Premier Spiritual Retreat at NaCoMe Camp & Retreat Center

NaCoMe Camp & Retreat Center in Pleasantville, Tennessee, has welcomed guests to spiritual retreats and camps for more than 80 years. Nestled in a peaceful valley an hour outside Nashville, we provide a setting that pairs natural beauty with modern comfort. Our Christian retreat center serves church groups, individuals seeking renewal, and corporate teams eager to reconnect, offering quiet surroundings, well-equipped facilities, and purpose-driven programs that meet each group’s specific needs.

History and Legacy of NaCoMe Camp & Retreat Center

Founded in 1940, our story began at the former Beaver Dam Springs resort, once famous for its quiet setting and sulfur springs. Presbyterian leaders turned the property into a retreat center, and our name, “NaCoMe,” comes from the first letters of Nashville, Columbia, and Memphis, the three presbyteries that launched the project. We still partner with the Presbytery of Middle Tennessee and the Presbytery of the Mid-South to uphold a strong Christian heritage.

In the early days, we ran a rustic summer camp with simple cabins and modest halls. After adding heated and air-conditioned cabins in the 1990s, we began hosting guests year-round. Today, our 600-plus acres of forest, hills, and creeks remain a protected sanctuary. Through every change, our purpose stays the same: serving others by offering space for connection, faith, and renewal. Many visitors still call NaCoMe Camp & Retreat Center their home away from home.

Lodging and Facilities

We have upgraded our rustic beginnings, yet our lodging still feels like a classic camp. All cabins include heating, air conditioning, and private bathrooms, so guests stay comfortable year-round. Options range from bunkhouse cabins for youth groups to private rooms for families, speakers, or couples. Picture rocking chairs on the porch, fires crackling at night, and crickets providing the soundtrack.

Cabin Choices

• Standard Cabins: Four rooms per cabin, each sleeping 6–8 in bunk beds plus one full bed for adult leaders. Every room has its own bathroom, a shared central common room, a wide covered porch, and often a fireplace. Most cabins are handicap accessible.

• Private & Special-Use Cabins:

  • Cabin 11: Two private rooms (sleeps 3 each) with individual baths and a shared porch.

  • Cabins 1 & 2: Duplex style; each wing sleeps up to 16 with its own modern bath—great for separating age or gender groups.

  • Cabin 12: Two motel-style rooms with a double bed, a bunk bed, and private baths. This mix lets us host everything from a small leadership retreat to a 200-person conference.

Homestyle Dining and Amenities

Homestyle Meals

Our kitchen treats every meal as part of our ministry. We serve homestyle, made-from-scratch food that relies on fresh ingredients, not bland cafeteria fare. Meals come out family-style or buffet in the bright dining hall so groups can eat together and build community.

Sample Menu

• Breakfast: Bacon, eggs, grits, and biscuits, or a hearty casserole with hash browns and baked apples. Fruit, cereal, yogurt, and juice are available every morning.

• Lunch: Burger bar with fries, taco bar with rice and beans, or pulled-pork BBQ with coleslaw. A full salad bar and a sweet treat such as brownies or ice-cream bars finish the meal.

• Dinner: Baked chicken with gravy or classic meatloaf, plus green beans, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, and fresh rolls. Dessert might be peach cobbler or chocolate cake with a glass of sweet tea.

We accommodate dietary needs, including vegetarian plates and allergy-friendly options, so everyone feels cared for. Our famous cinnamon rolls appear at breakfast and are so popular that guests often buy extra by the dozen to take home.

Extra Amenities

• Snacks & Coffee: Arrange coffee breaks, evening s’mores, or late-night snacks.

• Camp Store: Pick up NaCoMe Camp & Retreat Center shirts, snacks, and travel essentials.

• Recreation Gear: Balls, frisbees, board games, and a playground keep all ages active.

• First Aid: The office stocks kits and can guide you to local clinics if needed.

