Originally founded in 1965 by former textile mill owner Max Rice, Look Up Lodge Christian Retreat Center began as a 50 bed retreat center primarily dedicated to a summer sports camp with a Christian emphasis. After several years serving in a part-time, layman’s ministry capacity, Rice sold his share of the family owned mill in order to focus full time on ministry. At that time the Anderson Daily Mail wrote, “the world and its people being what we are, it is entirely possible and probable that we will miss observing a special day 50 years hence for Max McGee Rice- not in his name, and as such… but we venture to say- and scores will agree with us- that countless thousands of men, women, and their children will pay their own silent homage to Mr. Max McGee Rice of Belton- Lay Leader- for having shown them the way to establish a closer communion with God”.

Forty-five years later, Rice’s efforts and vision are very much alive in the legacy of Look Up Lodge. From a camp that began with a full-time staff of four people, Look Up’s most recent list of staff alumni include ministers or youth ministers in SC, NC, GA, TN, VA, IN, Ohio, and CO, as well as missionaries to Slovakia, Venezuela, Czech Republic, Georgia, France, Peru, Mexico, Honduras, Ecuador, China, and Korea. Alumni have also served as directors of other camps, teachers, hospice workers, lawyers, doctors, nurses, counselors, business men and business women.

Look Up’s proud history begins with its founder, Max Rice, formerly of Belton, S.C. In 1960, Rice sold his share of the family owned Rice Mill textile manufacturing plant in Belton in order to work full time as a lay Christian minister. As an extension of his evangelistic ministry, Max and his wife, Vivian Rice, opened Look Up Lodge on 335 acres off Hwy 11 in Travelers Rest. Originally founded as a sports summer camp with a Christian emphasis, Look Up offered year round weekend retreats for churches and other groups. Rice’s purpose in founding the lodge was to “provide comfortable year-around facilities for the enrichment of the spiritual life of the participants and the deepening of their personal relationship to Christ.” In addition guests would “seek to learn from God’s Word the function of the Church, the meaning of discipleship, and the role of the layman in the world… mainly through Bible study, discussion, testimonies, sharing and prayer.”

Rice’s vision continues today as Look Up has grown from a 50 bed retreat to its current capacity of 360 beds. In addition, Look Up has remained true to Rice’s original goal for the retreat center. Although no longer dedicated to sports, Look Up’s summer camps and year round retreats continue to minister to children and youth from churches all over the southeast and as far away as Illinois and Canada. Look Up is known for its sound biblical teaching that is presented in a relevant and memorable format. As a result, many church groups return to Look Up year after year for an annual time of renewal, teaching, and fun.

One of the hallmarks of Look Up’s ministry is its sense of family that now extends to three generations. Rice’s son-in law, Tim Wilson, served as a camp director for 16 years, and Rice’s grandson, David Wilson, served as a summer staffer in 2005.

In addition, Look Up’s current director, Greg Boone, came to Look Up as a 9^th grade camper in 1981. He later worked as a Look Up summer staffer for four years in college, during which time he met his future wife Leanne, also a summer staffer. After serving as a youth minister, Greg returned to Look Up to become the program director in1997 and Look Up’s current executive director in 2005. The camper to staffer connection continues today as summer after summer, former campers return to serve in summer staff or full time positions.