Kunes Family Foundation purchases beloved Camp Timber-lee

Gregg Kunes, owner of Kunes Auto and RV Group, answered the prayers of Camp Timber-lee supporters with an agreement to purchase the camp after news it would close permanently on March 5th, 2023.

Timber-lee first opened in 1947 as Camp Willabay in Williams Bay. After operating there for 25 years, the camp moved to a 550-acre plot of land in East Troy and began operating as Timber-Lee Christian Center. In 2016, the camp was bequeathed to Trinity International University (TIU.) In February, TIU announced the camp's closure.

“When I saw that Camp Timber-lee would be closing, I heard the Holy Spirit tell me, ‘That can’t happen,’” Kunes said in the official statement. “I’ve been a supporter of Camp Timber-lee since I came to Walworth County in 1996. Kids come to Christ through Christian camping — I’ve seen it in my own family and through story after story from friends and colleagues. I want to make sure that our community can offer this opportunity for kids to come to Christ for generations.”

The Evangelical Christian camp will remain open until the purchase from the Kunes Family Foundation is complete on April 1st, 2023. The university previously announced on Feb. 17th that it would close the camp for good effective March 5th.

“We have prayed for the best solution — and I believe we have found it,” Nicholas Perrin, president of TIU, said in the statement announcing the sale. “Trinity has always loved Timber-lee’s ministry. We are grateful this option is available for them to continue, while also giving Trinity the ability to move forward with our own mission and vision.”

Check out full coverage from our friends over at Camp Timber-lee.