On a map, Pyramid Lake is easy to miss; nestled among the foothills of eastern New York, the lake encompasses fewer than two hundred acres; an expeditious kayaker could traverse it end-to-end in half an hour. And yet, situated at the end of a winding country road, the lake is a little world unto itself; and along its shores lies a unique retreat known as the Pyramid Life Center.

 

Sprawling across 750 acres, the Center has a long and storied history; “The area started as a haven for hunters and sportfishermen” explained Courtney Brandt, who oversees operations at the camp along with her husband, Neil. “We still have a postcard somewhere advertising (the lake) as the ‘best place for brown trout fishing in America’.” By 1890, the Pyramid Lake Lodge was built as a haven for sportsmen in the area; this enterprise continued until the property was purchased by the Albany Catholic Youth Association in 1946.

That same year, the retreat reopened as a Catholic girls’ camp, known as the Marian Lodge, under the guidance of one Sister Monica Murphy, CSJ; “Her cabin is still here” Brandt said, pointing to a small structure just behind the main lodge. “You can see it’s very monastic – she lived very simply while she was here.” In stark contrast to the well-appointed guest lodgings, the nun’s quarters are reminiscent of the spartan living promoted by the Benedictines or even the Carthusians; a tiny pellet stove and a writing desk are the only luxuries Sister Monica appears to have condescended to.

 

After thirty years, the camp rebranded as Pyramid Life Camp and became co-ed; despite these changes, however, by the mid-1980s the camp was struggling. It rebranded once more in 1986, as the Pyramid Life Center, and now operates as a Catholic retreat center. “What’s great is, we’re equipped for many kinds of retreats” Brandt explained, walking along the shoreline; “A lot of what we host are parish groups, but a lot of folks come here for something quieter, and we cater to that too.” Traversing the Center’s trails evokes the feeling of walking through a remote Adirondack town, rather than a camp; from the chapel perched high on a cliff to a tiny lakeside writers’ retreat known as the Roost, from the cavernous boathouse to the library, the Center contains amenities for every kind of retreat; religious or secular, massive groups or lone travelers.

Sister Monica continued to manage the camp until her death in 2019, at which point Neil and Courtney stepped in. “We both had a history with the camp” Courtney said, motioning to the island which dominates the middle of Pyramid Lake. “That island is actually where we got engaged.” As the camp prepares for another busy season, staff and longtime visitors return, and the Center – though only a temporary retreat for most – exudes a strong sense of community. “A majority of people who stay with us, at this point, are returning people or groups” Brandt said. “A lot of what you see was built or fixed by longtime attendees.” Walking along the waterfront trail, numerous examples of this communal help can be found: a rebuilt dock here, a row of renovated cabins there.

 

As the Center’s mission expands, however, management looks to expand its community beyond the usual clientele; “We think we have something really unique here” Brandt said, passing the stilted belltower which overlooks the camp. “We love the fellowship we’ve built here, but we’d also like to see new people come in.” Post-covid, the number of Catholics and others seeking ways to rest, disconnect, and get away from an increasingly hectic world has exploded; as a result, the retreat center finds itself in a constant cycle of expansion and improvement, meeting the changing needs of those looking to unplug and refocus their spiritual life.

 

As the 2025 season gets underway, the staff of the Pyramid Life Center look ahead to a wider array of programming, a growing mission, and retreat groups from further afield. “We’d love to see more people from Vermont as well” Brandt said. “I think everyone could benefit from staying here, even for a single weekend.” As the world grows ever louder and more discordant, the Pyramid Life Center’s mission is simple yet profound; to encourage people step back, breathe deeply, turn inward, and reenter the world rested and reinvigorated. In Scripture, we often hear of Jesus withdrawing to secluded places or walking off by Himself; the earliest Church Fathers were often hermits or lived in remote areas. The simple act of eliminating noise, confusion, and chaos is perhaps one of the most ancient practices of those who seek a better interior life; and it is in this vein that the camp’s mission carries on.