History of the Thomas Parker Lodge

100 YEARS ON THE MOUNTAIN HIGHLIGHT: The Thomas Parker Lodge

At YMCA Camp Greenville, the lodge is more than just a building—it’s a time capsule of history and adventure. When it was built, Uncle Johnny Holmes, the legendary camp director, led a worldwide letter-writing campaign with campers, asking people from across the globe to send artifacts to be placed in its walls. The response was incredible. Among the treasures hidden within Parker Lodge are an ancient piece of Solomon’s Temple, a letter from Mahatma Gandhi, and even a section of the White House roof. These artifacts symbolize the spirit of connection, confidence, and character that have defined Camp Greenville for over a century.

For generations, Parker Lodge has been a place of gathering, storytelling, and reflection—its walls quite literally holding the weight of history. If you’ve ever spent time there, you’ve been surrounded by pieces of the past that continue to inspire the future.