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About Mount Wesley
The Mount Wesley Conference Center is owned and operated by the Southwest Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church. Its Mission is to provide facilities that will enable Christian experiences of worship, religious education, spiritual formation and fellowship for conferences, retreats, assemblies and reunions of any organization or institution.
Mount Wesley strives to work with each event leader in their event planning. We offer housing, meals and outdoor amenities at an affordable price.
Mount Wesley provides:
· Climate-controlled facilities
· Motel-style guest rooms with 4/6 twin beds and one private bath per room
· Conference rooms to accommodate 100-150
· Dining hall which seats 300
· Small, private dining room, which seats 48
· Chapel which seats 75
· Auditorium which seats 400
· Hilltop nature trails
· Large outdoor swimming pool
· Outdoor recreation areas
· Outdoor worship areas
· Low ropes team-building challenge course with trained facilitators
· Outdoor labyrinth
· Outdoor prayer garden
· Bolivian Cross
· History
Footsteps Of Mount Wesley
1892 - Epworth League was organized on a state-wide level in Dallas under Bishop Joseph S. Key to sponsor yearly gatherings at different Texas cities; 300 attended the first year, 10,000 three years later.
1906 -Beach front property near Corpus Christi was established as a permanent state-wide meeting site and named: “Epworth-by-the-Sea”.
1915 -Corpus Christi property sold; permanent home: “Epworth-by-the-sea” facilities built at Port O’Connor.
1919 -A hurricane wrecked the property and it was abandoned. The Conferences had to establish their own meeting sites.
1923 -A fall meeting of the West Texas Annual Conference adopted the following: “Resolution for the establishment of the West Texas Encampment Association under the direction and supervision of the West Texas Conference of the Methodist Church South.” A Committee of five clergy,-H. M. Draper, S.H.C. Burgin, S. L. Batchelor, J. F. Simpson and A. J. Moore-and 5 laymen- W. M. Chambers, G. W. Walling, Jr., H. E. Jackson, Judge M. A. Childers, Judge W. R. Perkins, were appointed to select a site. In October, the Kerrville Chamber of Commerce proposed a site of 200 acres to the Methodist Conference Assembly held in Gonzalez. The cost of $11,500 was raised and paid for by the citizens of Kerr County and land was deeded to the West Texas Encampment Association.
1924 -On April 1, 1924, to acquaint Methodists with the location and to show them the possibilities that were in store, a barbeque dinner was held on the property. Streets and lots were laid out and 130 lots were sold the fist year at a value of $26,000. The money was used for roads, a water system and lighting. First facilities included a screened kitchen and dining hall, a tabernacle and several screened cottages
Construction Facts
1927 -Epworth Lodge Dormitory (gone)
1929 -Moore Auditorium (enclosed in 1949; remodeled 2004)
1949 - Susannah Meeting House; kitchen added in 1977
1950 -Faculty Row/Heritage Hill remodeled and again in 1977, Haver Pavilion (Gazebo built)
1950 -Swimming Pool, Mann Dormitory (gone); Alma Thomas Chapel/Mission Center
1953 -Cluster Housing Units 6 & 7 (Cabins 11-14)
1954 -Karl Downs Hall (Studios); Cluster Housing Units 4, 5 & 6 (Cabins 7-10 & 15-16);
1954 -Floyd Curl Lodge (remodeled in 1977)
1955 -Cluster Housing Units 1,2 & 3 (Cabins 1-6)
1956 -Wilson Building; restrooms added in 1979
1959 -Parsonage addition (removed in 2004)
1960 -Bell Tower
1962 -Old Office
1977 -Dining Hall; Old Dining Hall floor became current patio
1991 -Remodeled Maintenance Superintendent’s residence
1994 -New Maintenance Bldg., Old Maintenance Bldg. converted to Arts & Crafts
2004 -Moore Auditorium remodeled along w/Rest Rooms and renamed: “ Clyde Byrd Worship Center”; Parsonage removed & Methodist Enc. Rd. re-routed to accommodate new Dining Hall
2005 -MHM Health, Wellness & Nutrition Center built. (Lg. & Small Dining Rooms, Kitchen & Infirmary); Old Dining Hall converted to meeting rooms and old kitchen became Agape Room-wall mural painted,
2006 -Infirmary remodeled and became Gift Shop; Old Gift Shop remodeled and became Tree Top. Swimming Pool remodeled, sidewalks laid, cabana built & new outer shower installed.
2007-Wilson Bldg. renovated (new flooring, bathrooms handicap accessible)
2008 -Arts & Crafts Bldg.-Bathroom remodeled, fans & A/C unit added, Wall mural painted in Tree Top; Flagpole moved and landscaping provided by an Eagle Scout project.
