a summer tradition
since 1922
Affectionately known as "Dear," Mrs. Rutland oversaw Riva-Lake for many years, until her death in 1952. Dear's long-time assistant, Sis Byrd, immediately took over as director.
Riva-Lake has always had a reputation as a first-class summer camp and was well known throughout the South for its outstanding riding program.
location
winchester, tn
Camp Riva-Lake is situated in a quiet cove on Tims Ford Lake in Winchester, Tennessee. Surrounded by an abundance of natural resources, Riva-Lake is within minutes of some of the region's most beautiful sites for outdoor adventure, including the Elk River and Foster Falls.
We are ideally located 90 miles southeast of Nashville, and 180 miles northwest of Atlanta, conveniently located for campers throughout the country.
In 1922, Camp Riva-Lake was founded by Mrs. William Rutland on the banks of the beautiful Elk River in Middle Tennessee.
Through the years, Riva-Lake operated under the loving guidance of Nona Rutland, Kit Pillow, Milbrey Black, Lawrie Canale Peyton and Caroline Jones Silva, who came to Riva-Lake as campers and counselors, and stayed to pass on the Riva-Lake experience to generations of campers. This tradition carries on today, with co-Camp Directors Nonnie Thompson Preuss and Claudia Alexander Haney. Nonnie is a former camper and both Nonnie and Claudia are former counselors, eager to contribute their many talents as they guide our beloved Camp Riva-Lake and a new generation of CRL campers.
