Whether they’re enjoying calm waters or making waves, retreatants find faith and friendship on the shores of rivers, lakes and oceans.
Water has always signaled peace, renewal and spirituality. It’s also great for beating summer heat and providing abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation, like fishing, boating and paddle boarding. That’s why retreat centers frequently make use of nearby lakes, rivers and oceans as both beautiful backdrops and added amenities. Here are five waterfront retreat centers across the country that can be enjoyed by church and youth groups of all kinds.
Lake Williamson Christian Center
Carlinville, Illinois
Lake Williamson Christian Center is the largest facility of the Christian Retreats Network, a collection of sevenChristian retreat and conference centers across the country. Lake Williamson Christian Center is located in Carlinville, Illinois, which is about halfway between St. Louis and Springfield, Illinois, and about an hour’s drive north of St. Louis.Founded more than 50 years ago, the retreat center caters to groups of adults and children and offers a scenic setting and many amenities in all-inclusive packages.
The retreat center can accommodate groups of up to 1,350 overnight guests. Its lodging consists of motel- and dormitory-style rooms spread across the 400-acre campus. There are 127 motel-style rooms with two full-size beds and a bunk bed. The dorm-style rooms feature bunk beds. All retreat packages include three meals a day, which are served buffet-style in the lakeside dining room. Retreat packages also include the use of a private meeting room with complimentary A/V.
Lake Williamson is known for its long list of amenities. Recreational facilities included in all retreat packages include an indoor fitness center, basketball, dodgeball, table tennis, volleyball and more. There’s also plenty to do outdoors, like archery, disc golf, football, hiking, mini golf and an obstacle course. Premium amenities can be added to retreats and include an indoor and outdoor pool, as well as Lake Williamson’s beach, where groups can enjoy waterslides, canoeing or boating. Eagle Crest Adventures, which features ropes courses, zip lining, an escape room and axe throwing, can also be added onto a retreat package.
Pocono Plateau Camp and Retreat Center
Cresco, Pennsylvania
The beauty of the Pocono Mountains in northeastern Pennsylvania is hard to overstate. Throw in misty mornings, autumn foliage and two serene lakes, and groups will find the stunning 750-acre Pocono Plateau Camp and RetreatCenter. The center is open year-round, but it is only available for retreats when it’s not hosting summer camp, roughly from mid-August through late May. Guests can take advantage of the beauty of the mountains in autumn, winter and spring, and the center offers a unique backdrop during each season. With both themed retreats and outside group retreats on offer, groups seeking a religious getaway have plenty of options.
Accommodations at the main site of the retreat include three lodges, a log cabin, a chalet apartment and a gatehouse, totaling 170 beds. The Pocono Plateau Adventure Site has an additional capacity of 96. Meals are served buffet-style in Springer Hall, the dining room overlooking one of the property’s lakes, and menus can be adjusted as needed for retreats. The retreat center offers several spaces for private meetings or worship services, including a hall with space for up to 125.
The center emphasizes enjoying the outdoors and being active, and its activities reflect this. Groups can hike on the property’s seven miles of trails, and guests can fish in the lake or ice skate when temperatures allow. There’s also a nature center, plenty of outdoor games and campfire spots. The Adventure Site, a short distance from the main retreat campus, is open exclusively during the autumn months. Though its cabins feature fewer amenities than the cozy lodges, the Adventure Site is a perfect fit for groups looking to fully immerse themselves in nature for a camp-like experience.
Campus by the Sea
Avalon, California
Twenty-two miles off the coast of Los Angeles, on Santa Catalina Island, Campus by the Sea is a Christian retreat center that has been providing retreats and camps for nearly 75 years. Retreats for groups from 20 to 200 are offered from March to June and August to November. Groups can take a short ferry ride from the mainland to the retreat center, where they can fully disconnect from the outside world and begin enjoying the island’s beauty. The property is built on land leased from the Catalina Island Conservancy, and it’s a wonderful place to relax, explore the ecosystem and deepen one’s faith.
The camp’s accommodations are modest and consist of enclosed cabins, open-air cabins, tent cabins and a couple speaker cabins for VIPs. There’s also a modern, centrally located bathhouse for retreatants. Meals are served cafeteria-style in a dining hall overlooking the ocean, and most common dietary restrictions can be accommodated with advance notice. Several meeting spaces can be found on the property for large and small gatherings and programs.
Campus by the Sea’s long list of recreational activities is what makes it stand out. Guests can use its impressive waterfront (complete with lifeguards provided by the camp) for activities like fishing, tubing, paddle boarding, kayaking, swimming and even snorkeling. On land, groups can hike or play games like basketball, volleyball and table tennis.
Gulf Shores Beach Retreat
Gulf Shores, Alabama
Groups looking to get away to the Gulf of Mexico should look no further than Gulf Shores Beach Retreat. Located in one of the most popular resort towns on the Gulf, this Alabama retreat combines the hospitality of the destination with a family-friendly atmosphere. The retreat center was rebuilt in 2007 following damage and closure from two hurricanes, and it has remained a popular choice for youth and adult groups ever since. Perhaps its best feature is its proximity tothe beach; the center is just across the street from its own private beach with a boardwalk leading directly to it.
Part of the retreat’s appeal is the independence it allows each group to experience. It features two identical camps under the same roof, meaning two groups can stay on either side of the property without having to share many of their common spaces. Each side has four dormitory-style rooms with bunk beds as well as two staff rooms. The property can accommodate up to 160 guests total. Each camp has its own pool with a spacious pool deck, as well as a commercial kitchen where groups can cook their own meals. A volleyball court, basketball court, two charcoal grills and parking are also available on site. There’s also a shared, 1,600-square-foot meeting room for worship or any additional programming that groups can book. Retreat groups should plan to bring some of their own supplies, such as towels, bedding and toiletries. If groups do not wish to cook their own meals, they can reach out to the retreat for an alternative solution.
Koronis Ministries Camp and Retreat Center
Paynesville, Minnesota
The Land of 10,000 Lakes is an ideal place to find renewal and spiritual growth. More specifically, groups can find these things at Koronis Ministries Camp and Retreat Center, located on the shores of Lake Koronis in central Minnesota.The retreat center is affiliated with Minnesota’s Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and features a 135-acre campus with a historic retreat center that’s been operational for more than 100 years. From October to April, thecampus can accommodate groups of up to 200, while groups of up to 300 can be accommodated from May to September.
The retreat center offers a variety of lodging options, from hotel-style lodging at the 19-room Sunrise Inn to dorm-style accommodations at several bunkhouses and lodges, including Camp Koronis, which is ideal for summer camps. There are also cabins and several lakefront cottages with modern amenities like full bathrooms, kitchens and kitchenettes, and decks with views of the lake. Meals are served buffet-style in the dining hall.
The retreat center’s multiple meeting spaces can be reserved for worship or other programming for up to 300 guests and come equipped with A/V.
Available activities for groups include archery, hiking, biking, boating, bird watching, campfires, disc golf, swimming, iceskating and tubing. An indoor gymnasium has basketball and volleyball courts as well as a game room that features apool table, air hockey, table tennis and more.
