Stoneridge Dining Center

Over the years thousands of volunteers have helped build, renovate, clean up and support the ministry of Trout Lake Camps. One of the groups of volunteers who help behind the scenes are (left to right) Cheryl, Maggie and Dan. This past year they used their skills in design and decorating to furnish the interior of Stoneridge Dining Center. They spent hours selecting colors, researching seating options and materials to finish Stoneridge. Their goal was to create a dining facility where comfort and the natural setting of central Minnesota was brought inside so that conversation among guests would occur without barriers. 

Since the opening of Stoneridge, the feedback we have been getting from campers has been fantastic. Thanks Cheryl, Maggie and Dan for your work.

Mark Grindahl and Alan Diers work diligently to complete the framing of the deck. The goal is to have the decking framework and railings installed prior to Jan. 1, 2012. 

On October 25, 2011 we received an unsolicited phone call from a significant TLC donor who wanted to complete the $250,000 matching gift program. He simply said, "how much is remaining on the matching gift program because I would like to take care of that today." Wow, what perfect timing because his donation was 3 days before our annual meeting. This gift, along with outstanding pledges, provided the funds to complete the largest-ever Trout capital campaign. 

In mid-November we received the matching gift of $250,000 which means we are very busy putting the final touches on the building. Volunteers and sub-contractors are working diligently to install carpet, finish the lower level and install kitchen equipment. There will still be landscaping that needs to be completed in the spring but the inside, barring any major setbacks, Stoneridge Dining Center should be operational by January 1, 2012. 

The name Stoneridge was selected for three reasons. First, the camp Stoneridge is located on is called Timber Ridge and we wanted to associate the dining center with Timber Ridge. This association was completed by using the same word "ridge" in both names - Timber Ridge...Stoneridge. Second, if you have seen the location of Stoneridge you will notice that it sits on the highest point of Trout Lake Camps, which is the ridge at the top of the tubing hill. Therefore, geographically the word "ridge" makes sense when describing where the building is located. Lastly, the architectural design of the building contains significant stonework throughout the building. Therefore, once you walk inside the building you will immediately understand why we used the word "stone".  

We are not planning a big "grand opening party" rather we are simply going to invite donors, volunteers, friends of Trout and our 2012 summer staffers, to a commissioning service and lunch on Saturday, June 16 beginning around 11am. This will be an informal time to give thanks to God for how he provided donors and volunteers to help build Stoneridge Dining Center and pray over our 2012 staffers as they begin their summer ministry. It will be a wonderful time of reflection and looking forward to summer time ministry. There is no need to register like our previous Buddy Check events. Simply come as you are and enjoy the commissioning service.

Lastly, our TLC staff is so thankful to the hundreds of donors and volunteers who helped make this project become a reality. We believe this ministry facility will be a place where great fireside chats happen, friendships are born and ultimately, lives will be changed. Praise God.

Photo: lower level contruction

Ed and Steve work countless hours hooking up plumbing and electrical to get the kitchen ready to go for opening day. It wouldn't happen without them. Thanks guys.

The dividers recently were installed in the two restrooms on the main floor. The Cambria countertops were installed as well as the sinks and faucets.

In the main dining hall there are two beverage serving areas. The tile was installed and the kitchen equipment is scheduled to be delivered in mid October.

The handmade mantels were lifted into place with heavy equipment. This facility is going to be great for "hanging out by the fire."

Take a look at the new tile that was recently installed in the restrooms.

Today and tomorrow the wood floor in the inglenook areas of the dining hall are being installed. Jim and Dave are working long hours to get the floors in prior to the big celebration event called Buddy Check on July 23. Hope to see you there.

For the last three days volunteers have spent time pouring and finishing the cement floor. 60 yards of cement were used and it took volunteers roughly 8-10 hours a day to complete the project. The cement is hard enough to walk on yet the cure time is 28 days. Now that the floor is poured we will begin completing the finishing wood work.

Last weekend a group from Calvary Church in Roseville, MN, consisting of 20 parents and their kids, helped prepare the grounds of TLC for summer camp. Michelle spent much of the weekend working at the dining hall, vacuuming the floor so that the final finished floor could be poured in the near future. Others from the group cleaned the windows and painted the exterior of the building. It wouldn't happen without you. Thanks.

If you haven't been to Trout Lake in a couple weeks, the Lodge at Timber Ridge looks very different with the drywall up. Once the guys are done installing the drywall we will paint the inside and then start on the finishing work.

Doug finished the stone work on the three fireplaces in the building. He spent approximately 2.5 months working on the project and he says, "I am so glad that we decided to put real stone on these fireplaces." The stones vary in size from 5" to 24" and when you walk in the building you are amazed that one person did all that work. Thanks Doug.

Wow, one side of the fireplace at the Timber Ridge Lodge is 98% complete. Doug, who we sometimes call "The Rock Doc", has placed almost every stone on the fireplace. The field stone was harvested from local farms and when completed, the fireplace will be a great accent piece to The Lodge. 

Since breaking ground in April 2009 we've spent $1.4 million and watched the new dining hall come together. Volunteers have helped us keep costs low and the end is in sight. Work is being done right now to allow us to heat the building in the winter. Drywall is going up and final electrical is going in. Once the drywall work is complete, the kitchen will be installed and finishing work begins. 

Coming off record summer camp numbers and an extremely positive public opinion, Trout Lake has momentum. Raising the final $1 million now would mean we could: complete the Lodge in 2011, host an opening celebration in late July 2011 and engage more Trout Lake alumni, and plan for increased fall ministry and doubled capacity for our rental season.

