A day of learning, bonding, and exploring
This past Tuesday, the LV leadership team visited LoneHollow Ranch in Utopia, Texas. For years, we’ve been visiting other camps to find practical ways to improve Lakeview Camp and Retreat, observing how others solve problems and adapt ideas that might work for us.
Reconnecting with Sam
Our connection to LoneHollow started with Samantha Binz. She and Kim, our director of hospitality and staff development, first met years ago when Sam was coordinating camp programs for a large church in San Antonio that regularly brought groups to Lakeview.
Those brief encounters during her visits left an impression on both of them, and when they reconnected during this visit, it felt like picking up right where they’d left off.
Sam and her husband August moved to LoneHollow with their four kids. Today, she leads Casa Keepers, the housekeeping team, and during our visit, she walked us through the property and shared the thoughtful ways her team approaches their work. Seeing Sam thriving in this role, still deeply committed to camp ministry after all these years—reminded us why these relationships matter so much.
The Tour
Lane Lear, Guest Experience Coordinator and Marketing Director, toured us through the 3,000-acre property. YoungLife took over LoneHollow Ranch in 2019, and they’ve built something impressive. The Hill Country setting is beautiful, and their operational standards gave us plenty to think about. They’re currently constructing a new Club Room and Dining Hall, which shows their commitment to growing their capacity. Lane’s insights on guest experience and facility management sparked several ideas we’re already discussing for Lakeview.
Moving Forward
We’re grateful to Lane, Sam, and the LoneHollow team for their openness in sharing what they’ve learned. Visits like this remind us that camps grow stronger when we learn from each other. We’re heading back to Lakeview with fresh perspectives and new ideas to implement in the coming months.