Doubling Gap Center

Doubling Gap Center
History of the White Sulphur Springs Hotel

The Prosperous Years

The hotel became very self-sufficient in the early 20th century through the ownership of George A. Freyer.
  • Horses provided recreation and stage coach transportation to and from town
  • A large barn housed livestock and dairy cattle to give meats, milk, cream, and butter for the hotel during season
  • An 11-acre vegetable garden provided fresh vegetables
  • A 25-acre orchard provided several varieties of fruit
  • Lake Henrietta provided clean and natural ice which was cut out every winter and pack in sawdust in a large ice house behind the hotel
  • 10,000 acres of mountain land provided timber for construction needs as well as firewood for fuel.
  • A man was hired to tend the large boiler on the hill at the rear of the building which piped hot water for the hotel
  • Laundry rooms located under the porches were staffed 6 days a week by local employees
  • Several small buildings attached to the kitchen included an ice-refrigerated storage house for meats and perishables as well as a bake shop
The resort season of the hotel ran from about mid-June to mid-September. Sufficient heat was not able to be provided by the 12 operating fireplaces to allow winter months to be in season.


The death of George Freyer in 1912 changed the thriving business of the Doubling Gap White Sulphur Springs Hotel. His wife Charlotte Kathleen became owner and continued operations of the hotel, however the next 20 years became a struggle as land had to be sold to keep up with finances and frequent ownership changes.


September of 1935 was the final month of Doubling Gap White Sulphur Springs Hotel's existence.
--Much of the building's additions and annexes were demolished under the ownership of the final hotel owner Holbert Myers.


In 1946 Holbert Myers was hospitalized in Harrisburg where he met J. Paul Breneman, his hospital roommate and an ordained minister of the East Pennsylvania Eldership and professor at Findlay College. Rev. Breneman had a visitor the one day that summer, Rev. Roy Schreiner who was discussing with him the youth camping program of the church where both men were actively involved. Camp Yolijwa's program had no campsite to use for the next 1947 summer months. Mr. Myers overheard this conversation and mentioned to them that he owned a 100 year old vacant property kept in repair through the years. He offered them the property and after much discussion between Rev. Schreiner (the Camp Dean) and Rev. S.E. Vance (Camp Board Secretary), the property was investigated and they knew that it was just what the Churches of God needed for a summer camp and retreat center.


November 8, 1946 the former Doubling Gap Hotel was purchased by the East Pennsylvania Eldership for the sum of $30,000.


August of 1947, Doubling Gap became home to Camp YoliJwa and has served the Churches of God every summer since then as a Christian summer camp and retreat center.