Buyer steps forward to purchase Camp Timber-lee, which will now remain open

After praying for a miracle over the past two weeks, supporters of Camp Timber-lee are now sending up prayers of gratitude.

The Evangelical Christian camp in East Troy will remain open after Trinity International University, the camp's current owner, reached a purchase agreement with a new owner, according to a statement from TIU. The university previously announced on Feb. 17 that it would close the camp for good effective March 5.

Gregg Kunes, owner of Kunes Auto & RV Group based in Delavan, will purchase the camp in a sale that's expected to close April 1. The camp will remain open in the meantime, and all camps and events will go on as scheduled this year, including Burn Camp, which has been held at Timber-lee for 28 years.

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“When I saw that Camp Timber-lee would be closing, I heard the Holy Spirit tell me, ‘That can’t happen,’” Kunes said in the statement. “I’ve been a supporter of Camp Timber-lee since I came to Walworth County in 1996. Kids come to Christ through Christian camping — I’ve seen it in my own family and through story after story from friends and colleagues. I want to make sure that our community can offer this opportunity for kids to come to Christ for generations.”

Kunes and his family run the Kunes Family Foundation, a nonprofit that has donated millions of dollars to local, regional and global efforts "that help better people's lives."

Timber-lee first opened in 1947 as Camp Willabay in Williams Bay. After operating there for 25 years, the camp moved to a 550-acre plot of land in East Troy and began operating as Timber-Lee Christian Center. In 2016, the camp was bequeathed to TIU. In February, TIU announced the camp's closure, citing financial struggles and a desire to focus on its primary mission of "educating men and women for the sake of the gospel."

“We have prayed for the best solution — and I believe we have found it,” Nicholas Perrin, president of TIU, said in the statement announcing the sale. “Trinity has always loved Timber-lee’s ministry. We are grateful this option is available for them to continue, while also giving Trinity the ability to move forward with our own mission and vision.” 

Contact Chelsey Lewis at clewis@journalsentinel.com. Follow her on Twitter at @chelseylew and @TravelMJS and Facebook at Journal Sentinel Travel.