Methodists in the early nineteenth century began holding camp meetings as an outgrowth of their early revivals, with revival services during the winter months and late summer generally reserved for district camp meetings. Simpson Park Campground began as the Romeo District Summer Camp for the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1865 and is one of the oldest camp meetings in continuous service in Michigan. Its founder was the Reverend John Russell, district presiding elder, who in 1869 also helped found the Prohibition party. During the late 1860s, families came from over fifty miles away to gather under the foliage for three weeks of almost uninterrupted religious exercises. Since the late 1890s, Simpson Park Campground has been operated by a private association made up predominantly of United Methodists. In 1907, it was reorganized and the Reverend William G. Nixon was elected its first president, and a tabernacle was built and named in his honor in 1910. Many children and young people who attended camp meetings became preachers and missionaries as well as camp leaders. Today only ten-day camps are held, the meetings are less rigid than in the 1860s and include social and recreational activities, the annual Simpson Park Camp Meeting is held during the first two weeks of August, and the original camp of thirteen acres has grown to forty-four acres.