While his younger sister, Academy Award winner Jennifer Lawrence, became a global cinematic icon, her older brother, Blaine Lawrence, chose a different, deeply rooted path: following in their parents’ footsteps to preserve a cherished childhood haven. Blaine’s “secret life” is one of determined entrepreneurial spirit, dedicating himself to running the family’s beloved children’s day camp in Kentucky.
Jennifer and her other brother, Ben Lawrence (who works in tech), grew up on the farm and helped their parents, Karen and Gary Lawrence, run the camp until Jennifer’s career took off.
🏡 The Louisville Roots of Camp Hi-Ho
The Lawrence family’s foundation lies in Louisville, Kentucky. The camp, Camp Hi-Ho, has been in operation by the Lawrence family since 1986. It was conceived as a space for children aged 4 to 12 to experience nature and have a fun, unstructured outdoor experience.
Blaine eventually became the Owner and Director of Camp Hi-Ho, maintaining the camp’s rustic, hands-on appeal:
- Activities: Campers enjoy over two dozen activities, including canoeing, water trampolines, zip-lining, archery, horseback riding, and caring for animals in the pet barn.
- The Vibe: Jennifer Lawrence affectionately described the camp as a “muddy messy paradise” and the “only place where kids could do whatever they wanted.”
🔥 The Tragic Setback and Triumphant Reopening
Blaine’s commitment to the camp was severely tested in the fall of 2020 when a devastating fire tore through the property. The blaze destroyed the main barn, which housed much of the camp’s infrastructure.
- Data on the Loss: The lost structure included office space, a family apartment used by the Lawrences, stalls for the horses, an indoor riding area for kids, an indoor rock climbing wall, and a nurse station.
- The Cause: Fire marshals later determined that the fire was electrical, possibly stemming from an extension cord. Nearly 30 firefighters from three departments were needed to control the blaze.
- The Resilience: Despite the immense, devastating loss, Blaine quickly rallied the community, setting up a fundraiser and promising to rebuild.
🤝 Jennifer’s Public Vow of Support
In the wake of the tragedy, Jennifer Lawrence publicly broke from her usual private stance to offer a powerful statement of support for her brother and the community that rallied around them. She praised Blaine’s dedication:
“When my brother Blaine took it over, he applied his creative mind and fun loving spirit and expanded a camp that was already the coolest… My family and I are working together to help Blaine through this. And we are so grateful for the widespread support from the community to get Camp Hi-Ho back up and running.”
This collective effort, championed by Blaine as the camp’s director and supported financially and emotionally by his famous sister and the Louisville community, proved successful. Despite the challenges of the fire and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Blaine Lawrence managed to rebuild and successfully reopened Camp Hi-Ho for the 2021 summer season, ensuring the 40-year legacy of the family’s beloved camp lived on.