The Bolivian Cross
Made in Bolivia out of "iron wood", a very hard, durable wood, the Bolivian Cross was a gift from the youth of Bolivia to the youth of the SWTC as a symbol of their shared love in Christ.
The Rev. Albert Merubia, originally of Bolivia, was instrumental in coordinating the project. It was shipped by boat to the Texas Gulf Coast and was erected at the top of Mt. Wesley atop a pile of prayer rocks/stones in 1950. In return, 2 years later, a cross was constructed of Mt. Wesley cedar and sent to Bolivia. It has become a tradition at Mt. Wesley to pick up a rock/stone at the bottom of the hill, say a prayer over it and walk to the cross in silence and leave your rock/stone at the foot of the cross. In 1993 the benches were constructed as an Eagle Scout project.
Locations
Located in the heart of the beautiful Texas Hill Country, the Mount Wesley Conference Center is situated on a hillside within the city limits of Kerrville. The scenic, peaceful 64 acres of woodland provide a unique, secluded, and safe haven -- a sanctuary from the real world -- where guests can retreat to become refreshed and renewed. From individual private retreats to groups of 200, this year-round South Texas retreat center has been providing a "place apart" for 85 years. Owned and operated by the Southwest Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church, it is available for all non-profit organizations or institutions. The center is dedicated to enabling individuals to experience the love, grace, and joy of God in a Christian retreat setting.
Directions to Mount Wesley:
From San Antonio, Boerne & Comfort: Stay on IH 10 till the SECOND exit (Exit 505-FM 783) at Harper Rd. Turn right (Go South-cross over IH 10) and proceed on Harper Rd. 1 1/2 miles to Jackson Rd (first stop light). Turn right on Jackson Rd. and proceed 1/2 mile to Methodist Encampment Rd.(4 way stop signs). Turn right and proceed one block to Mount Wesley (on your left).
From Junction: Stay on IH 10 till the Harper Rd. Exit (Exit 505-FM 783). Turn right on Harper Rd. and follow directions above.
From Fredericksburg: Follow Hwy.16 to Kerrville. At IH 10 turn right onto the interstate and proceed 3 miles to the Harper Exit (Exit 505-FM 783) then follow directions above ("From San Antonio, etc.").
From Bandera or Ingram: Proceed on State Hwy. 27 to Methodist Encampment Rd. Turn north and proceed 1 mile (through 2 4-way stop signs) to Mount Wesley.
For a more detailed map click HERE
Accommodations
Mount Wesley provides:
· Climate-controlled facilities
· Motel-style guest rooms with 4/6 twin beds and one private bath per room conference rooms to
accommodate 100-150
· Dining hall, which seats 300+
· Chapel, which seats 100
· Auditorium, which seats 450
· Hilltop nature trails
· Large outdoor swimming pool
· Outdoor recreation facilities
· Outdoors worship areas
· Low ropes team-building challenge course with trained facilitators
· Outdoor labyrinth
· Outdoor prayer garden
· Bolivian Cross
Meeting Rooms & Capacity: (theatre style)
Wilson - Groups up to 125
Lounge - Groups up to 100
Susannah - Groups up to 50
Rock House - Groups up to 30
Plate Room/Down Under- Groups up to 25
Periwinkle Room/Arts & Crafts- Groups up to 15
Studios A (25), B & C- Groups up to 35 (each room)
Activity Center -seats up to 150
Sleeping Rooms:
Cabins: Rooms # 1-16, sleeps 6/room w/1 private bath per room. (Some have bunk beds).
Cabin 15 & 16 are accessible to persons with disabilities.
Floyd Curl Lodge - Rooms #17-27, 4 twin beds/1 private bath per room
(Exception: accessible to persons with disabilities: #27 - w/5 beds & 1 bath, #26 - w/3 beds & 1 bath).
Heritage Hill - Rooms # 28-34, 4-twin beds/1 private bath per room
Studio A can sleep 12 on studio style beds w/1 bathroom per room
Studios B&C can sleep up to 18 each on studio style beds w/2 bathroom per room
Also available:
RV sites available (hookups for water and electric)
Chapel available for wedding rehearsal/weddings and memorials: seats 75 comfortably, heat, but no A/C.
Swimming Pool is open June - August for guests attending an event (Event leaders must make reservations).
No alcohol is permitted on campus.
Facilities are smoke-free.
** Mount Wesley can easily arrange sleeping accommodations for up to 200 people, depending on the number of rooms that are allocated per prior booked events.
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