When the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina purchased an abandoned military outpost in 1949 that predated the Civil War for the permanent site of a new retreat center, few could envision what the property would become.

One of those who could, however, was Richard Redwine, who would become the first director of the new ministry meeting site for N.C. Baptists located along the North Carolina coast.

“This seashore retreat will be a center of religious activities for North Carolina people and probably for people from South Carolina and other states,” Redwine wrote in an editorial in the Oct. 26, 1949, edition of the Biblical Recorder, shortly after N.C. Baptist officials completed the purchase of the property known as Fort Caswell on the eastern end of Oak Island for $86,000.

Redwine went on to describe what activity at the new Baptist assembly would look like.

“The summer vacation period will be the time of greatest activity,” Redwine wrote. “During the three summer months, the different church organizations will hold conferences for the purpose of reviving their work and strengthening their organizations and instructing their members. This place where thousands of soldiers have been trained in the past will be the meeting place and training ground for a much larger number of Christian soldiers preparing for a crusade for righteousness.

“In addition to the summer activities, I expect to see at Caswell some year-round activities.”

From a place that opened in the summer of 1950 with a series of youth camps to a facility that now features year-round events, activities and programs for attendees of all ages, Redwine’s original dream has become a reality. Fort Caswell is celebrating its 75th season of ministry in 2025 as a place where individuals, families, church groups and others have sought respite, refreshment, renewal and revival.

“The fact that Caswell has been around for 75 years goes back to the value and the purpose behind what it is and why it was started,” said Brian Hemphill, who currently serves as Fort Caswell’s director. “There have been so many life-changing decisions that have taken place here. So many people from all across the state can point back to decisions that were made here, from a first-time decision to follow Christ, to a call to ministry and more.”

Caswell has played a significant role in much of Hemphill’s life, dating back to his time coming to Caswell with family as a youngster, attending as a youth camper, working on the summer staff and serving as assistant director prior to being named director in 2017. Caswell is where Hemphill answered a call to ministry and met his wife, Heather. The Hemphills’ three sons have all worked at Caswell as well. 

“Fort Caswell has been such a special place to me and my entire family,” Hemphill said. “Over the years and through each of my experiences here, one thing has remained true — God works in and through the lives of groups and individuals who come through these gates.”

And it’s inside those gates — in an environment free from distractions in a picturesque seaside setting — where God works in the lives of people who step foot on the Caswell grounds.

“There’s just a sense of separation from the world,” Hemphill said. “People love the sense that they can leave everything else behind. I hear that so many times.”

Hemphill’s predecessor, Rick Holbrook, agrees.

“A big part of it is a lack of distractions that allows people to focus,” said Holbrook, who served as Fort Caswell’s director for 32 years. “There’s no traffic, there’s nature and there’s the opportunity to spend quiet time on the porches, on the fort or walking around the campus and letting the Holy Spirit deal with your heart.”

Holbrook’s affiliation with Fort Caswell dates back almost to the assembly’s beginning. Holbrook’s dad was a pastor, and he brought church groups to Caswell beginning in 1954, just four years after the camp opened to the public. Holbrook’s parents brought him on those trips with their church youth, and he fell in love with the place.

Holbrook worked on Caswell’s summer staff throughout college, and after graduation and marriage, he worked at Caswell on the weekends while teaching and coaching in nearby Southport. After becoming director of admissions at what is now Gardner-Webb University, Holbrook continued to come to Caswell to recruit prospective students who were attending summer camp. Then he had the opportunity to become Caswell’s director in 1985, a position he held until retiring in 2017.

During Holbrook’s tenure, Fort Caswell experienced a building boom with the construction of a conference center, classroom building and cottages to accommodate church groups. Numerous renovations and repairs were also made to other buildings on campus, which were primarily completed by volunteers with N.C. Baptist Men, which is now known as N.C. Baptists on Mission.

All of the upgrades helped Caswell shift from a seasonal facility to a year-round operation under Holbrook’s leadership.

“God’s hand was on everything that has taken place,” Holbrook said. “When I look back, I think about how fortunate I was to be there and that God let me be a part of it.”

