Rogers-Lowell Area News

Historic Mount Sequoyah Retreat and Conference Center Shifts to Nonprofit

Mount Sequoyah Retreat and Conference Center has shifted from its previous ownership by The United Methodist Church to a nonprofit. The denominational jurisdiction’s Mission Council and College of Bishops recommended that the future of the event and retreat venue would be best served if independent from the denomination; the recommendation was later implemented.

While involvement with The United Methodist Church will continue, the change relieves responsibility that the regional jurisdiction of the denomination maintained to subsidize a portion of the center’s budget. The shift also allows the center to pursue areas of ministry and community involvement that weren’t previously possible. The adjustment was implemented to mutually benefit the denomination and the retreat center through increased self-sufficiency and sustainability.

Mount Sequoyah Retreat and Conference Center was founded in 1922 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, according to the center’s website. Named in honor of Cherokee Chief Sequoyah, creator of the Cherokee alphabet, it was planned as a summer retreat, spiritual center and faith-based training facility west of the Mississippi River. While the physical presence of Mount Sequoyah is defined in large part by its more than 40 structures, the diverse natural beauty of the grounds also contributes to the retreat’s enduring appeal.

Mount Sequoyah Retreat and Conference Center hosts events, summer camps, weddings, retreats and other events. The venue provides features that accommodate various gatherings, and events, of any size.

The center offers an alternative to the typical hotel, convention center or event venue. The campus features houses, cottage rooms, historic halls, lodges, a large dining hall, a prodigious swimming pool, a gazebo, outdoor and indoor chapels and more.

Mount Sequoyah Retreat and Conference Center will remain a staple of the Northwest Arkansas community and looks forward to bringing people together while hosting many more gatherings and events.