Salvation Army Western Division Breaks Ground at Western Plains Camp
The Salvation Army (www.salarmyomaha.org) Western Division held a groundbreaking celebration on September 1 at the Western Plains Camp in South Sioux City. The 112-acre property was purchased in 2020 after the Western Division’s iconic Gene Eppley Camp was destroyed by catastrophic flooding. The camp hosts hundreds of children and teens each summer from Omaha, greater Nebraska, and western Iowa.
Phase one of updates to the camp will include upgrading nine sleeping cabins, as well as construction of a new 16-unit lodge to accommodate families and other guests, a nurse’s station, and a boathouse. Phase two calls for construction of a chapel and additional lodges.
In attendance at the groundbreaking were Major Lee Ann Thompson, western divisional leader for The Salvation Army; Sioux City Mayor Bob Scott; South Sioux City Mayor Rod Koch; Regan Zeller, senior project manager at Dicon Corporation; Michael Breclaw, principal at FitzGerald Associates Architects; Kristi Quinn and Chris McGowan, presidents of the South Sioux City and Siouxland Chambers of Commerce, respectively; and Salvation Army officers from the Western Divisional Headquarters in Omaha.
The Salvation Army of Omaha serves the greater Omaha metropolitan area through its multiple worship centers and service locations. From feeding programs, homelessness prevention and youth development to mental health and older adult services, The Salvation Army meets the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of all people without discrimination. For more information, visit www.salarmyomaha.org. To learn more about the Western Plains Camp, visit salarmywesterndivisioncamp.org.