At least four  apartment buildings and  most outside amenities should be ready for fall 2024

Yavapai Community College is promoting the 41 acre Pines Camp it purchased in May as a tranquil setting surrounded by the scenic Prescott National Forest. The camp boasts ample trails for hiking and mountain biking, a gorgeous pool, Goldwater Lake is just half a mile away, and other amenities.

This summer, the College has been investing significant time and money into renovating several apartment buildings at the 41-acre Pines Camp, with a total investment of approximately $11 million. The Aspen, Cypress, Manzanita, and Sycamore apartment buildings have all undergone major renovation.

The Aspen apartment building consists of 10 bedrooms, with two students per room. Aspen includes a common bathroom down the hall, as well as a shared kitchen and family room with a fireplace. This summer, the interior was renovated with new kitchen counters, bathroom tiles, kitchen cabinets, flooring, and appliances. The exterior was also completely repainted.

Manzanita is a four-unit apartment building with four students in each apartment. Each Manzanita unit includes en suite bathrooms, as well as a shared kitchen and family room. This summer, four existing interior restrooms were demolished and converted into kitchens with appropriate appliances, cabinets, and flooring. The remaining four restrooms were renovated, and new roofing was added.

Sycamore is a two-unit apartment building with two students in each one-room studio. Each Sycamore studio includes an en suite bathroom and a kitchen. The interior renovations included new kitchen counters, new plumbing, and the addition of concrete patios and surrounding sidewalks. Old playground equipment was removed as part of the upgrades.

Cypress is a two-unit apartment building with four students in each bedroom. Each Cypress unit includes en suite bathrooms, as well as a shared kitchen and family room. The current status of this building is not entirely clear, although it is believed to be on the renovation list.

The College aims to complete new roofing on about 25 buildings by the end of August. The beautiful outdoor pool has been refilled, and new pumps, filters, chemicals, and other necessary items have been added. It is anticipated that the pool will be ready for swimming by August, if not sooner.

Additionally, underground utility work continues as the Community College makes electrical improvements between buildings and works to remove old overhead electrical services. Underground water and wastewater improvements are ongoing, with the College adding meters, valves, and preparing to install another storage tank onsite.

Employees will be prioritized on a first come, first served basis with those earning between $50,000 and $75,000 given priority.  Also available are 14 RV pads with full service for students and staff.  Renters of houses and RV pads  receive free amenities including laundry facilities, an outdoor pool, an indoor gym, a game room, community grills & gazebos, and access to USFS trail system. Following renovation beginning in September, it is anticipated the first house will become available in October

Yavapai Community College is launching a rental program for staff and students at the 41-acre Prescott Pines camp. The college has invested at least  $11 million so far in total in this project since its purchase in Spring 2024.

Full-time employees are given the first opportunity to rent one of the ten houses or one of the 14 RV pads located at the site when they become available.

Several of the RV pads are apparently already available for rental. However, because the College plans to renovate one house per month beginning in September, the first house is expected to be ready for occupancy in October 2024.

At the Prescott Pines location, the following rentals are available to full-time employees:

• Fourteen full-service RV pads (for students and employees)
• One one-bedroom home
• Seven two-bedroom homes
• One three-bedroom home
• One four-bedroom home

It is estimated that the Prescott Pines facility is about a 15 minute drive from the Prescott Campus.  It is estimated to be about a 25 minute drive to either the Prescott Valley Center or the Career and Technical Education Center at the Prescott airport from the Pines.

Interested full-time employees should contact the housing department for additional information or go to the housing department website:  https://www.yc.edu/v6/facilities/housing/pines/.

Spent $5 million to purchase 41 acre facility; anticipates spending $6 million  to renovate; will operate its own sewer and water systems and supply adjacent 40 acres owned by developer with water and sewer when homes there are established 

The Yavapai Community College District Governing Board expanded its footprint by 41 acres on the west side of Mingus Mountain when it unanimously approved the purchase of the Prescott Pines Christian camp from a developer at its April 23 Board meeting.  This was the largest expansion of the College on that side of the County since it was created more than 50 years ago. The purchase price of the property is about $5 million.  The Community College intends to immediately spend an additional $6 million to renovate some of the 66  buildings and improve the infrastructure.

According to the Community College press release, the primary purpose of the acquisition is to allow Yavapai College to address student and employee housing needs. The facility, opened in 1941, has 66 structures, 12 RV hookups, two large cafeterias, a large gymnasium-like activity center, and a chapel.  There are 12 houses, and cabins plus lodges that will accommodate approximately 110 students and about 240 campers.

While the College has apparently closed on the sale of the property paying $5 million using reserve funds, the $6 million needed for immediate renovation is contingent on the Board approving a $16 million revenue bond at its May 2024 meeting. 

The College does not anticipate the project becoming a place for low income housing. 

The camp is located at 855 East School House Gulch Road, about seven miles from the Prescott based Campus on Sheldon Street.

If you want more details regarding this major expansion of the Community College on the west side of the County, please click here and you will find a 25 minute video clip prepared by the Blog of Governing Board members discussing the project prior to unanimous approval.

Facility has two cafeterias, activity center, chapel, rv hook ups, cabins, lodges, and a host of other amenities

The Yavapai Community College District Governing Board is expected to approve at Tuesday’s meeting a proposal put forth by the College executives for the purchase of the 42-acre Prescott Pines Christian camp. The camp has been for sale since March 1, 2023. This purchase came as a complete surprise to most who pay attention to how the College is spending taxpayer money and what its plans were for new student, faculty, staff housing.

Old Facebook photo allegedly of one of the many buildings at the camp.

Although the exact purchase price is yet to be disclosed, it is anticipated to be in the millions of dollars, as hinted at by the size and amenities of the camp. The facility boasts approximately two dozen structures, including a large gymnasium, two cafeteria buildings, several cabins, and lodges, among other amenities.

Further details about the purchase and the camp itself are likely to be revealed during the District Governing Board meeting before the Board approves the anticipated purchase on Tuesday.

Photo from old Facebook post allegedly of another of the many buildings at the camp.

Those interested may be able to watch the meeting via live stream on the Community College website with the meeting scheduled to begin Tuesday at 1 p.m.