Summers are Montreat's busiest time of year! People flock here to spend time in this special place, whether it's for our Youth Conference, our Clubs program, the Fourth of July parade, throwing pots in the Sally Jones Pottery, or just to visit. Below are various activities that are available in our summer season.
NOTE: Our summer season is between Memorial Day and early August. As such, some of our activities will only be available during this time period.
This Week in Montreat
This Week in Montreat is a weekly publication of Montreat Conference Center detailing events and activities within the Montreat valley, with weekly messages from Richard DuBose, president of Montreat Conference Center. The TWIM is a great way to stay up-to-date with Montreat's summer activities. Want to be emailed when the TWIM is released? Click the "Sign Up for Updates" button and sign up!
Stay Up to Date
Montreat has an app! Use it to keep up to date with conferences and events, maps, and more. To download the app, download “Yapp” in the Google Play or Apple Store. Enter the Yapp ID "MONTREAT." You do not have to create an account to access our app, just "Add a new Yapp." Enjoy!
In Case of Emergency
If there is an emergency, call 911.
First Aid
The conference center summer First Aid station is located in the Allen Building, 304 Lookout Rd.
| Mon-Fri | 8:30 am–12:30 pm 1:00 pm–4:30 pm * 6:00 pm–9:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Sunday | *6:00 pm–9:00 pm |
| * (except 6/16–7/5) | |
Important Numbers
| Montreat Police | |
|---|---|
| Fire Dept./Rescue | 911 |
| First Aid Station | |
| President's Office | |
| Town of Montreat | |
| Assembly Inn |
Welcome Center at the Gatehouse
The Montreat Gate House will be open June 3–August 2. Those interested in volunteering at the Welcome Center should contact Martha Todd Sloan, director of donor engagement at marthas@montreat.org or 828.419.9883.
| Gatehouse Welcome Center Hours | |
|---|---|
| Monday–Friday | 10:00 am–4:00 pm |
Ten Thousand Villages
Ten Thousand Villages is a global maker‑to‑market movement that breaks the cycle of generational poverty and ignites social change in the developing world.
| Ten Thousand Villages Hours | |
|---|---|
| Monday–Wednesday | 10:00 am–5:00 pm |
| Thursday–Saturday | 10:00 am–6:00 pm |
| Sunday | 9:00 am–4:00 pm |
Contact: 828.669.1406
Located: 3rd floor, Moore Center
Galax Dining Room
The Galax Dining room is open for Sunday lunch June 2–August 4. Non-refundable tickets may be purchased any time at the Assembly Inn front desk and used for any Sunday. To purchase a ticket, contact the Assembly Inn front desk at 828.669.2911.
(Children under the age of 5 eat free).
| Adults | Age 5–11 | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday Lunch* *(sales tax included) |
$17.00 | $8.50 |
Support Montreat
Support Summer in Montreat and all aspects of Montreat's ministry!
Second Loaf
Second Loaf continues its long history of collecting food donations for the food insecure in our community beginning Saturday, June 8, and ending Saturday, August 3 (except July 6), in the parking lot area in front of Black Mountain Presbyterian Church. Second Loaf can only take unopened shelf-ready foods. Frozen, fresh, and prepared foods cannot be accepted. We are grateful for the generous response of groups who drop off their "second loaves" on their way home!
| Second Loaf Hours | |
|---|---|
| Saturdays (except July 6) | 7:00–11:00 am |
The Montreat Store
The Montreat Store is an awesome mix of boutique, gift shop, and general store. From snacks to t-shirts to toiletries to books to pottery, The Montreat Store has it all!
| The Montreat Store Hours | |
|---|---|
| Monday–Friday | 10:00 am–6:00 pm |
| Saturday | 10:00 am–5:00 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Contact: 828.669.5298
Located: 2nd floor, Moore Center
The Huckleberry
Known to many Montreat visitors as “The Huck”, our recently renovated café is located on the third floor of Moore Center and serves breakfast, coffee, ice cream, hamburgers, and other quick eats. With great views of the Lake Susan dam both inside the café or from a rocking chair on the porch, The Huckleberry is a great place to relax and reconnect with friends.
| Huckleberry Summer Hours | June 3–August 3 | |
|---|---|
| Monday–Friday | 8:00 am–9:00 pm |
| Saturday | 8:00 am–3:00 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Presbyterian Heritage Center
318 Georgia Terrace. 828.669.6556. Free admission.
This center offers multiple museum displays, special events, art galleries, a and reference library. Free WiFi and air-conditioning. Summer exhibits include: Missions in a Changing World; Minting a Tradition: Communion Tokens; Trains, Timber & Tourists: The Story of the Mt. Mitchell Railroad; Early Montreat; Chronicle, Culture & Context: Archaeology & the Old Testament; Who Are Presbyterians?; Montreat Scottish Society and much more!
| Heritage Center Hours | |
|---|---|
| Tuesday–Friday | 10:00 am–4:00 pm |
| Saturday | 12:00 pm–4:00 pm |
| Sunday–Monday | closed |
| Free Admittance | |
Recreation Activities
Canoes & Paddleboats
Located on Lake Susan. $5 per boat per half hour. Cash only. No reservations.
| Boating Hours | |
|---|---|
| Open Daily | 2:00 pm–6:00 pm |
Clubs & Childcare
Clubs is Montreat Conference Center's summer day camp program. Registration for Clubs can be done online! On-site registration will also be available in Freeland Hall and Anderson Auditorium. Registration hours are listed below.
