Our Story
About Us
We invite you to make William Black Lodge the home for your next group experience.
William Black Lodge located in Montreat, NC, is a special place and unique facility. In the middle of preserved wilderness, Montreat Conference Center, and the Town of Montreat, William Black Lodge offers affordable facilities including lodging and food service for church groups, non-profit groups, family reunions, events, for up to 50 persons. The conference facilities can accommodate up to 65 for meetings, day retreats and other events.
Individuals and families, including PCUSA persons in ministry, can enjoy the private cottage and guest rooms in the lodge as available. The Lodge is operated as a non-profit facility led by an 12 member board of directors on behalf of the PCUSA Synod of the Mid-Atlantic. The lodge is just four miles from Interstate 40, a short drive from downtown Asheville and Biltmore Estate. We're very close to Black Mountain and thousands of acres of the best adventures that Western North Carolina has to offer. Facilities include a large meeting room/chapel and guest cottage accessible via West Virginia Terrace or a stairway between the cottage and lodge.
The original NC Home for Religious Workers was founded in 1915 as a guest house for North Carolina Presbyterian ministers and missionaries and others attending church mission gatherings and events in at Montreat. We continue this mission and ministry offering lower rates to PCUSA congregations and members as special rates for PCUSA Persons in Ministry throughout the year.
Looking to the future, William Black Lodge is always seeking to develop new partnerships with congregations, groups and leaders who seek a space to gather wherein Christian faith and spirituality might be explored and experienced beyond tradition.
As it has for over 100 years, William Black Lodge staff seeks to make each and every guest feel welcome, comfortable and at home while enjoying Montreat and these beautiful mountains.
Meet the Team
Rev. Tommy Brown - Director
Brittany Ledford - Guest Services Manager
Katy Creasman Conner - Housekeeping Manager
Greg Kilpatrick - Foodservice Manager
Harmony Lemerond - Housekeeping
Mac Bryant - On-site host - SC Inn
Rev. Tommy Brown
Director
Rev. Tommy Brown began his ministry as director of William Black Lodge beginning in September 2019.
He brings a lifetime of retreat, ministry, camp, and hospitality experience to his ministry at William Black Lodge. Previously he has served as Camp Director in Louisville, KY, Youth Minister at First Presbyterian Church in Greensboro, NC, and Presbyterian Campus Minister at Appalachian State University.
Our Mission
To provide a sanctuary for slowing down, listening deeply, and celebrating the gift of life together.
We welcome people of all backgrounds and perspectives to gather for reflection, renewal, and the conversations that help us imagine a better world - and our part in bring it about.
Board of Directors
Rev. Dr. Joel Alvis, PhD. - Retired Pastor and Presbytery Executive - Presbytery of Greater Atlanta - Co-Chair of the Board
Rev. Whitney Booth Lockhard - Associate Pastor, FPC Athens, GA - Co-Chair of the Board
Melva Lowry - Augusta, GA - Northeast Georgia Presbytery - Secretary
Rev. Bill Buchanan - Director Youth Mission Co - WNC Presbytery - Treasurer
Donna Fair – Partnership/Community Engagement Freedom Communities – Charlotte, NC
Alalá Linda - Lawyer, Author, Retreat Facilitator - Mars Hill, NC
Rev. Nick Cheek - Financial Advisor, Minister-at-large - Hartsville, SC - New Harmony Presbytery
Rev. Alonzo Johnson - Coordinator Self Development of People PCUSA - Atlanta, GA
Lindsey Richards - General Contractor - Hudson Memorial Presbyterian Church, Raleigh, NC
George Sawyer - Retired College Professor/Administrator - Coker College - Elder Montreat PC, Montreat, NC
Rev. Jim Moseley - Retired Minister/Presbytery Executive - Brevard, NC
Rev. Tommy Brown - Director William Black Lodge - Ex-Officio