Michael K

Review of Spruce Lake Retreat

Remember that this is not a resort or hotel, so th...

Remember that this is not a resort or hotel, so the 5 star review is not indicative of a 5-star facility. It is indicative of a 5 star experience considering the kind of facility it is. That said, this retreat center is great. There is a mix of older, dated buildings and rooms and newer buildings with newer rooms.

The newer rooms are nice, but far from luxury. The beds are creaky and lumpy, the water pressure is very low, almost a trickle, and there is no tv in these newer rooms. The older rooms lack the same things but are much more dated and nondescript and also lack air conditioning. However, the newer building offers a semi-modern lobby area where you can get free coffee, sit at tables to play games, a large deck that looks out to a lake and mountains, and a large fireplace. Some of the public restrooms in the lobby and other public areas are actually pretty modern though. And they do have wifi, but it is spotty at times. Again, this is not a hotel!

As for the amenities, there is a lot to do here. There is a pretty decent sized pool and a kiddie pool, tennis courts, basketball courts, and there is a separate indoor gym (very dated) with volleyball courts and a small gym. There is also a campground for RV's and tents and a zipline! Within walking distance, they have built a whole new facility with a brand new gymnasium with indoor volleyball and basketball courts, and there is a new 30 ft. climbing wall here. Besides that, there is lots of good hiking trails, campfire setups, a lake with paddle boats and rowboats, and even a mini-golf facility.

The food is served at the cafeteria at set times throughout the day. For example, breakfast at 8 am, lunch at 12 pm, and dinner at 5 pm. There is an hour window to eat any of these meals throughout the day. Food is served buffet style and is mostly simple but healthy choices with salad served alongside whatever the main courses are. Nothing complicated here, just basic homestyle type food choices. And the staff here are wonderful, but do not expect hotel type services.

Lastly, bear in mind that this is a Christian facility, and it is a retreat center. That means this is a quiet place for families, churches, and even individuals who want to meditate, reflect, pray, etc. There are often several church groups here at the same time, and it is often a multi-cultural mix of people. There are even some Amish here. It is beautiful place to spend some quiet time, relax, do some hiking, and get away from the modern society and the rat race for a while. I have been to several retreat centers and this one is the best because it has a good mix of everything. Check it out and get refreshed!