Clubs schedules will be available in Anderson Auditorium beginning at 2:00 pm the Friday before the week begins.
For more information, call 828.419.9837.
| Freeland Hall Registration Hours | |
|---|---|
| Monday–Friday | 8:00 am–4:00 pm |
| Anderson Auditorium Registration Hours | |
| Monday Only | 8:00–9:00 am |
Bill Wilde Youth Center
Located at 317 Texas Rd. You can check out board games, rent tennis courts, and a variety of other recreation activities. Open for limited hours to the public.
| Monday–Friday |
12:00–1:45 pm |
|---|
Swimming
The Montreat Pool is located behind Dunn Pavilion on Texas Road (click for directions).
Please note: The pool opens to the public on July 1.
| Pool Hours (beginning July 1) | |
|---|---|
| Open Daily | 1:00–6:00 pm |
| Daily Admission Price | |
| Age three & under | Free |
| Age four & up | $5/day |
Fishing
Fishing is allowed in Montreat’s streams and in designated areas of the lake with a valid fishing license. Licenses may be purchased from The Montreat Store and Assembly Inn. Refer to signage around the lake for fishing/non-fishing areas and please follow all posted rules.
Hiking & Nature Center
Hiking is open to the public year round. Trail maps can be found at the Anderson Auditorium front desk, the Assembly Inn front desk, or the Nature Center at the bottom of Lookout Road.
The Nature Center is located at the bottom of Lookout Road, behind the Moore Center (click for directions). Montreat Rangers are stationed out of this building June–early August and are eager to help you safely engage with Montreat's Wilderness.
| Nature Center Hours | |
|---|---|
| Monday–Friday | 8:30 am–5:00 pm |
Tennis & Pickleball
The Patricia Cornwell Tennis Courts are located on Texas Road.
| Tennis Courts | $3/hour | |
|---|---|
| Monday–Friday | 10:00 am–2:00 pm 3:00–4:30 pm |
| Pickleball | $3/session | |
| Monday, Wednesday, Friday | 10:15 am–12:30 pm |
Events & Activities
Summer Worship Series
Each Sunday morning in the summer season, the community gathers to worship the living God with prayer, singing, artistic expressions, and the Word proclaimed. Everyone is invited to join this holy gathering each Sunday at 10:30 am in Anderson Auditorium.
Public Hikes
Public hikes take place June through August most Tuesdays and Thursdays. These hikes are lead by our rangers. Hikes range in difficulty.
Arts, Music, and Theology
Arts, Music, and Theology is a mission and ministry of Montreat Conference Center. Its purpose is to provide the community with educational nourishment via various lectures and lecturers during our summer season. Themes of the lectures span disciplines.
Hymn Sings
It’s time for singing on Sunday nights at Montreat! Each Sunday evening from June 2 through August 4, you are invited to come to the Assembly Inn Lobby at 7:00 pm, our usual place, to gather.*
You will enjoy an hour of singing or listening to your favorite hymns, learn some new hymns, and learn a little about some of the hymns we sing on Sunday mornings. Come!
*Please note: our July 14 Hymn Sing will be take place in the Presbyterian Heritage Center.
Montreat Youth Conference
Montreat Youth Conferences go from the first week of June to the first Friday in August. These high school aged youth will be participating in small groups, keynotes, worships, and fun and games as a means to question and grow in their faith.
Friday Night at the Barn
Big circle mountain dancing at the Barn is a special Montreat tradition! It's a fun-filled night of dances called by the Bannerman family and music from the Stoney Creek Boys. All are welcome and admission is free.
- Dates: Dances will begin Friday, June 7 and continue weekly through Friday, August 2
- Time: 7:30-10:00 pm
- Location: The Barn
Volunteers
Those seeking to be part-time volunteers should contact Martha Sloan at marthas@montreat.org.
Crafts & Pottery
Pottery, arts, crafts, and cooking classes are offered daily throughout the summer.
| Pottery Hours (Upstairs) | |
|---|---|
| Monday– Tuesday |
9:00 am–12:00 pm 2:00–5:00 pm |
| Wednesday | 9:00 am–12:00 pm |
| Thursday | 2:30–5:30 pm Pottery Glazing |
| Friday | Normally closed |
| Saturday | 8:00–11:00 am Pottery Pickup |
| Craft Hours (Downstairs) | |
| Monday–Thursday | 2:00–5:00 pm |
Sign up for classes begins online each Friday morning at 9:00 am. The class registration link will be at the top of the Crafts & Pottery page. If you need further assistance, please email montreatpottery@gmail.com.