Copies of both Bill Lowry and Bill King's books are available at the Lake Junaluska Gift Shop in the Terrace Hotel. You may also purchase copies of Bill Lowry's book at www.shop.lakejunaluska.com.
- The Antechamber of Heaven: A History of Lake Junaluska Assembly
By Bill Lowry
Providence House Publishers, 2010
In 1913, Lake Junaluska Assembly was born. The visionaries who planted Lake Junaluska imagined a gathering place for Methodists, a place where "they shall see such visions and gather such inspirations as shall send them forth to achievements that shall mightily count for the Kingdom of God." Though their visions were grand, they never could have imagined what Lake Junaluska would become. From its humble beginnings with only land, lake, and a single auditorium, Lake Junaluska has grown exponentially, including a fully developed campus with hotels, lodges, apartments, and a campground that can serve more than two thousand people.
Now celebrating its centennial, Antechamber of Heaven: A History of Lake Junaluska Assembly chronicles the many changes that have taken place throughout Lake Junaluska nad Methodism as a whole over the many years of its existence. From straining race relations and changing times to the threat of the Assembly being shut down on multiple occassions, Lake Junaluska Assembly has stood strong and remained a great source of strength and inspiration for Methodism.
- Lake Junaluska: Images of America
By Bill King
Arcadia Publishing, 2010
Religion spread swiftly across our new nation with the help of camp meetings where families, taking a break from farm labor, gathered for inspiration and socializing. The late 19th century religious experience expanded the concept by adding educational and recreational opportunities. Permanent campgrounds appeared, the most renowned being Chautauqua in New York. In 1913, Southern Methodists created their own institution with the first conference at Lake Junaluska in western North Carolina. Capitalizing on the beauty of the Appalachian Mountains, Lake Junaluska Assembly, a conference center of the United Methodist Church, became an attraction for inspiration, instruction, relaxation, and recreation. Renowned preachers such as Billy Graham and speakers like Eleanor Roosevelt have filled its iconic round auditorium. Approximately 200,000 annual visitors join a residential community to make Lake Junaluska a destination in its own right amid the attractions of nearby Asheville, Waynesville, Blue Ridge Parkway, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
William E. King, historian, author, and Duke University Archivist Emeritus, spent part of every summer of his life at Lake Junaluska before retiring there in 2005. With an insider's appreciation and a historian's perspective, he has created a thoughtful pictorial history that residents and visitors alike will cherish.