Merrie Johnson, the longtime youth ministry strategist with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina who has organized the popular summer youth weeks held at Caswell for the past 25 years, points to the power of prayer in everything that takes place at Caswell.

“Being at the beach is wonderful, but what makes Caswell amazing is the amount of prayers that have been lifted up by thousands of people since it was established as a retreat center all those years ago,” Johnson said.

Each summer, about 9,000 middle and high school students come to Caswell over the course of nine weeks to attend summer youth weeks offered through BeDoTell, which is N.C. Baptists’ student ministry. Over the course of those nine weeks, hundreds of youth make professions of faith, answer a call to ministry or rededicate their lives to Christ.

“Camp is five days that allows us to separate from our normal routine and focus on the Lord,” Johnson said. “If you ever heard teenagers sing to God several times a day in Hatch Auditorium, you would hear the power of life change that comes from focusing on God.”

Brian Farmer, associate and next-gen pastor at First Baptist Church of Salisbury, has been bringing youth groups to Caswell for approximately 40 years. Over the years, he’s seen God work in a variety of ways in the lives of his students.

In describing what makes Caswell unique, Farmer hearkens back to the facility’s history as a fort.

“I think it’s like holy ground, but it’s a holy battleground,” Farmer said. “When I go to Caswell, I can almost palpably feel the power of the Holy Spirit because God is working in such a great way. 

“It’s just different there.”

Your memories of Caswell

We asked readers to share their memories of Caswell. Here’s a sample of their responses.

“I first came to Camp Caswell from Chapel Hill as a high school teenager in 1970 & 1971 and fell in love with this area. I used to go home from camp telling friends that one day I was going to live down there. In 2002 I moved to the county and live about 15 miles from Fort Caswell and have regularly attended several times a year since moving here. Ft. Caswell has made a difference in my life beyond what words can express.” — Frances Crae via Facebook

“Our family would come to Caswell every fall for a week. We have so many treasured memories of sitting on the porch, fishing on the pier, and just enjoying the beauty. My mom and dad have since passed but the memories of our time there are etched in our hearts. We are so thankful for our time spent at Caswell.” — Teresa Evans via Facebook

“As the Coordinator of Worship for Youth Weeks during the 70’s and 80’s Caswell had a profound impact on my life and the lives of our family. Both of our children accepted Christ at Caswell, both had their first date, both were certified as life saving in the ocean. God blessed me with lifelong friendships that began at Fort Caswell. I could go on and on, but I’ll stop here.” — Rick Traylor via Facebook

“I went to Caswell’s summer camps during my middle school and high school years. It’s where God called me to ministry. I returned to Caswell during my college years as a summer staffer and have met some of my best friends there. I have since returned to Caswell as a chaperone with my church’s youth group as well as a vacationer. God works in wonderful ways and uses Caswell as part of His good work!” — Amber Goodyear via Facebook

“Fort Caswell has been a part of our family for 4 generations! It’s been like home  to us! Many wonderful memories!” — Deborah Seagroves Robson via Facebook

“When I was in 10th grade at Friendly Avenue Baptist Church, I answered a call to ministry during a week at Caswell.  It was the culmination of a small group teaching on prayer, spending time praying in the sand dunes during quiet time and the sermons. I would push that calling away at some level from that point. However, through a series of events, I had the opportunity to serve as a part-time youth minister at Guilford Baptist Church 13 years later. I took my youth group to Caswell. One evening, sitting on the same pew 13 years later, the sermon that evening during worship was on obedience to God’s calling. It was then, on the same pew 13 years later, I fully surrendered to God’s call. I am grateful to faithful N.C. Baptists who have made Caswell a place for people to come and hear God’s call.” — Mike Sowers via email

(EDITOR’S NOTE — This article originally appeared in the May/June 2025 issue of the Biblical Recorder magazine. To commemorate 75 years of ministry, Fort Caswell is hosting a special summer staff alumni weekend July 25-27. Registration details are available online at www.fortcaswell.com/events/75th-alumni-weekend/)