The Country Place, located in Moscow, Tennessee, is a Christian retreat center where families can go to disconnect from smartphones and reconnect with one another. In 1972, John and Jo Walt started a Young Life camp that has grown into what is now TCP ministries. The Country Place remained a bunk-style Young Life camp until the mid 1980s when they became their own nonprofit, independent ministry. Through the years, the Walts have completed several renovations to the cabins, inns and other areas, making it more comfortable for families. Other amenities include a conference center, dining hall (the barn), pool, basketball court, obstacle course, lake and a recently restored hiking trail in memory of John Walt. In 2015, they added a 170 seat chapel that has become the signature building of the property. Additionally, their outdoor chapel can hold over 200. The Country Place hosts 10-15 weddings each year.
Andrew describes The Country Place saying, “For the first 30 years we were mainly a rental facility, but now we are putting our focus on families and how we can encourage and strengthen the family bond.” They are most excited about their weekend Family Camps which will be offered in July and August of 2025. Gus Walt, Andrew’s son, says they can accommodate 20 families per camp providing a variety of activities to promote family values while building lasting memories. Gus further explains, “We provide food, programming, speakers, games. Everything is led by us. We’ll host; all you do is sign up.”
A typical day at Family Camp includes home-cooked meals, devotionals, educational speakers and a wide variety of fun and games designed for team building and family bonding. There are games where families need to work together to complete a challenge, as well as a low-level obstacle course and a leap of faith. They also offer canoeing, fishing and outdoor games like basketball and pickleball.
“Spending time with family is a lost art in today’s society," explains Andrew. "With all the social media and everything else. We encourage everybody to put their phones away and just have family time.” In addition to Family Camp, The Country Place offers other activities, such as bonfires, supper clubs and exploring traditional Jewish celebrations for families who would like a taste of the traditions from biblical times. These activities are designed to help families build lifetime memories. As stated on their website: The Country Place invites you to “unplug, reconnect and embrace adventure.”
To learn more about The Country Place and their upcoming events, visit countryplaceretreat.com.
We are putting our focus on families and how we can strengthen the family bond.