HISTORY

The Rocky River Ranch spirit found its home in 1953,
when the gates first opened to girls, ages 7 through 16, for summer adventures.


The founders, Mrs. Carol "Mama" Knolk and Jane Brown, established the camp on the banks of the crystal clear Blanco River amid the evergreen hills and blue skies in the beautiful Texas hill country. In 1966, Mary "Skeet" Anderson came to the camp as an assistant director, and later, she and Sandra "Sandy" Bateman bought Rocky River Ranch in 1971.

In the 1950s | Artist's rendering of the buildings for Gold Rush Street
1952 | Jane Brown and Carol "Mama" Knolk
1958 | Campers at the entrance gate of Rocky River Ranch.
1958 | Jane Brown with riders.
In the 1950s | Jane Brown and Carol "Mama" Knolk
1959 | Carol "Mama" Knolk and Jane Brown with campers.
Mary "Skeet" Anderson and Sandra "Sandy" Bateman purchased Rocky River Ranch in 1971.
Rocky River Ranch | Summer Camp Programs

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.

Rocky River Ranch | Weekend Programs

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!

Rocky River Ranch | Event Rentals

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.

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Rocky River Ranch experience

 

My summers at RRR were the most special times of my childhood. I have so many great memories that I'll never forget. Thanks to Rocky River, I found my true calling in life … teaching children! And, I fell in love with Wimberley so much, that I live here now!

‒  Mollie Cessac Booth Years at camp: 1979-1991, 1999-2000

RRR is not just two months of SCREAMING prepubescent girls singing songs in the Grubstake, Free Swim at the river or raids on other cabins, it becomes a way of life that helps guide you through the rest of your life. Not unlike the Marines who are brothers for life, those of us who were campers and counselors are sisters for life and will do anything to help each other, no questions asked!

‒  Lezli Smith Giancarlo Years at camp: 1981-1989

Oh how I wish I could still be a young girl and go to RRR every summer! I truly miss those wonderful weeks of absolute fun and excitement. This camp holds a very special place in my heart and will always throughout my life. I cannot wait until the day that my newborn little girl will be able to drive through the gate and live the summer days that not only her mother lived, but her grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother enjoyed. I cannot wait until the day that I can tell her all about her special great-great-grandmother (we called her GG, but most knew her as Mama Knolk) that opened beautiful Rocky River Ranch and created a place for many girls to create memories from. I am truly happy to see Mama Knolk's spirit still living on. May it continue to live on the dream that she always wanted.

‒  Allison Turley Torres Years at camp: 1986-1994

Rocky River Ranch is like my second home. It is such a comfortable, fun place to be! I am planning to be here as long as possible, and want my future daughters and granddaughters to experience this camp. Rocky River has a special place in my heart, and is a big part of my life.

‒  Molly Morgan Years at camp: 2001-2005

I loved my counselors, I loved the river, and even learned how to sail on Canyon Lake. I still sing all the old camp songs that we sang every day after lunch to my little girl, who's five, every night before bed. I always end with, 'I love the mountains, I love the rolling hills ...' and then Taps.

‒  Shannon McCann Years at camp: 1966-1975

The experiences at camp gave me a confidence and feeling of accomplishment. First, just being able to take care of myself away from home (with the counselors help, or course) allowed me my first feelings of independence. Being able to try different activities in a non-threatening environment — things I probably never would have tried at home — was a great way of discovering who I was. Then, later on having the responsibility of caring for children by being a big sis to a younger camper and then CIT, gave me a life-long heart for children. Enough so I became a registered nurse working in the pediatric intensive care. I don't believe I would be the person I am today without those many experiences at camp.

‒  Stephanie Shupp Wilson Years at camp: 1978-1983