History of the 319 Acres

In the late 1950s, following WWII, Taft Holloway presides over the District Ten Convention in Borger, Texas, approving a $12,245 budget for the development of an Assembly Grounds to be located between Amarillo and Canyon.

Shortly thereafter, director
Argus A. Burnett walks the grounds with W.A. Arlie Mays and becomes excited about the future as Mays commits to building an auditorium, donating a piano and an organ, and developing a road on the north side
of the grounds.

During the next decade, Chester O’Brien observes over 2000 in nightly attendance as Angel Martinez, Eddie Martin, and Dan Cameron speak at various events.

Over the past 50 years, neither floods nor tornadoes have been able to destroy the refreshing atmosphere of the High Plains Retreat Center found in the draw of the Prairie Dog Town fork of the Red River.