Summer is officially here in Montreat! As our busiest season of the year, thousands of people will journey to Montreat over the next two months to attend youth conferences, participate in Clubs, catch up with friends and family, or to simply soak in the beauty of God’s creation. No matter what brings you to Montreat, summer is a perfect time to connect with our vibrant community! There are tons of ways to engage with our ministry that only take place during the summer. Keep reading to see how you can participate! Summer Worship Series Each Sunday morning in the summer season, Montreat Conference Center gathers with Montreat Presbyterian and Black Mountain Presbyterian Churches …
A Promising New Season is Upon Us!
The summer has arrived! Once again, representing months of preparation by staff and volunteers both here and afar, a promising season is coming into view, filled with opportunities for fellowship and renewal, recreation, worship, and creative expression — and more. As we prepare for the season ahead, there is much to note: As we’ve noted in the past, summer in Montreat means a town transformed. Staff, residents, volunteers, and town staff all rise to meet the surging activity that comes each June. It feels familiar, and yet each year we begin anew, mindful that Montreat’s greatest strengths have never been its buildings, programs, or traditions, but the people who gather here. May we approach this summer with gratitude for …
Lodge Site Updates and Progress
An update and overview of the spring board meeting of the Mountain Retreat Association (MRA, d.b.a. Montreat Conference Center), held in November 2024.
Planning for Fall Retreats
As summer begins to fill our calendars with vacations, family gatherings, and long afternoons by the pool, planning for a fall retreat may not be top of mind. Yet, for retreat leaders preparing to gather in Montreat later this year, taking advantage of the summer as a time to organize your event and stay ahead of important deadlines can help your group avoid unnecessary stress and unexpected costs, ultimately, leading to a smooth and successful event once you arrive. Below, we’ve put together a few things to keep in mind this summer if you are a group leader hoping to host an event this fall. We hope you find it helpful! …
Take a Hike! Montreat Conference Center’s 2026 Public Hiking Schedule
Each summer, Montreat Conference Center’s wilderness rangers offer a variety of free guided hikes for the public. Hikes are typically offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays and range in difficulty and length, covering all sorts of terrain throughout the Montreat Wilderness and offering something for everyone to enjoy. If you are interested in exploring God’s creation this summer, this is a great opportunity to do so! Keep reading to learn more about this offering and see our recommendations for enjoying Montreat’s trails. Our Public Hikes are divided into half-day and full-day outings. Half-day hikes depart from the Montreat Nature Center (located at 301 Lookout Rd.) at 9:00 am and are designed to return in …
Take a Class at the Currie Craft Center and Sally Jones Pottery this Summer
Montreat Conference Center is excited to share that the Currie Craft Center and Sally Jones Pottery will be offering a variety of classes, demonstrations, and workshops this summer for adults interested in learning more about the arts. Classes are offered weekly Monday through Wednesday, with a mix of one-day and two-day courses, many of which result in a completed project (with the exception of pottery glazing). Thursdays are reserved exclusively for glazing. This summer, offerings will include projects focusing on ceramics, glass, painting, drawing, sewing and textile arts, photography, and writing. Classes will begin on Monday, June 8, 2026, and continue through August 7. Class offerings change weekly, but a preview of available classes can …
Montreat Conference Center Announces Guest Preachers for 2026 Summer Worship Series
Each summer, Montreat Conference Center partners with the congregations of Montreat Presbyterian and Black Mountain Presbyterian Churches to form its much-anticipated Summer Worship Series, held each week in Anderson Auditorium. This longstanding tradition gathers prominent church leaders from across the country to create a series of vibrant worship services for the shared community. Nestled in the mountains of Western North Carolina, Montreat Conference Center has long been a place where people come to renew and reconnect. The Summer Worship Series continues that legacy by welcoming guest preachers who offer thoughtful, engaging sermons shaped by their diverse experiences and perspectives. This year’s speakers include: The series will begin on Sunday, June 7, and will meet weekly at 10:30 am …
New Paths and Shared Plans
An update and overview of the spring board meeting of the Mountain Retreat Association (MRA, d.b.a. Montreat Conference Center), held in November 2024.
