Facilities

Our founders, Carol "Mama" Knolk and Jane Brown, inspired by trips through the storied Wild West, designed Rocky River to mimic the character of an old Western town, complete with a saloon, supply store, bunkhouses, mess hall and more. Altogether, our cabins can accomodate 120 campers each session.

Welcome to Rocky River

AMENITIES

Five dormitory-style bunkhouses
Circle B, Bar K, Bar Ø, Lazy D, Western Empress
Three Covered Wagon Cabins
Young camper lodging
The Forty Niner
The Gold Nugget
The Grubstake dining hall
The Lucky Strike
Swimming pool
55'x30', river views
Riverfront kayaking, swimming, fishing, tubing
Stables & Riding Arenas
1 large, 1 small
Lighted Tennis Court
with basketball hoops
Climbing Wall
Archery Range

Forty Niner

GOLD RUSH STREET

THE FORTY NINER
Activities center around The Forty Niner, which looks like an old-fashioned saloon, complete with a rock fireplace, a can-can stage, an antique bar and round tables. Drama classes, dance routines, skits, talent shows, and rainy-day programs are just a few of the events that happen in this entertainment center.

THE GOLD NUGGET
Our camp store that opens once a day for refreshments and, on special days, the purchase of camp shirts and souvenirs.

THE LUCKY STRIKE
Another multi-use area, often used as an arts and crafts center.

GROUNDS

RIVER FRONTAGE
With abundant river frontage on the Blanco River, campers enjoy swimming, kayaking, stand-up-paddle (SUP) boarding, fishing or just relaxing.
ARCHERY RANGE
Got your bows and arrows ready? Our Archery Range is fully equipped and ready with three targets down range. Learn everything from the basics to how to improve your skills.
LIGHTED TENNIS COURT
Our tennis court is regulation size and lighted for night-time use. It can be used for tennis, volleyball or basketball. It is located in the heart of camp and also serves as a great outdoor meeting place.
SWIMMING POOL
The beautiful swimming pool at Rocky River Ranch is 30x55-feet, large enough to accommodate group activities. Built on the bluff overlooking the Blanco River, the lovely setting and functional design make it the perfect place for swimming and soaking up the sun.
CLIMBING WALL
Our Climbing Wall is 42’ tall and provides a beautiful view of the rolling hills we are so proud of. Put on a harness and put away your fear of heights! We operate this as a “challenge by choice” course, allowing every individual to set their own goal and pace for climbing. During our summer camp program, our older thrill-seeking campers can ride the zip line across the gulley.
THE GRUBSTAKE
Wait until you sit down to breakfast, lunch or dinner to taste some of the best down-home cooking this side of the Mississippi — Texas style! Our dining hall (The Grubstake) and our kitchen staff — the Cookies — cannot be out-done. Meals are prepared with love and care and are always served in hearty portions — no one leaves hungry! Have a unique food requirement? Just let the Cookies know and they’ll be happy to accommodate your request.
HORSE STABLES
The horses used in our riding program are competent, gentle and well-behaved horses for supervised trail rides. From novice to expert — we will match the horse, the ride, and the group to each rider's ability.
RIDING ARENAS
We have a large arena and a small arena where we teach beginning to advanced Western riding, as well as a wooded pasture where we teach trail etiquette.

BUNKHOUSES

Circle B Bunkhouse, Exterior
Circle B is named after one of our co-founders, Jane Brown. It is a two-story cabin, air-conditioned and heated. There is one large dorm-style bathroom and one private bathroom.
Circle B Bunkhouse, Interior
Circle B sleeping areas include downstairs, upstairs, and the deck, sleeping 36 on bunk beds. Circle B is built on the bluff and the back porch overlooks the Blanco River.
Bar K Bunkhouse, Exterior
Bar K is named after one of our co-founders, Carol “Mama” Knolk. Bar K is built on the bluff and the Blanco River can be seen and heard from the back porch.
Bar K Bunkhouse, Interior
Bar K is a bunkhouse cabin that is air-conditioned and heated, sleeping 22 on bunk beds. There is one large dorm-style bathroom and one private bathroom.
Bar Ø Bunkhouse, Exterior
By the time Bar Ø was built, Mama Knolk and Jane Brown had run out of things to name cabins after… so it became Bar Nothing.
Bar Ø Bunkhouse, Interior
Affectionately known as Bar Nada, it is air conditioned and heated, and sleeps 20 on bunk beds. There is one large dorm-styled bathroom and one private bathroom.
Western Empress Bunkhouse, Exterior
Western Empress is named after an old hotel sign that Mama Knolk and Jane Brown saw on a road trip through Arizona. It is connected to the Forty Niner Saloon, our main meeting room.
Western Empress Bunkhouse, Interior
Air-conditioned and heated, the Western Empress Bunkhouse sleeps 30 on bunk beds. There is one large dorm-styled bathroom and one private bathroom.
Lazy D Bunkhouse, Exterior
Lazy D is named after Polly Denham, Mama Knolk’s daughter.
Lazy D Bunkhouse, Interior
It is air-conditioned and heated, sleeping 22 on bunk beds. There is one large dorm-style bathroom and one private bathroom.
The Wagon Yard
The Wagon Yard consists of three covered wagons, Red, Yellow and Green.
Wagons Interior
Each wagon is air-conditioned and sleeps 5 per wagon. The Wagons bathrooms are located a few yards from them.

