Presbyterian Trinity Church in Fairhope, Alabama, acquires Baytreat estate for ministry and community use

The Presbyterian Trinity Church in Fairhope, Alabama, has taken ownership of the Baytreat Retreat Centre, offering a new chapter for the historic property. The church, located just minutes from the site, has reoriented the property for use by ministries and community service organizations. The Baytreat property has undergone numerous transformations since its original construction as a log house in the 19th century.

Originally built in the picturesque bay of Mobile, Alabama, the property was renovated in 1904 to become the Beach Hotel. Guests arrived via steamboat from the bay, the only way to cross Mobile Bay at the time. Rev. Matt McCollum, chief pastor of Trinity, notes that the hotel was a popular destination. “People came to visit us, even at night, they would have dinner, go to dance and return to Mobile in the light of the moon,” he explains.

The decline of the hotel began with the construction of the Mobile Bay road in 1926, which rendered steamboat travel obsolete. As fewer people used the new roads to connect Mobile to the east coast, the hotel’s activity waned. The property was later acquired by the Meador family, members of the Presbyterian Church of Government Street. After World War II, the family donated the property to the church in 1957. It became a pastoral and retreat center, hosting hundreds of Presbyterian youth groups for urban missionary trips.

Despite a 2006 renovation that added modern facilities, the center struggled to regain its former occupancy levels due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in youth missionary activities. In June 2024, members of the Presbyterian Church of Government Street approached McCollum, expressing concerns about the property’s future. They hoped to keep it within the “Presbyterian family,” recognizing its historical and communal significance. The new ownership by Trinity Church signals a renewed commitment to preserving and utilizing the site for the benefit of the broader Presbyterian community.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Spanish)