From a single, pure spring to a sprawling 5,200-acre lakeside retreat, the story of YMCA Trout Lodge & Camp Lakewood is one of vision, community, and a deep love for the Missouri Ozarks. For over 75 years, this land has been a place of connection—to nature, to family, and to oneself. Discover the rich legacy of innovation and philanthropy that makes your stay with us so unique.
The Spring and the World's Fair
Our story begins not with a building, but with the land itself—and a spring of clear, 55-degree pure water that has flowed for centuries. This area, where guests still occasionally find Native American arrowheads, drew early settlers to its valley. But its modern story was sparked by the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, which brought a man from Paris, France named August Lauth to the region. His journey would set the course for everything to come.
The Entrepreneurial Spirit: A Trout Hatchery is Born (1910)
In 1910, August Lauth saw potential in the pure water of the Ozarks. He diverted the spring into breeding ponds and troughs to create a trout hatchery, using a water wheel to power a saw mill. He raised rainbow trout, packed them in ice, and sent them by wagon and train to be served in the finest hotels and restaurants in St. Louis. In 1926, a group of St. Louis families—some of whom were YMCA board members—purchased the land, building a clubhouse (now West Hall), eight log cabins, and a swimming pool.
The YMCA Takes the Reins (1946)
In 1946, the property was officially sold to the YMCA. It was aptly named Trout Lodge and became a small conference center that could host 75 people. The timing was critical; the YMCA's Camp Taconic near Eureka had become worn out and overcrowded, and the organization was looking for a new home to expand its mission. With an inexhaustible water supply of 3 million gallons per day from the spring, this property held immense promise.
A Transformative Gift: The Sunnen Lake Era (1947-1949)
The most dramatic transformation was sparked by the generosity of Joseph Sunnen, the founder of Sunnen Products Company. He offered to not just buy more land, but to build a lake. Mr. Sunnen personally supervised the construction of a massive, one-mile dam to impound the Fourch Renault River. With his own earth-moving equipment and a portable electric plant, men worked around the clock to complete the project in 1948. The result was not a small lake, but a magnificent 360-acre lake with a five-mile shoreline, which allowed for the opening of a new boys' camp—Camp Lakewood—in the summer of 1949.
A Legacy of Growth
The decades that followed were marked by continuous growth and an ambitious vision for the future.
The 1950s-1970s: Building a Foundation
The property grew from its initial 167 acres to over 1,000. A new Camp Lakewood was constructed in 1956-57, and the beautiful William H. Danforth Chapel was dedicated in 1957. A new dining room was opened for Trout Lodge in 1965 to accommodate the growing number of guests drawn to the area.
The 1980s-1990s: The Great Expansion
Following the facility's first-ever Master Plan, the YMCA of the Ozarks embarked on its most ambitious expansion to transition from a seasonal to a year-round destination. This era saw incredible change:
- An entirely new, 80-room Trout Lodge (the Sunnen Center) was built in 1986.
- Camp Lakewood took over the original Trout Lodge cabins and dining hall.
- Nearly 3,000 additional acres of surrounding land were purchased, bringing the total to over 5,000 acres.
- A new nine-hole golf course was built to serve both YMCA guests and the local community.
The 2000s: A New Millennium of Improvements
The spirit of growth continued into the 21st century. A major Capital Campaign raised over $6.1 million to fund critical projects. Highlights from this era include:
- The construction of the Summit Course, one of the largest high ropes courses in the Midwest.
- A painstaking, six-year restoration of the original log cabin Pioneer Village into an educational program area.
- The construction of a new 2,000 sq. ft. Nature Center by the trout ponds.
- The addition of new, universally designed and handicap-accessible camper cabins at Camp Lakewood.
Our Enduring Mission Today
Today, YMCA Trout Lodge & Camp Lakewood stands as a testament to generations of vision and support. Our mission is made possible by a community that believes in the power of nature and connection.
Through the Annual Campaign, we are able to provide financial assistance to more than 8,000 people annually, totaling over $400,000. The Sunnen Family and the Sunnen Foundation remain our strong supporters, continuing a legacy of generosity that has spanned over 75 years.
This history is more than a collection of dates and buildings; it is a living legacy. We invite you to become a part of our story.
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