service.
During the 1960's the new swimming pool was built,
as was Ceta Lodge, with rooms for 80-100 people.
The swinging foot bridge was also completed.
In addition to the long successful "Traditional" camping
program, the "One Way" camps were started
in 1970. In 1972 the first non-denominational, interracial
week of fun in a camp setting took place for the
mentally handicapped. This would later be called
Camp New Dawn. The four Trust Cabins were built
in 1987 and an activity center in the late 80's.
In 1992 through the vision of Ms. Madeline Hegi
the Chapel was built. She wanted a quiet place to
go and pray with a camper. In 1995 a new dining
hall was built which can seat over 600 people. And
in 2000 the seven "boys" army barracks
were torn down to make room for the 20 room Garrison
Retreat Lodge, a first-class motel-style retreat
center with a huge central meeting room. In 2001
the Schaeffer Challenge Course was built through
the generosity of the Schaeffer families.
In 2006 "The Glen", known as Ceta Glen was added into the ministry of Ceta Canyon. This addition will allow accomodations for over 600 guests. Quote from Chuck Fisher Hi Plains Area Minister "For nearly fifty years the Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ) in the High Plains cared for the camp known as Ceta Glen. After much prayer and discussion we sensed that God was leading us to entrust the stewardship of the property to Ceta Canyon. Now we know it was God leading. We are especially pleased to see improvement in facilities and management. The camp has never been in better hands. It is good to see what Christians working together can accomplish."
2008 - Celebration of 90 years of Ministry.