Volunteer as a Hiking Guide this Summer
We are excited to offer a new volunteer opportunity this summer in the form of public hike hosts! Every summer, the Montreat Rangers offer public hikes for the Montreat community on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We will continue that tradition this year while incorporating a new twist: For some of our half-day hikes, we would like individuals from the community to help lead the hike. If you are interested, you can sign up to lead one of the following half-day hikes: Volunteers will be accompanied by 1-2 rangers who will serve in support roles for first aid or other specific needs. By assisting with one of these hikes, you will support our ministry in the following ways: The wilderness rangers will continue to lead the longer and more difficult hikes over the course of the summer. (Although, as always, you are welcome to join …
A First-Time Visitor’s Guide to Montreat
For over 125 years, Montreat Conference Center has been a place where groups and individuals have come to experience recreation, rest, and renewal. But what, specifically, should you expect if you are visiting for the first time? While all events differ in their focus and programming, there are a few key aspects of the Montreat experience that ring true no matter how you engage with our mission and ministry. When you visit Montreat, you are given an opportunity to step away from the hectic pace of everyday life and finding time instead to engage in community, explore creation, and reflect on God’s presence in your life. Below, we’ve outlined a few things to …
MRA Board of Directors: Meeting Summary for Spring 2026
An update and overview of the spring board meeting of the Mountain Retreat Association (MRA, d.b.a. Montreat Conference Center), held in November 2024.
Growing in Faith and Friendship at Middle School Conference
Montreat Middle School Conference is quickly approaching! If you’ve never attended before, this event is a unique, faith-centered experience designed to help middle school students grow spiritually, build lasting relationships, and discover the joy of Christian community. We hope you will consider joining us! Below, we’ve collected more about this conference so that you know what to expect when bringing a group. The first thing to know is that Montreat Middle School Conference doesn’t take place in Montreat. Instead, the event is set on the campus of Maryville College in Maryville, TN. Maryville College is also affiliated with the Presbyterian …
Next Steps for the New Lodge at Montreat Conference Center
An update and overview of the spring board meeting of the Mountain Retreat Association (MRA, d.b.a. Montreat Conference Center), held in November 2024.
Guiding Congregations Through Seasons of Change
Leading a congregation through a time of transition is both challenging and extremely rewarding work. In times of change, whether due to pastoral shifts, congregational restructuring, or evolving community needs, faith communities are invited to rediscover who they are and who they are being called to become. As such, thoughtful, skilled leaders are necessary to guide congregations between what was and what will be. To support these efforts, Montreat Conference Center is hosting The Art of Transitional Ministry, a continuing education program for pastors, later this year. Within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and across many other denominations, transitional ministry has …
Draw on Ancient Wisdom to Address Today’s Challenges
Montreat Conference Center is delighted to welcome back beloved author and teacher John Philip Newell, alongside his colleague Cami Twilling, as they lead The Great Search 1, the first of a new three-part series from Earth & Soul. As in previous Earth & Soul Retreats, participants will be invited into a deeper exploration of spirituality grounded in Celtic wisdom which responds to the needs of our present moment. For those unfamiliar with Earth & Soul, their retreats offer a meaningful opportunity to engage in spiritual practices rooted in the ancient Celtic tradition. The Great Search, specifically, will address the deep …
Press Release: Assembly Inn Dining Room Honors Katherine McKay Belk at Renaming Ceremony
MONTREAT, NC — The Mountain Retreat Association Inc. (MRA) recently honored the late Katherine (Kat) McKay Belk by officially renaming the Assembly Inn dining facility the “Katherine McKay Belk Dining Room” during a banquet in her honor on March 15, 2026. Guests included Kat’s daughter, Katie from the 5th generation, as well as great granddaughter, Addy, from the 7th generation. Many other friends, community leaders, MRA board members, and staff also shared the celebration. Throughout her life, Kat’s philanthropic gifts, leadership, and support made a significant impact on the mission of Montreat Conference Center, a ministry of the MRA. In 2014, …
Graybeard or Greybeard?
When visiting Montreat, you may notice occasional differences in how we use the word “Graybeard” or “Greybeard.” Typically, Graybeard with an “A” refers to Graybeard Trail and Graybeard Mountain, while Greybeard with an E is used when refering to Greybeard Road. So why are they different? We’ve asked ourselves that question and the research seems to indicate that these variations in spelling are not the result of two separate origins but instead reflect a gradual shift in spelling conventions over time. It appears that variations of this kind are actually quite common with locations named before standardized naming practices were …
Press Release: Montreat Conference Center Announces Opening of The Good Steward
MONTREAT, NC — In March 2025, Ten Thousand Villages closed their corporately held locations leaving their Montreat space vacant. After carefully evaluating the space throughout the summer and fall of 2025, the conference center is excited to announce The Good Steward—a new retail experience opening in June 2026. The Good Steward is an extension of The Montreat Store and a mission of Montreat Conference Center. It will offer curated goods from local and global artisans, emphasizing conscious shopping and the human stories behind each item. Its mission is to foster genuine connection while celebrating craft, art, and stewardship of our natural …
Worship & Music Conference is for Youth, Too!
