RUGGLES Camp and Retreat Center
Founded in 1873, Ruggles Camp embraces the mission of teaching youth to be effective leaders and faithful disciples. Beginning with "Mini Camps" for youngsters (ages 10-12), Ruggles offers a wide selection of youth camps and retreats, including three levels of confirmation camps (for grades 6-7, grades 8-10, and grades 11-12) each spring, Middle School and High School Camps each summer, and Youth Retreats. One of their most popular summer programs is "Marketplace," which annually attracts hundreds of children and adults for a Camping with God experience authentically set in biblical times.
Located just north of Flemingsburg, in Lewis County, Ruggles Camp and Retreat Center regularly serves congregations and assemblies of the general area and beyond. It hosts regional "Walk to Emmaus" spiritual retreats four times each year, quarterly Men & Women's events, and provides "After Glow" camps for senior adults.
Ruggles Camp Century Club 1873 - 1973 information can be found here.
Ruggles Camp 150th Celebration Booklet (2023). PDF. 8 MB.
RCRC-2023-150th-Celebration-Booklet-r-.p[...]
Adobe Acrobat document [7.8 MB]
2025 ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE:
Jan 30 -- Ruggles Camp Board Meeting @ 7:00 pm
Mar 27 -- Ruggles Camp Board Meeting @ 7:00 pm
Apr 06 -- Marketplace workers meeting @ 2:00 pm
Apr 26 -- Soup Supper @ 5:00 pm & Auction @ 6:00 pm
Apr 27 -- Emmaus mens cleaning day
May 01 - 04 -- Men's Emmaus Walk
May 09 - 10 -- Vanceburg Holiness
May 14 - 18 -- Black Oak Church of God
May 22 -- Ruggles Camp Board Meeting @ 7:00 pm
May 31 -- Marketplace workers meeting @ 11:00 am - 2:00 pm Tie Dye & Picnic @ Shelter
May 31 -- Triumphant Quartet @ 6:00 pm
Jun 08 - 12 -- Tri-County Camp Meeting
Jun 13 - 15 -- Hostetler Family Reunion, entire grounds
Jun 16 -- Marketplace setup @ 10:30 am
Jun 17 - 19 -- Marketplace - Super Heroes in the Bible
Jun 19 -- Marketplace cleanup after dismissal
Jun 20 -- Wood's Graduation Party - picnic shelter, bathrooms
Jun 21 -- Doyle Family Reunion, Picnic Shelter / bathrooms
Jun 23 -- Emmaus womens cleaning day
Jun 26 - 29 -- Women's Emmaus Walk
Jun 30 - Jul 4 -- Miller Family Reunion, entire grounds
Jul 14 - 19 -- Middle School Camp - Worthy of God's Love
Jul 16 - 27 -- 153rd Camp Meeting - Theme: Stepping in the Light (All evening services @ 7:00 pm)
Jul 16 - 18 -- Rev Charlie Shoemaker, evangelist - Crosspoint Worship Band - Youth emphasis, but ALL are welcome
Jul 18 -- Ruggles T-Shirt night / Middle Schoolers help lead service
Jul 19 -- Camp Meeting Singing - Darrell Polly / Friends of Faith
Jul 20 -- 26 -- High School Camp - Worthy of God's Love
Jul 20 - 27 -- Rev Ric wright, evangelist - Resurrection Lifestyle - Bryan Hutson, song leader
Jul 21 -- Ruggles Association Men & Women, Dining Hall @ 6:00 pm (new time)
Jul 22 -- Missions Night - wear clothing from other countries as able
Jul 23 -- Cottage Owners meal @ 12:00 noon / meeting afterwards
Jul 24 -- Annual Memorial Service - Brewer Chapel @ 10:30 am
Jul 24 -- Ruggles Camp Board Meeting @ 5:30 pm, meal @ 4:30 pm
Jul 25 -- Ruggles T-Shirt night / High Schoolers help lead service
Jul 26 -- Friends of Ruggles - meal @ 12:00 n, auction @ 1:00 pm
Jul 27 -- Camp Meeting Closing night
Aug 03 -- KY Farm Bureau
Aug 30 -- Cooper Reunion
Sep 04 - 07 -- Men's Emmaus Walk
Sep 11 - 12 -- Lawson - Cooper Wedding
Oct 02 - 05 -- Women's Emmaus Walk
Oct 23 -- Ruggles Camp Board Meeting @ 7:00 pm
Financial contributions, invoices, financial or business inquiries should be directed to Jeffrey Rice, Treasurer, % Ruggles Camp & Retreat Center, 2104 Wiltshire Place, Lexington KY 40515.
Any Time of the Year Gifts - Please consider an any Time of the Year gift to Ruggles Camp & Retreat Center this year. Please send all contributions to the mailing address in
the paragraph above. Thank you for your thoughtful consideration.
Board Meetings 2025 Schedule: January 30, March 27, May 22, July 24, and October 23. NOTE - schedule may be altered due to weather.
Just For Fun: The late Reverend Les Grooms, former pastor of Augusta Presbyterian Church shared a way to remember the Ten Commandments (pdf) using the 10 fingers of your hands. Give it a try, and feel free
to share with your friends.
For more information about scheduling, reservations, and the cost for the use of the Campground or the use of the Retreat Center, please contact Laura Poe-Williams, text message to -- 606.407.2021, email lawpoe@gmail.com ; or use the contact us form. The buildings and grounds use policy, rental agreement, and rental fees can be viewed and printed out by clicking on the indicated link.
So what is a Stained Glass door doing at the edge of a green forest? Click to discover.
Ruggles proudly adheres to the Safe Sanctuaries Policy of the Kentucky Conference of The United Methodist Church. More information about Safe Sanctuaries and the protection of our children, youth, and vulnerable adults can be found at SafeSancturaries.
Top image courtesy of Rev E Patterson, lower image courtesy of L Poe-Williams.
Contact Us
Ruggles Camp & Retreat Center
Physical Address
437 Ruggles Camp Ground
Tollesboro, KY 41189
E911 Address
437 Ruggles Camp Ground
(off Burtonville Rd)
Tollesboro, KY 41189
GPS Coordinates
Lat: 38d 30.383m
Lon: -83d 35.548m
use our contact form.