Ridgecrest, North Carolina is home to the Ridgecrest Conference Center. The 1,300 acre Christian conference center is located in the heart of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. In the early 1900's the area that is now home to the conference center was nothing but wilderness and a few deserted cabins.
One man's vision changed everything. On August 4, 1906, Bernard Washington Spilman found his vision which he called his "Big Mountain." When Spilman hopped off that train in Terrell, North Carolina he knew it was not only the mountain in his vision, but it was centrally located within 500 miles of numerous major cities such as New York, New Orleans, Chicago and Orlando. As newly elected General Manager and General Secretary of the assembly he planned for the purchase of land and by the end of 1907, 940 acres were purchased. The first summer program at the facility was held in 1909 and drew the attention of over 600 people.
The name Terrell was changed to Blue Mont to better fit its surroundings, but this became an issue with the railroad company. Railroads used shorthand codes for the areas where they stopped and it conflicted with the nearby area of Black Mountain. In 1912 Spilman suggested a new name and since that day, the conference center and the area surrounding it have been called Ridgecrest.
We have been blessed with the use of this beautiful center. Let us continue in Spliman's vision and keep this place just as we found it if not better.
Revised 8/01/2011