If you are interested in partnering in this project contact Jon Wicklund at 651.278.8077

This past week, volunteers from Berean Baptist Church painted the east side of the Dining Hall at Timber Ridge. They used 12 gallons of paint with three different colors (forest green, cedar and mahogany). Also, we are installing the last sections of siding and we will need more painters in the near future. Contact Mark Grindahl at 218.543.4565 if you would like to volunteer. 

Now that summer camp is going strong, our staff and volunteers are shifting their energy to building the new dining hall. The hills have been moved to create a level parking surface and grass has been planted. Also, we are finishing the mechanical so that all the walls can be drywalled. 

Roger Camerer and Hez Miller work together to raise the beams into place at the new dining hall. Because of the beam's size, they had to be placed into position in pieces because of the weight and height off the ground. 

Stan Diers (photo) and others prepared the beams which will hang in the dining hall. The goal is: place the beams in the center dining area in the next couple of weeks. This is a difficult job because of the height and weight of the beams. Mark Grindahl will coordinate the project and many volunteers are needed.  

Each one of us has a different God-given skill and Dan Ogren (on the left), a volunteer from the Twin Cities, is using his previous contracting experience by providing consultation with the construction of the new Timber Ridge Dining Hall. He has recruited an interior design team and worked with our architects from Minneapolis. It is because of people like Dan and many others that are making this project such a success. 

Once you get your food from inside the spacious dining hall, you walk out one of the four sets of doors onto the deck which will be completed later. The scenic view from the deck extends for miles and it will be a wonderful location for conversations. If the weather is cold, then sit back next to one of the fireplaces and enjoy a warm cup of coffee. This building is becoming a reality and for decades it will serve as a main ministry center for Timber Ridge camp.

This past week the fire doors were installed in the main section of the dining hall. There are two large doors that extend the width of the building and hang from the ceilings. Installation of the doors took large lifts and significant welding. Volunteer electricians wired the doors and they were tested to meet building code standards.  

This past week Marty Walker, a partner with Trout, and others helped finish the cement floor in the basement of the dining hall. 90 yards was poured to a thickness of 4" and it took three days to complete. Thank you to Marty Walker and the guys from Berean who helped with this pour.

The crew is finishing the insulation on the vaulted ceilings so that the emergency fire doors can be installed next week. Also, a volunteer team will help prepare the in-floor heating system in the basement. The plan is to have the in-floor heating installed next week so that the lower floor, which is cement, can be poured. If you haven't seen this building, you should definitely see it first-hand. It will be a great place for ministry.

The dining hall has been enclosed for the winter which means our electricians and sound techs can pull the wiring in a warm building. The first layer of insulation has been sprayed and interior walls are being erected. Also, the cement floor in the kitchen has been poured. Mark and Al are busy building the stairs so that workers can access all three levels of the dining hall.

It has been a busy week at Timber Ridge. Our plumbers and volunteers are working on trenching in the pipes for the kitchen and our block layer, Doug Carlson, has been working on the side fireplace. Unfortunately, the weather has been cool and rainy which has delayed the installation of the roof. The roofers will return next week to complete the installation. 

The areas above the roofline on the fireplaces have the stone work completed.  We are now waiting for the windows and roof material to arrive. Our goal is to have the building enclosed before the snow flies. Also, many volunteers made it possible for the sidewalks to be poured this Saturday. The cement will be placed around the exterior of the building.

The trusses are up on the new dining hall and the sheeting is being applied. It is an amazing view from the top of the hill at Timber Ridge and we are pleased with the progress that is being made. 

Karen was surfing her home church’s web site and clicked the link to Trout Lake Camps. She noticed on our web site that we are in the process of constructing a new dining hall. Since she had several weeks off of work, she called Mark Grindahl, our Maintenance Director who coordinates volunteers, and volunteered over two weeks of her time. 

The great news about Karen is she is a “heavy equipment operator” and is helping us out in a major way. Her skills with heavy equipment help reduce the total cost of the project as well as speed up the construction timeline.

Thanks Karen for your hard work!

Volunteers and workers are building the main fire place which sits between the serving area and main dining area. The structure is massive (approximately 20' long and over 30' tall). It will take about 5 days to complete the structure and will be finished after the roof is constructed. Thanks for helping make this project possible. 

This week a 120-ton crane with a 167' beam is installing the prestressed concrete floor. The prestressed concrete floor is 8" thick and varies in length (up to 24' long). This portion of the project takes three days to complete and when it is complete the center fireplace structure will be erected. These are exciting days at Timber Ridge.

This past week the foundation was backfilled and we are preparing to pour the cement on the lower level. This work has been completed by numerous volunteers and some paid sub-contractors. Mark Grindahl is doing a great job managing the project as he works with our architects, state and county regulators, sub-contractors and the numerous volunteers who offer their time to Trout. 

It is wonderful to see the progress on the new dining hall and thanks for all your support financially and through volunteer help.

This week the concrete block walls are being put into place. Doug, Marty and others are helping lay the foundation. The project is well underway and it is exciting to see progress.

Kenny Elg and Mark Grindahl are marking out the location of the new dining hall at Timber Ridge. This building will seat 280 guests with over 10,060 square feet on the main floor. Over the next several weeks the dirt is going to be flying and the foundations will be poured. These are exciting days at Trout Lake Camps.