In college, the founder of Sabine Creek Ranch, Ed Walker, dreamt of launching a camp and retreat center one day. Having already seen the impact of camp on his own life, as well as on thousands of others as he led at camps, he knew camp was more than just a week of fun, but a place where kids met friends who would be friends for life, and where they were stretched and grew physically, mentally and spiritually. In 2003, the Walkers purchased the 330 acres of what is now Sabine Creek Ranch on the eastern side of Rockwall County, just 30 minutes east of downtown Dallas.  A working cattle ranch and equestrian facility at the time, it is bordered by several thousand acres of flood plain, which protects it from the surrounding development. The Walkers began selling their real estate investments to build cabins on the property, and were blessed by the sacrificial help of friends, family and sometimes complete strangers! “It’s almost hard to imagine the work that went into those earliest years.  We cooked in a catering trailer loaned to us by a friend, and held our meetings under a tent.  Storms would come through each summer and blow the tent down, along with all our sound and equipment!” In spite of the rustic environment, groups continued to come and spread the word about Sabine Creek.  “Though we were just getting going and didn’t have a lot of ‘extras’, we tried to focus on great food, clean facilities and awesome staff.  We found those were the main ingredients to a great camp or retreat experience, and though we’ve added amenities since then, we continue to focus on those three key elements.” In the subsequent years, the camp expanded to include cabins and hotel rooms that hold up to 350 campers for overnight events, fully-equipped meeting spaces for hundreds or a handful, a dining hall with commercial kitchen, office space, and a host of recreational options including a high ropes course. In 2018, Sabine Creek Ranch is celebrating 15 years of positive impact! “How amazing it is to think of the many tens of thousands of children and adults who have come here since we started.  Simple things like a hayride and singing around a campfire, a son catching a fish with his dad, the nervous excitement of staying away from home for the first time, or hearing a challenging message…all these things really do make an impact and change lives.  What a privilege to get to be a part of that!”