Memory Monday: College Retreats at Eagle Eyrie

During my college years, 1981-1985, I attended religious retreats for college students at the Eagle Eyrie Baptist Conference Center in Lynchburg, VA. The retreats were usually held during the fall in the peaceful, wooded acres near the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway, and it was a joy to get away from the hustles and bustles of a large city like Richmond, VA, to a more serene surrounding where I could reflect and nurture my spiritual life along with many other college students from the state of Virginia. On several occasions, I ran into former high school friends at this retreat who were attending other colleges. So Eagle Eyrie also became a type of high school reunion for me.



This photo of my high school friend Laura and I was taken on a Sunday at the retreat. I don’t remember a lot of details about the structure of the retreat, but I do remember having some type of worship service on Sunday before we left. That would explain why Laura and I are wearing skirts.

Laura and I met in high school through a bible study we had during our lunch period. She graduated in 1982 and I graduated in 1981. It was a pleasure to fellowship with her at Eagle Eyrie during our college days and to meet some of her college friends. Starting sometime after 2003, when I turned 40, Laura and I, and a few other friends from our high school bible study, began getting together every month for food, fun, and reminiscing about the “good old days.”

When this photo was taken, it was way after Labor Day and so why am I wearing white shoes? I loved these shoes which I purchased for my high school graduation in 1981. Obviously, I did not care about violating the “no white shoes” after Labor Day rule.

For more about the history of the Eagle Eyrie Baptist Conference Center, visit this site.

History of Eagle Eyrie