Keystone's History

Keystone Camp was established in the summer of 1916 by Miss Florence Ellis and Miss Fannie Holt, who brought a group of girls from Jacksonville, FL to Western North Carolina. By 1919, Keystone Camp found its permanent home on the current site in Brevard, North Carolina. Unfortunately, Florence Ellis died at an early age in 1926, but Fannie Holt continued to run Keystone until 1942. At that time, Catherine Ellis Ives, Florence's niece, purchased Keystone from Fannie Holt and remained the director until 1961. Catherine's son, William (Bill) Maner Ives, assumed the position of director and ran the camp from 1961 until 1984. The current director, Page Ives Lemel, is Bill's daughter and Florence Ellis's great great niece. Page became the fourth generation director in 1984 after her graduation from Duke University. Page grew up at Keystone and spent her summers as a camper, counselor, and Head Counselor before taking over the Director's position. Her love of Keystone is contagious. Keystone is the oldest private camp still in existence in the Southeast. This will be our 93rd season!