These photographs are from the Cypress Methodist Campgrounds in South Carolina. Yearly revival meetings have been held here since 1794, I don’t think a year has ever been missed. That means earthquakes, pandemics, and even civil war has not been enough to cancel the meetings.
Circuit Riders (ministers / preachers) made the rounds in the beginning however tents ultimately were replaced by cabins and a local Methodist Church administered to the parish.
There are 5 – 6 different campgrounds around South Carolina though we have only been able to reach 3 so far.
Outside parts of rural America few people know of their existence. I’ve talk to many and they had never heard of them. Searching on line I have sites mentioned in other areas, even New York State.
The cabins, still called tents, are family owned and passed down through generations. This is private property however we have been fortunate enough to have visited inside tents, it’s a snap shot of a time long gone.
From the photo above you can see there’s no water, there are privies for each tent. Electricity has been run to tents.
To view additional Campgrounds select ‘Camp’ from the list of tags on the web site, or just search on ‘Camp’. If I were ever to create a documentary photobook this would be the subject.
Cypress Methodist Campground, South Carolina.
Excellent shots! Evocative of the Depression era. Though as you say, centuries old.
The campgrounds are very big, another one north of here has 99 cabins. That number, and their placement around an open Tabernacle is based on description of meetings in Leviticus, the Old Testament.
Photographing there is amazing.