Summer Camp Programs

The perfect summer is waiting for your daughter aged 5 to 14 at Rocky River— filled to the brim with new friendships, challenging activities and, most importantly, lots of fun! Check out our day camp and resident camp options.

Weekend Programs

In the hot summer months, we’re an all-girls camp, but the rest of the year, we offer year ‘round fun at our Great Escapes for women and Mother-Daughter weekends!

Event Rentals

Rocky River Ranch is the perfect solution for your special event! We host family reunions, church retreats, teacher work days, company picnics, Girl Scout groups, and more with lodging for up to 135 guests.

Start your own

Rocky River Ranch experience

Dates & Rates

Rocky River was a HUGE part of my childhood and I cherish all of the wonderful memories I have. Sandy, Skeet, Jim, Rue, Arthur — y'all were the best extended family a kid could ever ask for. My favorite cabin, Bar K, holds fond memories as well. The stories I have would take days to repeat and the friendships I made were oh so REAL!

‒ Kathy Hotz Thompson Years at camp: 1975-1987

We still can't believe it has been 50 years since my mother, Mama Knolk, started RRR. We are so proud that it is still the same as she built it and still has the same spirit upon which it was founded. Our children and grandchildren have had the wonderful opportunity to attend camp and we all can still sing some of the songs when we get together. May the spirit of Mama Knolk stay with all that have attended RRR.

‒ Polly Knolk Denham

I honestly believe that I wouldn't be the same person if not for my many years at Rocky River, and each year that passes makes me more aware of the grace I found here and the gift of the chance to become one of the few ... a Rocky River girl. To the land of the triple R, I pledge my heart to you!

‒ Alyson Stringer Steakley Years at camp: '82-'89, 1993

The truth is I would not have become the person I am today without RRR! Making decisions for classes at 7 years old (with the help of a big sister and Rue as my counselor), remembering to wear your bathing suit under your jeans so you could go from the barn to the pool without the dreaded trip back to your cabin, remembering not to sign up for your pool class right before horseback … I could go on and on. The mistakes we made there were safe and there was a support system to catch you if you fell. Later I enjoyed working with the campers younger than me. First in WE as a big sister myself and later as a CIT Mom. In 14 years I grew and strengthened my commitment to myself. I felt loved unconditionally and I formed everlasting friendships. Some of them recently re-kindled after a 15-20 year gap as if no time had passed at all. In the last year I received a letter from a former CIT that spoke of my influence on her life. How it made her a better mother and a better woman. I have saved that letter for my children to read one day. I will always feel like Skeet and Sandy helped raise me and they always saw the person I could be! I can never thank them enough for that.

‒ Sunni Becker Markowitz Years at camp: 1974-1988

My years at Rocky River were some of the most wonderful times in my life. My sister (Laura) and I still spend hours talking about our fun times there. We still remember our days of swimming in the river, riding horses and water skiing. I can't wait until my little girl can experience all the joy and fun I had as a child for herself.

‒ Debbie Merian Polasek Years at camp: 1976-1987

I am still amazed and in awe of the subtle and mysterious way that simple activities and experiences weave together to leave an indelible impression of love ... confidence ... appreciation. They seem so simple there in the moment ... the singing of camp songs, Friendship Circle at the end of an evening program, the Cowpoke/Wrangler drawing, saddling a horse for the first time, scooting down the rapids ... but each song, with each tug on the halter rope, with each stroke of the canoe oar, with each ring of "Goodnight, campers!" a new brush of color is being painted on her childhood experience. From those "colors" spring forth amazing women as evidenced by the many remarkable people that now call themselves Rocky River alumni.

‒ Alyson Stringer Steakley Years at camp: 1982-1989, 1993