Lodging

You can soak it all in at the River Song Retreat Cabin where we have reserved a special stay for you to rest, reconnect, and recharge during the Restore to Roar Retreat.

This stunning log-cabin home checks every box—spacious, light-filled, and set right on the serene Helton Creek in North Carolina’s breathtaking High Country.

Enjoy:
🏡 A beautiful, creekside setting with a huge yard for relaxation & play
🔥 Evenings by the fire pit, roasting marshmallows under the stars
🛁 A hot tub soak with the soothing sounds of the flowing stream
☕ Mornings on the wraparound deck, sipping coffee and maybe see a trout fish or 2!
🍽️ Nourishing, chef-prepared snacks & meals to fuel your body & soul

Inside, you’ll find cozy yet spacious accommodations with multiple gathering areas, a stone fireplace, and a fully equipped kitchen if you have special dietary requirements.

Whether unwinding solo or connecting with others, there’s a space for everyone to feel at home.

📅 Retreat Dates: May 15-17 (Optional extra day on May 18 to fully soak in the experience!)

Make the most of your retreat—stay at River Song and let the healing continue.

🔗 Reserve your spot today as it is first paid registration, first sleeping accommodation!!

** Reserving a private room by yourself without any other occupants will be an increased fee of $150 to the price shown in the offer as that will decrease our number of participants that we can host. It is first registered/paid, first accommodated, so please email us at [email protected] to determine if we can still honor your request for a single occupancy room.

Travel,  Transportation, & Timing Considerations

The week before the retreat, you'll receive an email with the exact mapable location of the cabin for checking in. 

ALL Times are Eastern Standard Time (EST) Zone. 

Retreat Participant Check In: First Day of Arrival: 12 - 4 pm EST at the cabin. Pick up your nametag, itinerary, meet and greet, check into your lodging, and explore our surrounding area. 

Retreat Participant Check Out: Final day of the retreat - 12pm EST; HOWEVER, we HIGHLY encourage you to book your lodging reservations an extra night to soak in the deeply profound goodness you'll have received  as you pray, meditate, rest, and explore more of Wild Haven Sanctuary or the beautiful surrounding areas ... so you can return home more grounded and well-powered.

If you are Flying: The nearest and most convenient airport is Charlotte (CLT) International Airport. We encourage you to rent a car as it will be nearly a 2 hour drive from the airport. (Please coordinate carpooling through the private Retreat FB Group)

Upon request, if there are more than 3 people flying into CTL airport, a shuttle may be arranged.

PICK UP on First Day of Retreat ($25 cash per person) for those flying into Charlotte, NC to leave the airport at 9:30am EST in order to arrive in the mountains by noon for check in and meet and greets. 

DROP OFF on Final Day of Retreat ($25 cash per person) for those who are flying out of Charlotte, NC  to leave the mountain by 2:30pm EST to arrive at the airport by 5pm.

Itinerary/What to Pack

We've outlined a general itinerary below, but as with all things, we want to be Holy Spirit led, so the schedule below is subject to change! Everything will be invitational as you honor your spirit, mind and body. Please plan to attend the initial housekeeping/meet and greet on the day you arrive at 4:45 pm EST.

You will receive a more specific itinerary via email before your arrival. The final draft of the itinerary will be given to you upon your arrival at check in.

Itinerary:

1st Day of Arrival:

• Arrive between 12 - 4 pm. Settle in. Be at the designated meeting space by 4:45 pm for the Meet & Greet.
• Dinner: 5 - 6:30 pm
• Firepit: 7 - 8 pm

2nd Day

• Breakfast: 8:30-9:30am (See Food Considerations below for breakfast options).
• Morning Movement Session by the stream: 10 am - 11 am
• Free time: 11 am - Noon
• Lunch by the stream: 12:00 - 12:45
• Hike & Yoga: 1 - 3 pm
• Free time: 3 - 5 pm
• Dinner at the cabin: 5 - 6:30 pm
• Restorative Session: 7 - 8 pm (Cabin Living Room)

3rd Day

• Breakfast: 8:30-9:30 (See Food Considerations below for breakfast options.)
• Church in Yoga Pants: 10 - 11 am
• Closing Ceremony: 11:30 - Noon

**Optional 4th Day:

Feel free to stay and soak in the experience and beauty of the mountains. See list of Optional Activities in sections below!

Packing List:

• Small backpack and 1+ Liter Water Bladder/Bottle recommended for staying hydrated and carry journals, pens, and a few nature finds for a project we like to do!

