MONTREAT, NC — A unanimous ruling through a 48-page opinion from the North Carolina Court of Appeals has reversed a decision by a trial court that set aside a Special Use Permit for the Mountain Retreat Association (MRA, dba Montreat Conference Center) to build a new lodge on its campus. The Court of Appeals ruling restores the Special Use Permit to build the lodge. The MRA’s Board of Directors approved the plan for a new lodge in 2021 and has repeatedly affirmed its intention to develop the site for the MRA’s mission and ministry. The special use permit was granted to …
Press Release: Montreat Conference Center Receives a Grant to Strengthen Churches Amid Shifting Landscapes
MONTREAT, NC — Montreat Conference Center has been awarded a nearly $1 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. as part of its Thriving Congregations Initiative 2025 Scaling Program to continue its work on congregational vitality. This new four-year grant will enable Montreat to work with 75 congregations, building on the success of its initial phase, which concludes this year. That phase supported 30 congregations across three cohorts. The expanded program will welcome additional congregations into the full cohort experience and establish two regional hubs to broaden the initiative’s reach and impact. “This generous support from Lilly Endowment affirms the importance of our work with congregations and provides us with the resources to deepen the impact of the program,” …
Press Release: Renovation of Lake Susan Begins
On October 31, 2024, the Mountain Retreat Association (MRA) dba Montreat Conference Center began a project to restore and revitalize the much beloved Lake Susan on its campus in Montreat. The lake and accompanying dam have long served as an important stormwater reservoir and flood control device. During Hurricane Helene and its aftermath, significant amounts of sediment and debris were captured in Lake Susan, only increasing the importance of the previously scheduled dredging. Equipment staging and site preparations began on October 30, 2024. Parking on Assembly Drive above the lake will be closed until project completion, scheduled for the end …
Mountain Retreat Association Files Notice of Appeal
Mountain Retreat Association files notice of appeal regarding new lodge permit.
Superior Court Reaches Decision on MRA Lodge Permit
Superior Court Sets Aside Mountain Retreat Association’s Permit to Construct New Lodge
Montreat Announces New Endowment
The Marilyn Jones Endowment has been established to honor and appreciate the 53-year leadership role that Marilyn Jones played in Montreat Conference Center from 1965 through 2018. In the 60’s she brought banners into worship in the auditorium. In 1974 she reopened the Craft Shop at Montreat, with a pottery called the “Upper Story,” later renamed and dedicated “Sally Jones Pottery.” This ministry continues today, celebrating her commitment to the ministry of arts and crafts in Montreat. The purpose of the Marilyn Jones Endowment is in support of the creative use of the arts in Montreat’s summer programs, in hopes …
Board of Adjustment Approves Application for Montreat Lodge
of Montreat Board of Adjustment to begin work on a new lodge in Montreat, the conference center’s first significant new building in 30 years.
Montreat Receives Thriving Congregation Grant by Lilly Foundation
Montreat Conference Center has received a grant of $995,500 from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help develop new initiatives to support local congregations. The program, “Reforming Identity and Agency: Vital Practices for 21st Century Congregations,” is funded through Lilly Endowment’s Thriving Congregations Initiative. The aim of the national initiative is to strengthen Christian congregations so they can help people deepen their relationships with God, build strong relationships with each other, and contribute to the flourishing of local communities and the world. Lilly Endowment is making nearly $93 million in grants through the initiative. The grants will support organizations as they work …