A History of Success

A nurturing place

Canby Grove was established in 1928 as a place where people could experience the majesty of God and the grace of Jesus Christ through the fellowship around a traditional camping/Bible Conference format. It has grown into an independant center hosting camps, conferences, retreats, seminars, and training workshops serving an ever-growing family of Christian churches, para-church organizations, and compatible businesses, schools, government agencies, and multiple creative specialty groups. Canby Grove strives to provide an environment that nurtures reflective meditation, natural beauty, healthy relationships and reflects our Spiritual heritage.

The Legacy

In 1928, several pastors and laymen began looking for a location to hold an annual summer camp meeting. Rev. J.G. Minton, pastor of the Salem, OR Alliance church, located a 17-acre site along the Molalla River in Canby. These early founders prayerfully sought God's anointing on the rugged, undeveloped plot of land thick with towering trees. The land was purchased for $1,700. A small area was cleared and a tabernacle was hurridly constructed in time for their first camp meeting.

In the early years, campers brought their own food, bedding, and pitched tents. During the 1930s and early 1940s, wooden platforms were built and could be rented with or without tents. In the mid-1950s "Camp Canby" began to erect 12' by 14' cabins. Private cabins were also built.

When the mess hall was destroyed by fire in 1952, a lodge with a commercial kitchen and an upstairs dormitory was constructed. Cabins continued to be built. In 1968, a local flood caused extensive damage to the camp and the tent platforms were no longer available for rent.

In 1991, a 37-room lodge overlooking the Molalla River was completed. Riverfront Lodge offers hotel-style accommodations, a beautiful two-story, glass-fronted conference area and several smaller meeting rooms.

Today Canby Grove has just over 74 acres of land and some 150 buildings. It operates year-round with a full-time staff of professionals and can accommodate single or multiple groups up to 600 in our two lodges, numerous cabins, and bunkhouses, in addition to RV/tent camping sites.  For 77 years, Canby Grove has offered people a place to get away, learn, and rest.  There have been corporate and physical changes over the years, but the hospitality and primary purposes remain unchanged. Canby Grove provides the opportunity to experience the rich heritage that easily comes when time is spent on sacred ground.