Brandon Westgate – Ward, Colorado … The Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) acquired Glacier View Ranch (GVR) in Ward, Colorado, in 1950. This means that 2025 marks 75 years of ownership of this incredible facility.
There have been 75 years of impactful ministry through church retreats, ministry training events, summer camp programs, Pathfinder camporees, and a host of other ministry moments. Scores of people, both young and old, have been baptized in the lake and the pool. Through the years, the camp has witnessed faithful stewards come and go, lake levels rise and fall, trees spring forth and trees die away, and wildlife populations ebb and flow. And, through it all, the structures at GVR have endured seasonal changes and extreme weather conditions. The task of maintaining these structures is always formidable.
“While it is good for us to remember with fondness the efforts of good people and the way the Spirit has led in the past, on the eve of GVR’s seventy-fifth year, we are choosing to look forward. Looking forward not only to how the Lord will bless GVR with grace and peace, but also looking forward to making some much-needed improvements on some structures that have needed some help for quite a while,” remarked Brandon Westgate, RMC Youth director.
The GVR leadership team is thrilled to announce that they have received approval to remodel one of the lodge rooms and one of the cabins. There are some committed church members, mostly from RMC Hispanic churches, who are willing to volunteer their time and skills so that the labor portion of these remodels will be at a very low cost. Essentially, the cost for these remodels will be the cost of materials only with some cost in permitting and engineering.
Darin Gottfried, RMC vice president for finances, said, “I am very excited about improving everyone’s experience at Glacier View Ranch and am very thankful to those who are investing their time to make that happen.”
With the lodge room remodel, they are going to completely replace everything in the room. A walk-in shower, new vanity, and tiled walls and floors will replace the old linoleum, worn out tub/shower unit, and vanity in the bathroom. The popcorn ceiling will be removed as well as the drywall from at least one wall. The plan is to add soundproofing between the rooms to offer a higher degree of privacy. Fresh paint, new furniture, new bedding, and new flooring will complete the transformation.
For the cabin remodel, the plan inside is to remove the ceiling to create a more open feeling. Fresh drywall will be hung, a mini split HVAC unit will be added to give climate control, a fresh coat of paint will be applied along with an epoxy coating on the floor, and all new furniture will finish the project. For the outside, a nice stucco finish and a covered front porch will be added. This will provide a whole new dimension to the cabins.
Once the proper building permits are obtained, the work will begin in earnest. The plan is to share before-and-after photos with RMC churches.
“We will calculate the total cost for rehabbing a lodge room and a cabin, and we will make an appeal to our churches to sponsor a room or two, or perhaps a cabin or two,” commented Westgate. “We know that we can accomplish great things when we partner together. That has been true at GVR since its inception, and we trust that it will continue to be true as we approach this exciting seventy-fifth year of operations!”
GVR director of camp ministries, Jonathan Carlson, shared, “Remodeling the cabins and the lodge rooms help us do ministry ‘better.’ It demonstrates that God wants us to strive for bigger and unimaginable things. Projects like this help bring us together and make us realize that anything is possible with faith in God’s purpose for our camp.”
“To continue to operate GVR in this challenging time in Earth’s history, we will need your support through offerings of prayer, time, effort, and yes finances,” Westgate continued. “I know that the Lord is able to do more than we can even hope to imagine, so it is with great confidence that we begin this project, leaning on the everlasting arms of a truly loving Lord and relying on the faithfulness of His people.”
If you would like to volunteer some of your time or skilled help on this project, or if you would like to volunteer for some other projects happening at GVR, feel free to reach out to Jonathan Carlson at Glacier View Ranch at (303) 459-0771. Thank you for your support as we step out in faith together.
—Brandon Westgate is the RMC Youth Department director. Photos supplied.