It started as a dream. After seven wonderful years up in the Great Northland, the idea of a men’s outdoor ministry retreat in Alaska wouldn’t let go. Back in 1988 we launched our first Fishcamp with 8 men! Two father-and-son teams, tents pitched along Deep Creek in Ninilchik, a local pastor speaking around the fire pit, and every meal cooked over an open flame. WOW, what a summer.
It took a village
Everything you see at camp today was carried in by somebody’s hands. It took a village, and so many volunteers, donations, labor and prayer.
1990, We purchased our two acres on the Ninilchik River, a rustic cabin and electricity on the south shore, the river dividing the property and a county bridge on Brody Road carrying you across. Brad Wille made it possible. For those first years it was an outhouse and hauled spring water, and we wouldn’t trade the memory of it.
1991, The land was dedicated to God’s work at a campfire ceremony led by Pastor Gordon Hay, with Pastor Chris Hay of Kenai as our local caregiver. The Knepper family worked the land for two weeks, fishing, hosting, getting it ready.
1992–1994, A little more every summer. Volunteers remodeled the cabin year by year, a pump finally brought running water to the kitchen and the outdoor shower, and every meal still came out of that one cabin kitchen.
1995, The Bunkhaus went up, sleeping four to six more, and our groups grew past ten. Mike Roghair landed our camp-record #195 halibut.
1996, The Bathhaus was built onto the back of the cabin, hot showers, two restrooms, sinks, and a washer and dryer. Luxury, by Fishcamp standards.
2000, The Tenthaus platform and tent went in right next to the river, four more beds, and camp could hold fifteen-plus with room to feed them.
2003, Dads for Lads began, and Carlos Silva was our very first young man.
2005, We added the cabin deck, Col. John Schumacher built his Adirondack chairs, and we bought the f/v Donni Jean for our own halibut runs out of Deep Creek.
2006, The NRL Lodge foundation and shell went up, fifteen-plus volunteers, a long Alcan drive, and a lot of sweat. The dream had a frame now.
2008, The whole lodge interior, framing, roof, windows and doors, electrical and plumbing, was worked on all summer by volunteers. Staff slept rough in it, temporary power and all.
2009, Fifteen men from Hands of Mercy came for ten days and built cabinets, finished the electrical, ran water from the well, built the deck rail, and so much more. Bible study around the campfire every night.
2011, Camp Alaska #2. The Great Room became the dining room with a breakfast bar, hot meals for groups of twenty-plus, and the lodge reached five bedrooms and four bathrooms. The John Handy Legacy gang built the campfire stadium seating.
2012, A deck and a hot tub on the lodge, a new dining room with chafing dishes and Gil’s Grill, Wi-Fi, and a full season of volunteer staff from June through August.
2015, James Ledbetter painted the lodge decks and log exterior top to bottom, and the John Handy Legacy Group built THE GRAND LODGE LOG STAIRCASE, and is it a prize. Chef David turned out gourmet meals all season.
2017, Four generations now, carrying on the men’s family tradition, the Terpenings have come since 1988. Grandma Knepper kept blessing everyone at camp; her box lunches with a scripture verse tucked inside keep guests and sea captains alike focused on God while they eat.
2018, Our 30th season in ministry, 1988–2018. We rejoice and thank God for His mercy and blessing through all these years of work, and for a comfortable Lodge and Cabin to host so many folks. Midway Church of Atlanta adopted Fishcamp as a missions point.
2019, A construction year. THE COTTAGE, time to build again, stacking logs and making more sleeping room. Clark Boulton and five Utah buddies led the June 1st team on the water, septic, and electrical. We met the goal: habitable for a volunteer couple by August 1st. That’s twelve weeks.
Nowadays
Nowadays the lodge sits on the Ninilchik River, three and a half hours south of Anchorage on the Kenai Peninsula, salmon and trout running right out front, Deep Creek halibut just down the road. Flannel sheets, a mint on the pillow, a #50 box of fish to carry home, and a scripture verse in every lunch box.
It took a village to build it, and the village still shows up every summer. Pull up a deck chair or roll a log on over. There is no clock at the Lodge, come as you are, leave feeling refreshed and renewed.