History of Heartland Presbyterian Center
In 1956 the Kansas City Presbytery of the United Presbyterian Church (USA) purchased 180 acres of pasture and woodland north of Parkville from Joseph T. McCormack for $26,250 ($145/acre). On the property at the time was a basement farmhouse with a nearby pump-house and garage.
In the early 1960s, with funding provided by Bill Trask, the farmhouse was expanded into a lodge, which was also used as the administrative building. This was called the “ad house” or, as often as not, the “outhouse.” Ten camper cabins were built between 1958 and 1960 by volunteer churches, using prefabricated structures. The present Dining Hall was constructed by Vick-Lintecum contractors in 1960. Another house was built at the top of the hill near the camp entrance in 1961, to serve as a residence for the administrator and staff.
Perry Wilson of Westport Presbyterian Church was hired as the camp administrator in 1960. The first staff member, Dwight Webber, lived in a mobile home near what is now Cabin 9.
Campers came from the Kansas City area and from northern Kansas. College students were hired as counselors and cooks. Camping usually involved small groups of ten youth and two leaders.
Wilderness camping began in 1963. Ninth graders came from Topeka with Pete Rasmussen. Rasmussen and others from Topeka sought a property in Kansas to purchase for their use as a camp, but in the end came to an agreement with the Kansas City Presbytery to share the use of the Parkville camp.
At first, each camp session was limited to participants from a single church. Later the program embraced multiple groups, occupying sites in several different areas of the property.
In 1965, Charles (Pete) Rasmussen became the camp administrator. At that time, the program drew 200-300 campers during the summer. Campers were bused to Park College to use the indoor swimming facilities. A private pool at Weatherby Lake was also used. In 1966, the present swimming pool was built as a memorial by the Myers family.
Rasmussen supervised the construction of a maintenance shop in 1970. “Administrative offices” were located in his bedroom in the hilltop house.
Camp usage increased to include almost as many adults as children, and the need for additional adult accommodations was recognized.
In 1971, camp staff member J.D. Walker pointed out a house scheduled for demolition at the site of what is now the Park Plaza Shopping Center near I-29 and Hwy. 45, and suggested that it be purchased for use at the camp. Presbytery agreed, but asked that three bids be obtained for the moving job. Time being of the essence, camp friends made a few calls, found a suitable contractor, and received immediate funding for the project from Central Presbyterian Church (with the leadership of Barry Robinson). Within two weeks the house was moved, in two parts, and relocated to the camp. Walker, Rasmussen, and Jack Mahaffey reassembled the house, and it was made available for accommodations in 1972 and named the House of Faith.
A long-range planning committee was established under the leadership of Rev. Andy Cullen.
In 1989, Nunemaker Conference Center and Lodge were constructed, with a gift from the estate of Irene Nunemaker, a member at First Presbyterian Church in Topeka. Three years later, the Cray Lodge was added to the Conference Center, thanks to the generousity of the Cray Family, members at First Presbyterian Church in Atchison.
Oak Place was built by the Heartand Center staff and volunteers in 1993.
Pete Rasmussen retired in 1990 after 25 years as camp administrator. Rev. Jim Rhaesa assumed the role, bringing with him abilities as a fundraiser and builder.
The Heartland Presbyterian Center was incorporated as a non-profit organization (separately from the Heartland Presbytery in 1992).
In 1991, the Rev. Charles “Chuck” Olsen and Joyce Olsen were hired, as a couple, as the first Program Directors for the Center. Handbell Camp, Dulcimer Camp, and the Elderhostel program began under their leadership.
Chuck Olsen started the Worshipful Work ministry as an umbrella program of Heartland Presbyterian Center in 1993 and left the staff to become the Executive Director of Worshipful Work when it became its own separate non-profit organization in 1996. The mission focus of Worshipful Work is to serve as a consultant service to help church Boards incorporate spiritual business practices.
Rev. Jim Rhaesa retired in the fall of 1996, Richard Raecke was hired as Interim Director, and Dr. Richard Davis was named Executive Director in July of 1997.
Dr. Davis resigned to reenter the parish ministry in December of 1999. For the year of 2000, an administrative commission was assigned by Heartland Presbytery to oversee the administration of the Center; Clark Hargus was hired as the Interim Executive Director in January 2000. In December of 2000, the Center underwent a complete organizational restructuring and the entire staff was laid off and rehired under the new structure. Maintenance Director Dale Harden and Program Director Dan Scheneman were hired as Co-Interim Directors in January of 2001. In September of 2001, Dan Scheneman was hired as the Executive Director.
In the fall of 2001, volunteers from 2nd Presbyterian Church completed renovations to Trask House, including significant kitchen improvements and new sleeping, meeting, and bathroom facilities. The number of rentals per year more than doubled after the remodeling was completed.
In 2002, the HPC Board of Directors adopted the first edition of the Master Plan designed to be a living document, updated annually.
Heartland Presbyterian Center became accredited with the American Camping Association in the fall of 2003 verifying that the Center is compliant with industry standards for program, safety, health care, food service, and financial management.
The Board of Directors began a long-term capital campaign February of 2004 to accomplish the development goals of the Master Plan.
Named in honor of Charles “Pete” Rasmussen, Pete’s Cabin Lodges were constructed in 2004, replacing four rustic summer-only cabins with a 40 bed, year-round retreat lodge.
Renovation of the rustic summer use cabin area, known as the Highlander Camp (cabins 5 – 8), started with the remodeling of the two bathhouses in 2003, the addition of a picnic pavilion in 2004, and two castle-like tree houses in 2005. The renovation of Highlander Camp was completed by summer work camps, volunteers from Blue Ridge Presbyterian Church, and the staff. Blue Ridge Presbyterian also donated most of the funds required to complete the projects.
Volunteers from Blue Ridge Presbyterian Church also completed a crushed stone and brick labyrinth,
The Reed Family Foundation donated funds for a loafing shed which was completed in 2005. In addition to providing shelter for the horses from the environment, the shed also provides much needed hay storage.
In the fall of 2010, the main road was paved from the main entrance on Highway 45 to the front entrance of the Nunemaker Center.
Grace Hall, a new dining and meeting hall will open in January 2012.