We will likely be offering these activities (weather dependent):

• Breath Work
• Yoga (please feel free to bring your own yoga supplies; limited rental supplies available: mats, foam blocks, straps, bolsters)
• Hiking -  Boots or Tennis Shoes. *We will do the easiest trails for group hikes. Boots are necessary for the more difficult grades if you'd like to hike them during your free time. 
• Stream Explorations - Sandals with straps like Keens or Tevas are suggested.
• Forest Nature Walks (open exploration)
• Bible Study (limited internet on the mountain, please download a Bible App or bring a Hardcopy Bible)
• Journaling - we will provide a pen and journal, but we invite you to bring your own if you have a special one you like to use.
• Artistic Expressions & Instructional Cooking Sessions (minor messes may be experienced) - an old shirt or cover shirt is recommended.
• Firepit - expect to smell a bit like smoke.

Please check the weather and bring clothes and supplies that you feel are needed for your comfort.

The retreat is not weather dependent, however outdoor activities are. Temps above 40 degrees or if light rain/sunny - we are still likely going to be outside for several activities!

Food Considerations

A light breakfast, snacks, lunch and dinner are provided for you to enjoy in the space of your choice.

We often offer opportunities for nutrition workshops as our chef prepares meals, so feel free to join us for meal prepping if you like.

Because this is a restorative retreat, we aim to provide you with mostly healing and healthy foods, but with a few treats (no cheats), too! We will do our best to have gluten free, dairy free, and nut free options. However, if you are more comfortable bringing a cooler, please do! (Trish thrives that way, too, so no guilty feelings :)

• Alternate Breakfast Option: You can also enjoy a dine-in breakfast at The Riverhouse Inn between 8:30 am - 10 am. Be sure to place your order 24 hours in advance! . 

Optional Activities

There will be some free time planned throughout the weekend for you to do what you freely want to do! We still highly recommend staying the extra night to soak in the experiences and beauty of the mountains and process all that you have experienced. We find this allows a little more time and space for a more gentle re-entry "back to reality."

• Walk 'n talk, sit 'n sip, and shoot the breeze on your own or with one another!

• Hike and explore while praying, journaling, and processing any experiences, information, or feelings that may have surfaced during the retreat. 
• Please inquire about our Guided Fishing, Kayaking, Mountain Biking options when you register if you are interested in these activities on/near our property. 
• Here are some more nearby attractions in case you want to venture further away - and we absolutely encourage you to extend your stay by a day or 2, too!

Physical Abilities

Participants may need to skip a few activities if they are unable to walk up and down stairs and across uneven terrain. (Hiking poles available for rent)

The mindful movement sessions may include, but are not limited to, yoga, dance, walks, and hikes that will be outdoors for the most part on uneven ground and will either be on mulch, grass, dirt (mud if it is wet), or gravel. 

Hikes will require tennis shoes at minimum, but hiking shoes/boots are recommended.

The pace of walks and hikes will be set by the retreat guide to accommodate the slowest hiker. Otherwise, movement sessions will all be self paced.

Note: We are dreaming and praying about an Accessible Retreat Center with accessible friendly ATVs for hiking. Contact Trish for more info and ways to donate or volunteer!

Once you register, you'll receive:

• an invitation to our private WH-R&R private FB page specifically for THIS RETREAT in order to get the latest updates.
  • we encourage you to engage with one another to organize and make arrangements with others for sharing the costs of transportation and lodging if need be.
• receive reminder emails with suggestions to help encourage and prepare you so you can stress less!
• a few days before the retreat, you'll receive an email with the exact Google/Waze location of the cabin for checking in.  

Brave, Safe Space of Grace

At Wild Haven Sanctuary, our hope is to create a safe, supportive community where those who have experienced trauma can find understanding, encouragement, and prayer. Our space is held by fellow warriors who have walked similar paths and are here to lift one another up with compassion and grace.

To maintain this trust and respect, we ask that all participants:
✔ Honor and respect each other’s experiences, similarities, and differences.
✔ Keep shared information confidential, including discussions during the retreat and within private social media groups. This includes verbal, written, or electronic sharing unless explicit permission is given by both Wild Haven & Co. and the person involved.

Important Notes on Our Roles & Limitations

🚨 While some of us may be healthcare professionals, we are not working as licensed mental health providers or physicians with prescriptive authority during our retreats. However, as health professionals we are legally required to report any indications of intent to harm yourself or others.

💡 Our retreats are for informational purposes only. We do not diagnose, prescribe, or replace your medical healthcare team. Any changes to your health routine should be discussed with your physician.

📌 If you are a client, I am happy to further discuss topics and collaborate with your healthcare team.

Thank you for helping us uphold a brave, safe space of grace for all. 💜