At Camp Alleghany, we’re always striving to improve our facilities in thoughtful and intentional ways—balancing budget realities with big dreams, and often letting necessity guide our next steps. This year, some unexpected repairs led us down a path we’ve been considering for a while, and we’re excited to share what’s happening and what’s to come!
A Long-Awaited Tennis Court Transformation
It’s no secret that our tennis courts have needed some love. For years, we’ve discussed relocating and updating them, but last summer’s events made it clear that the time had finally come. Mid-summer, we discovered drainage issues stemming from old pipes underneath the courts. We were able to patch things up temporarily and make it through the summer season. However, during Family Camp, a heavy rainstorm caused one of the courts to develop a small sinkhole—definitely a sign that it was time to take action.
This kicked off Phase 1 of a larger facilities project: the removal of three of our six tennis courts to properly access and repair the damaged underground pipes and build a more efficient drainage system.
One Project Leads to Another: Dining Hall Upgrades
Because this drainage system is connected to our beloved Dining Hall, fixing the issue also presented an opportunity to enhance that space. As a result, we’re adding three brand new restrooms, expanding our freezer space, and increasing overall storage capacity—a huge win for our kitchen and camper experience!
Looking Ahead: A New Home for Tennis
Phase 2 of this project will begin after this summer—or possibly during late summer—when we start grading the field behind the Play Hall to prepare for four brand-new tennis courts. For those familiar with recent summers, this is the field traditionally used for Sports & Fitness. That activity will now be relocated to the even larger field behind Archery, giving us more space to work with and room to grow!
What to Expect This Summer
When you arrive at Alleghany this summer, you’ll notice a few exciting changes:
- The tennis courts in Senior Camp have been partially removed, and in their place is a growing green space. We’re planting grass and dreaming about how this open field will be used!
- Three tennis courts remain, and our Tennis activity, along with free-time play, will still take place on these courts.
- Dining Hall enhancements will be complete, and we can’t wait for you to enjoy the new restrooms and improved facilities.
- If you’re attending Second Term or Family Camp, you may see the beginnings of construction in the field behind the Play Hall as we prepare for our future courts.
When Will the New Tennis Courts Be Ready?
Our hope is that the new courts will be ready by Summer 2026, but we’re not quite ready to guarantee a timeline just yet. We’re moving forward step by step, ensuring that each part of the project is done right.
As for the remaining three courts in Senior Camp—their future is still being considered! We’ve tossed around ideas from repurposing them (hello pickleball?) to removing them entirely or even creating brand-new courts for basketball or other activities. The world (or the field?) is our oyster!
Exciting Changes Ahead—Thanks for Coming Along!
We wanted to give you a heads-up about what to expect this summer since these projects are very much in progress. But we know the spirit of Alleghany shines no matter what, and these changes will only enhance your experience in the long run. Get ready to enjoy new restrooms, improved facilities, a new Sports & Fitness location, a growing green space in Senior Camp, and the anticipation of brand-new tennis courts in the near future!
We can’t wait to welcome you back to your summer home in West Virginia—see you soon!
