Upon returning from the horrors of the Second World War in Europe, a young Colonel Alfred Garr was haunted by memories of bombed-out cities and the desperate needs at home, of fatherless children and widowed mothers. In the midst of these emotions of grief and compassion, God planted the seed of Camp Lurecrest – a shelter where young lives could be renewed.

In 1947, Alfred presented his summer camp idea to the members of Garr Memorial Church in Charlotte, NC. The church, founded by Alfred’s father, Dr. A.G. Garr, Sr. in May of 1930, supported the idea of a summer camp as a "home mission." So Alfred bought 33 acres at Lake Lure for $6,500 with the help of a real estate salesman who provided a personal loan. In 1948, Camp Lurecrest opened with 75 boys.

That first summer, as Alfred related, "We had two dormitories and a mess hall, which could seat about 120. We put up a tent 40 feet wide and 70 feet long and that’s where we held our summer services for the young people.” (This tent was located near the site of the existing craft shop and the old Ranch House.)  “The next year, with more buildings to house campers, Lurecrest included girls.”

In 1951, Alfred married Meryle Irvy. Meryle joined Alfred in full-time service with the camp and served as associate camp director, doing administrative work during the winter months and handling food service during the camping season.

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Several years after the camp opened, church member, Mr. E.J. McSwain, provided an initial $100 challenge gift to have a pool built. The camp had some lake frontage, but due to a 90-foot drop-off, campers were trucked five miles away twice daily for a safe place to swim. The congregation met McSwain’s challenge, but then Alfred realized he had no place to put the pool. That led to a three acre expansion, again thanks to a loan from the real estate salesman. Later, for $12,500, the camp bought over 60 acres with 1,600 feet on the lake.

In 1993, The Garr Memorial Church Board of Directors deeded the camp completely to Alfred and the Board of Trustees of the newly formed, non-profit, Camp Lurecrest Ministries, Inc.  With new leadership and continuing dedication, the camp continued to thrive.

In June of 1997, Jerry and Charlotte Martin began working with camp in executive roles.

In 1998, after 50 years of service to their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Alfred and Meryle retired.

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In 2004, at the age of 93, Alfred passed away, having lived a life of deep love and devotion to Jesus Christ. He was a man of strict discipline, unquestioned integrity, and Christ-like character. He was known and loved by many from Lake Lure to Charlotte and throughout the United States. In the years following Alfred's passing, Meryle moved to Virginia Beach to be with their son, Alfred Jr., and his wife, Cheri.

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In 2007, Jeremy White, with his wife, Lindsay, and three boys, Keller, Coleman and Porter, began serving Camp Lurecrest as Camp Director.  

In 2011, Jeremy White was promoted to Executive Director, where he served until 2017, at which point he transitioned to a new executive position with a different non-profit ministry in Charlotte, NC called The Barnabas Center.

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In September 2013, Meryle peacefully passed from this life to the next, laid to rest next to her dear husband, Alfred, to await that day when we shall all be caught up together with Christ.

Kris Decker served as Camp Lurecrest's Executive Director, beginning in 2017 through July 2020.