When people think about Worship & Music Conference, they often picture handbells, adult choirs, and organ recitals. And while those elements are certainly an important part of the experience, there’s another part of the conference that also deserves some attention: the youth programming. Children and youth who have completed third through twelfth grade are eligible to sign up for a variety of offerings during the conference developed specifically with their age and experience in mind. When they attend, they are considered full, active participants and join the entire community in learning new skills, sharing their talents, and making new friends. In this way, Worship & Music Conference plays a crucial role in developing young leaders by providing youth with meaningful opportunities for musical growth, faith formation, and lasting community. Each day, youth participants engage in their …
Take Time for Sabbath this Spring
At Montreat, we often talk about the importance of Sabbath as a time intentionally set aside for rest, reflection, and renewal. But what does it look like to practice Sabbath in the midst of our busy lives? One way is through a Spring Sabbath Getaway at Montreat! As winter fades and new life begins to appear in the mountains, spring provides a natural opportunity to pause, breathe deeply, and reconnect with God, creation, and ourselves. Keeping reading to see how you can take advantage of this special Montreat offering! We’ve talked before about how our culture often rewards constant activity. …
Discover “Horizon Gazing” at Women’s Connection 2026
Anticipation is building for this year’s Women’s Connection conference, and we couldn’t be more excited about what lies ahead. Women from across the country are already making plans to gather in Montreat for a time of worship, learning, and meaningful connection. With an inspiring theme and a remarkable group of leaders joining us on stage, Women’s Connection 2026 promises to be a space for reflection, renewal, and shared hope. Today, we’re delighted to share more about this year’s theme and introduce the rest of our conference leaders. Horizon Gazing: Hope in the Here and Now During this year’s Women’s Connection …
Announcing the Newly Renamed Katherine McKay Belk Dining Room
Though Pete Peery, my predecessor as Montreat Conference Center’s president, lives right down the street, we don’t see each other often enough, and when we do, we often talk about everything but the job. Recently, however, we have enjoyed reminiscing over one Montreat topic: the significance of the Assembly Inn renovation, which took place during Pete’s tenure and was completed in time for my arrival in 2014. With the benefit of hindsight, it’s increasingly obvious that the renovation did more than restore a beloved building. It was perhaps the most important step in strengthening Montreat’s foundation and accelerating a financial recovery that had begun some ten years prior. And the most important leader in that effort, according to Pete, was Kat …
Tales from the “Off-Season”
Roughly twenty years ago, Montreat Conference Center was a non-profit heavily dependent on church-related, summer programs. Over the past two decades, as the conference center moved toward a year-round model, activities in the off-season increased. For missional reasons, this has been a positive trend. For financial reasons it has been essential, building resilience in times of disruption and a stable foundation for the present and future. We still host some 6,000 people here every summer, but the recent monthly activity reports this winter are reminder how that has changed. In March, for example, the conference center has scheduled 51 events with projected …
A Beginner’s Guide to Hiking in Montreat
At Montreat, hiking is more than a recreational activity; it is an opportunity to experience God’s presence through the beauty of creation. The Montreat Wilderness has long offered space for reflection, renewal, and reconnection through its forests, streams, and over 20 miles of hiking trails. If you’re new to the area, or new to hiking in general, you might not know where to start as you go about enjoying this resource. To that end, we have outlined a few tips and tricks below to get you started on your own journey in the Montreat Wilderness. What is the Montreat Wilderness? Over twenty years ago, Montreat Conference Center partnered with the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy to place approximately 2,460 acres …
Five Ways to Experience Sabbath this Spring
This spring we are excited to once again host personal Sabbath Getaways in Assembly Inn! This special program is available from March 20 through April 30, 2026 and allows you to enjoy everything that Montreat has to offer without the hustle and bustle of a programmed event. Often described as a “thin place,” in Montreat you’ll find a peaceful and beautiful setting where you can commune with your Creator and rest your soul. If you plan a visit, you’ll find time and space for prayer, study, and Sabbath rest, while also having opportunities to explore Western North Carolina at your …