Dozens of people gathered Saturday to celebrate a now certain future for Camp Wewa.

Earlier this year, many feared it would be sold to a housing developer, but the city of Apopka decided to not only purchase the land, but preserve it — keep the camp tradition going strong.

Former Camp Director Kevin Casey's been a part of Camp Wewa's history since the 1980s, but now, even after all these years, he finds himself doing something new.

"I sit down to do this wish boat and recognize I have never, not one time, decorated a wish boat," he said.

The former camp director is all smiles now, but earlier this year he became worried when it looked like Camp Wewa would be sold to a developer. His worries eased when the city of Apopka offered to buy Camp Wewa for $4.7 million.

That means beloved traditions can continue for years to come.

He said it still feels surreal.

"Cause, you know, it's been since 1997 I was here, so I didn't know what to expect from the later generations. They're cool, and they know all the songs and they know all the stories, and they love the place," said Casey.

To see campers young and old gathered for dinner, he said, is priceless.

"This has been powerful. Me, Gene, my friend is here, he and I both cried, just saying we're so happy that this could affect kids in the future the way it did us," said Casey.

After two years of no summer camps, last year due to COVID and this year due to the pending sale, camp will resume next summer.