For over fifty years, God has been using Camp Meribah as a tool to help young people begin, strengthen and renew their relationship with the Lord. Camp Meribah, founded in 1969, is a 250-acre Christian camp which contains fourteen buildings. The camp is owned and operated by the Centerville Church of Christ and is overseen by its own board and budget. The camp is divided into two separate areas that are available to rent: Camp Meribah and Dotson Alumni Lodge.
Camp Meribah derived its name from Exodus 17, where Moses brought forthwater from the rock. The reason being, there are twenty-four fresh water springs found scattered about the camp property. Camp Meribah has been and continues to be, a center of Christian activities for this congregation, the community and the brotherhood. We thank God for having opened for our church family such a wide, useful door of opportunity.
Camp Meribah began with a generous donation of 158 acres to the Centerville Church of Christ by Hartie Lee and Georgia Coble and another 40 acres from Georgie Stephenson beginning in 1968. Since then, Camp Meribah has been a labor of love of the Centerville Church of Christ. We are committed to our motto which hangs above the entrance to our camp, “Building Boys Is Better Than Mending Men.” Over the years, hundreds of people from the Centerville Congregation have donated hard work, land, materials, money and time to Camp Meribah in order to build Camp Meribah into the beautiful location that it is today.
To view a more detailed timeline about Camp Meribah, click here.
Read Full HistoryThe Camp Meribah Board oversees the 250 acre property and all the facilities. The board provides supervision to the full time ranger through policies, procedures and fee structure. The camp operates under its own budget, independent of the church budget. It is the board’s duty to maintain a positive cash flow. This is provided through rentals and use of the camp facilities. The board is responsible for long term and short term planning for maintenance and construction projects. The board is responsible for maintaining all proper permits and certifications to operate the facilities.
Our camp is located on a 250-acre tract of beautiful wooded land just five minutes from downtown Centerville and our church building. The facilities include Ken McDonald Hall an air-conditioned and heated, multi-purpose building (basketball, games, crafts and cafeteria), Mackendox playground (sand volleyball, play equipment, etc.), an outdoor gym (outdoor basketball court with pavilion), and less than a mile down White Pine Drive is Dotson Ballfield. Our three campers cabins and the four-room staff lodge are air-conditioned and heated. All together these make sleeping available for over 100. Also, there are adequate restrooms and showers on both the girls and boys side of camp with restrooms located in Ken McDonald Hall and the staff lodge as well. There is an air-conditioned and heated A-frame chapel which will seat approximately 100. A popular place for devotionals is the chapel-in-the-woods. A rock circle surrounded by woods perfect for a quiet and beautiful devotional. Just before approaching the chapel-in-the-woods is a fire ring. This is the spot for campfires, roasting marshmallows, playing horse shoes or having a fireside devotional. At the lower entrance, there is a lake and a rock quarry available for your use as well as marked hiking trails that cover the acreage of Camp Meribah. The Hayes Pavilion is located next to Ken McDonald Hall for outdoor use in a sheltered environment. “Ms. Mable’s” Amphitheater is located behind the A-frame chapel. The Elrod / McCord Shelter at the Springs is located past the lake next to the waterfall.
Located just past the main entrance of the camp you will find the beautiful two story Dotson Alumni Lodge. The lodge has a porch on both levels with a fully wrapped porch on the main level filled with rocking chairs. Inside you will find sleeping for 32 with a restroom and shower in each of the four rooms on the main floor. Located to the center rear of the main floor is a state of the art commercial kitchen with all conveniences including a large ice maker, freezer, fridge, dishwashers, griddle and oven. You will be welcomed to the main floor with a stone fireplace; living room; and dining table, suitable to fit most groups for devotionals, meals or meetings. On the second floor, you will find extra couches and meeting tables as well as two more restrooms. The rear of the lodge overlooks a nature setting with a large grill and places to play. The lodge derived its name to honor Edward and Olgia Dotson and the Alumni of Camp Meribah. The original lodge burned to the ground on Christmas Eve 2001. Under the leadership of Ward Mayberry and Bobby Bates, it was constructed to its magnificent beauty we see now. We also could have not completed it without the hours of assistance from inmates from the Turney Center and the donations from Paul Gentry at Ole Timer Log Homes in Mt. Juliet, TN.