• Connectivity: Cell service is limited in our valley, helping guests unplug. Landline phones are in the office and dining hall, and limited Wi-Fi is available for essentials.

Activities and Programs

Spiritual Programming & Reflection

As a Christian retreat center, we provide many paths for worship and reflection. Your group can hold morning prayer on the dining-hall porch, gather for evening services in Hull Chapel, walk our prayer labyrinth for a calming meditation, or meet after dark around a crackling campfire to sing, share testimonies, or sit in quiet fellowship while we supply the firewood. If you want a structured approach, our staff can arrange guided devotionals, Bible studies, or a short sermon and can connect you with local pastors or guest speakers. Every spiritual activity is adaptable: church groups may weave in scripture, while secular or corporate teams might focus on mindfulness, gratitude, or purpose. We provide the sacred space and support, you decide how to use it, and many guests leave feeling renewed by the camp’s calm, unplugged setting.

Outdoor Recreation & Adventure

If you’re looking for outdoor fun and adventure, NaCoMe Camp & Retreat Center has it in abundance. The property doubles as a natural playground, and programs can be customized with staff help. Here are some highlights:

• Hiking & Nature Walks: Explore 600 acres of trails through forests and along creeks. Join a guided nature hike, take a casual stroll, or wade on a Creek Walk to cool off and spot aquatic life.

• Water Activities: In warm weather, gather at the swimming hole under lifeguard supervision. Enjoy canoeing, kayaking, or team paddle races, and try catch-and-release fishing along the shore.

• Sports & Games: Play basketball, sand volleyball, soccer, ultimate frisbee, ping-pong, and more. Try 9 Square in the Air, GaGa ball, horseshoes, cornhole, or let kids enjoy the playground, available for free play any time.

• High Adventure Challenges: Tackle supervised high-ropes elements (small fee) such as the 50-foot Zipline, Giant Swing, Vertical Playpen, and the 30-foot Leap of Faith. All gear and safety staff are provided.

• Team Challenges & Courses: Work together on the Low Ropes course or large-group games like capture the flag, relay races, and scavenger hunts for up to 75 participants, building trust and communication along the way.

Team-Building and Leadership Programs

NaCoMe Camp & Retreat Center designs programs around each group’s goals, making us a popular choice for corporate retreats, schools, ministries, and family gatherings. Staff-led low-ropes challenges, leadership workshops, and an adaptable Challenge Course featuring trust falls, wall climbs, and crate stacking build trust, then debriefs connect those lessons to everyday life. Church and youth groups often blend devotions with cooperative games like the Leap of Faith to explore unity and faith. Whatever your objectives, our facilitators foster a welcoming atmosphere where shared adventures become lasting connections.

Guided Retreat Planning and Support

Planning a retreat at NaCoMe is straightforward because our staff guides you from the first inquiry to your final departure. After you book, a Retreat Director reviews your goals and preferences, asks about outdoor adventure or meeting time, checks any A/V or dietary needs, and learns about special accommodations. We create a balanced schedule, then handle every logistic on site: arranging instructors, ringing the meal bell, setting up coffee breaks, and adjusting quickly if weather or maintenance issues arise. Organizers consistently rank our service among the best for attentiveness and problem-solving. If your group wants additional guidance, we can provide counselors for devotions, facilitators for leadership workshops, or specialists for skills sessions. Each retreat is a collaboration that pairs our experience with your vision so you can focus on your people while we manage the details.

Plan Your Renewal at NaCoMe Camp & Retreat Center

NaCoMe Camp pairs more than eighty years of Christian hospitality with the woods, streams, and fresh air of Middle Tennessee. From comfortable cabins and homestyle meals to team-building adventures and guided worship, every detail is covered so your group can focus on growing closer to God and to one another. Ready to plan? Book a retreat today and reserve the dates that fit your calendar. We look forward to welcoming you to NaCoMe Camp & Retreat Center.