Our Story

Cowboy’s Rest began as a vision in the hearts of our founders Bob and Chris Burrows. The Burrows and others in their church family had been organizing camping trips for children and quickly realized the need that today’s young people have to be in God’s creation. Many children were able to have their first experience sleeping in a tent, catching a fish, or shooting a .22 – and they loved it! They also loved the worship and teaching times around the campfire. God’s word seemed to penetrate their hearts more profoundly in a retreat setting, away from the busy schedules, technological distractions, and other pressures our children face today.

The Burrows became aware that northern Nevada was lacking in good camping facilities where churches could take their young people and do just what they had been doing. They began praying about buying some land to devote to these purposes. In August of 1995, Bob resigned his job as pastor of a nondenominational church in Fallon, Nevada, and moved the family to Elko, Nevada, so that he could work in the family produce business and look for a place to establish a camping ministry. After three and a half years of waiting on God, the door finally opened, and the Burrows were able to purchase the XJ Ranch. This property is located on Sherman Creek, below Sherman Peak at the south end of the beautiful Ruby Mountains. It is very isolated (60 miles from Elko), very peaceful, and very beautiful with wild turkeys, mule deer, elk, and horses roaming the property.

Cowboy's Rest has been putting on camps since 1999 and many families and young people have devoted their time through prayer and service to the Vision of the Burrows family, enabling thousands of campers to experience God’s creation first hand and grow in relationship with Him. The camp is now managed by Brian and Dena Starkey who live out at the ranch full time taking care of the facilities and leading the staff.

COwboy's Rest Board of Directors

Cowboy's Rest is led by our Board of Directors, a body of Christians who prayerfully consider and oversee all major policy, program, and facility decisions for the Ministry