It all begins with an idea.
As far as we can tell the property was first used as a camp in the late 1920’s or early 1930’s. The YMCA did own the property at that time but we are not sure if they started the building of the camp. We have been told that in the 1930’s it was used as a Jewish Boys Camp.
The first written proof of Camp Arrowhead was taken from a brochure for a summer school camp for the Northwestern Preparatory School of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This school started in 1938 and was for the training of young men for competitive entrance examinations for Annapolis, West Point and the Coast Guard academies. The brochure for the summer school, with G.J. Roddy as director stated:
“The faculty, knowing the distractions of a large city in the summer, both heat and outside interests, decided to take the students to a camp in northern Minnesota where conditions would be suitable to good studying, and also where the students could, in an intelligent manner, enjoy the surroundings. Camp Arrowhead is located at Deerwood, Minnesota, about 120 miles north of Minneapolis. Attractive surroundings offer opportunity for healthful outdoor recreation both in the forest and in Lake Placid. The camp is set in the forest about one mile from the nearest road. The men live in large log cabins, 6 to each cabin.”
— G.J. Roddy
Congressmen selected candidates for the military schools after the students completed the courses and took competitive examinations. The 1952 brochure listed the expense for the summer course at $200.00 which covered the tuition, board, room and use of books and materials for the 7 week course. The Veterans Administration approved and recognized the Northwestern Preparatory School for G.I. tuition benefits for eligible veterans.
Camp Arrowhead for Boys
In 1956, 2 Minneapolis/St. Paul educators and a Minneapolis minister purchased the camp and later incorporated under the name of Arrowhead Enterprises, Inc. Gene Messenger was hired to promote the camp in 1956 and became a fourth member of the corporation and was the director/administrator for the camp until 1977. The camp was a private-independent camp for boys ages 7-14 and campers enrolled for 2 to 8 weeks. The camp offered a variety of water sports and skills, riflery, archery, tennis, camping skills, canoe trips to the Canadian waters and horseback riding. The camp was certified by the American Camping Association which scheduled periodic visitations to ensure quality standards of camping, health, and safety.
Campground Ministry of the Church of God
In 1977 the camp was purchased by the current owners, a church organization called: Campground Ministry of the Church of God (CAMICOG). Through the blessings from God we have been able to enhance and improve the camp with several new buildings as well as maintaining some of the older buildings. Parts of the camp now have the ability to be used year round to provide opportunities for retreats and conferences to many different non-profit organizations and their members.
The main purpose for the camps purchase was to provide a place for the Church of God churches from Minnesota, based out of Anderson, IN, to have their camp ministries. Since the purchase we have provided the grounds and buildings for rent at a very reasonable rate to many other churches and non-profit groups.
In 2006 we purchased the adjoining property. This now gives the camp approximately 67 acres and 800 feet of lakeshore.
In June 2016, Camp Arrowhead was hit by an EF2 tornado. The tornado, packing winds of 120 mph, formed two miles south-southwest of Deerwood and traveled southeast to Highway 6, causing extensive damage at Camp Arrowhead. Of the 21 buildings on its campus, 17 were damaged and four were destroyed. Thanks to the effort of so many faithful volunteers, most of the camp has been cleaned up and repaired.
Though there will always be some scars, Camp Arrowhead continues to be holy ground where people come to draw close to God! Watch the KARE11 story about the storm here.
Lake Front before 2016 storm.
Lake Front After 2016 storm.
