The Healing Retreat has an ideal space for your next vacation, retreat or workshop. Located in the scenic San Juan mountains between Durango and Bayfield, Colorado, the Healing Retreat offers a creative setting for groups of 6-8 people. The house is a unique, 2000 sq. ft. strawbale home with an indoor waterfall, kiva fireplace, large living room, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and open style kitchen. Access to the San Juan National forest, Lemon and Vallecito lakes are minutes away. The Healing Retreat provides a peaceful mountain setting and a beautiful house for your next small group vacation or getaway.

Unique Vacation Rental

This one-of-a-kind home, created by local architect Greg Madeen , is a strawbale house with infloor heating and passive solar design. The Healing Retreat is located near Lemon Lake in La Plata County, Colorado, 12 miles East of Durango. There is 1 mile of dirt road between the house and the main road. While easily accessible in summer, travelers will need 4 wheel drive and snow tires during the ski season. SO if you are adventurous, seeking outdoor fun, looking for a remote and peaceful getaway, interested in alternative, environmental home design, or you just want to check out the Durango - Pagosa Springs - Vallecito area, stay at the Healing Retreat. Experience mountain wilderness in the comfort of a warm and welcoming home.

This site is listed on A1 Vacation Rentals:  http://www.a1vacations.com

  for more information about wood fireplaces check out Wood Fireplace online

PHOTO GALLERY

Strawbale design keeps the retreat warm in winter.	The large room has high ceilings and gets lots of sunlight from many windows.	The large room features a unique kiva fireplace.
A fountain and waterfall lead into the large room.	There are two covered porches and a patio for outdoor seating.	The retreat has its own cat to welcome and entertain guests.
The kitchen has room for groups to cook and hang out in.	The dining table seats 6-8, the kitchen island seats an addition 4 people.	The upstairs has two pleasant rooms for sleeping and small group meetings.
The upstairs rooms each have two double beds/futon sofas, and the large room sofa opens for a fifth bed	The upstairs bathroom has a clawfoot tub.	The downstairs bathroom has a fanciful ocean theme, whirlpool tub and spacious shower area.

Views from the back patio

A WALK DOWN THE ROAD

Here's a few photos of the neighborhood, taken on a Sunday walk with my dog, Biko. (Sorry about the missing thumbnail shots, you can still click on them to see the picture.)

Heading out the front door. This is the view from the deck & hot tub.	Biko loves a walk.	Lots of Spruce, Ponderosa, Oak and Aspen around here. The Altitude is about 8ooo ft.	This is the dirt road that leads to the house, peaceful to walk on and occasionally exciting to drive on. In snow you will want 4 wheel drive.	Walking south down the hill. There is a creek on the right, several houses and lots of open space.
Nice colors, huh, Biko?	There's the creek. It runs all year, you can see and hear it from the house.	Yes, there are bears around. Don't leave food outside. Once a bear even ate my can of insect repellent and a bar of Irish Spring.	The main road is just down there. Go left 5 miles to Lemon Lake, 8 to Vallecito. Go right 12 miles to Durango. All drives are scenic.	Turning around now. That's Missionary Ridge in the background.
You may notice a few toasty trees back there, however the aspens and oaks are growing thickly underneath them.	This road is great for an afternoon walk.	The last little bit is an uphill climb. This makes for fun cross country skiing before the plow comes around.	Almost there ...	Back again. Time for a soak and a rawhide treat. If you stay here you can have as much fun as we had just walking down the road.

ALL THE DETAILS

RATES

The Healing Retreat rents for $200 -$300 a day (24 hours) plus 6% tax. 8 people maximum. For more information contact Leslie Swanson at 970-385-0764 or 970-946-1376.

• Reservation guaranteed with deposit of 50% of the cost of the total stay received within 1 week of reservation.
• Security Deposit may be required for larger groups.
• The balance of the deposit will be paid in full upon arrival.
• Payments may be made by check, cash, MasterCard or Visa. Checks will require extra time to clear.

D.I.Y. B&B Plan:  For $20 per person per day, the house will be stocked with the following breakfast items: Eggs, Milk, Orange Juice, Bread, Pancake Mix, Cheese, Fruit, Yogurt, Granola, Butter, Jam, Syrup, Milk, Half & Half, Coffee, Decaf, Herbal and Black teas, Honey, Sugar, Raisins and Spices. Special order items and meats may be requested in advance and will cost whatever the supermarket charges.

DEALS

(One deal per rental)

The Healing Retreat has Last Minute Deals available: If you make your reservation within seven days of your stay, and the house is available, you pay only $200 per night for the first 3 nights.

If you are a healer or a teacher, first of all, good for you! Secondly, you qualify for our Healers and Teachers Special: $10 off all nights, always.

For long-term rentals of 4 weeks or more, 10% off.

Finally, The Healing Retreat has a Workshop/Retreat Special for groups doing healing work: $25 off all nights - up to a week.

POLICIES

• In the winter season you will need 4-wheel drive and snow tires on your vehicle for the 1 mile dirt road leading up to the retreat (and for most winter driving around Durango). If you wish to minimize your driving and have groceries delivered contact owner to make arrangements.
• The Retreat has a resident cat, she is low maintenance but guests are requested to make sure her cat door is not locked at night.
• The house is built on a hillside so there are stairs to climb. There is a rollaway bed that can be put on the main level, however if you have difficulty with stairs you will probably want to stay elsewhere.
• Owner will visit property regularly to service maintenance of woodstove, fireplace, plants, fountain, hot tub, garden, trash removal, snow removal and cat. The schedule for these visits will be set in advance with the renter to facilitate your privacy. Arrangements can also be made for renters to do some of the chores in exchange for lower rates.
• No smoking is allowed on the surrounding grounds. If you wish to smoke, please do so on the patio or porches and be extremely careful during the dry season.
• Due to its scenic location near Missionary Ridge, a portion of the retreat's property was affected by the fire of 2002. The views are still quite green and lovely however guests should be aware that there are a few scorched trees on the north side of the property.
• Because of the inherent risk of life in the big woods, a disclaimer of liability will be included in the property lease.
• The Healing Retreat does not rent to hunters. Sorry. No guns or hunting are allowed on the property.
• The Healing Retreat was designed for adults and is not childproofed in any way, tenants take full responsibility for their children’s welfare while on the premises.
• The nearest large grocery stores and gas stations are 12 miles to either Durango or Bayfield. If you wish to have the house stocked with your choice of groceries, or to have groceries delivered during your stay, arrangements can be made with owner.

AVAILABILITY

THE DURANGO AREA

Durango is a popular vacation spot in southwest Colorado, with multitudes of activities, events and outdoor facilities. For more information visit the following links:

http://www.godurango.com/

http://www.durango.com/

http://www.durangomagazine.com/

Nearby Activities and Attractions

The Healing Retreat is also close to:

Vallecito Lake, a resort for many a Winnebago camper and a gorgeous place despite 2002's fire and mudslides, offers lots of recreational activities including miles of groomed cross-country skiing. 8 miles east. http://www.vallecitolakechamber.com/home.cfm?filename=6_0.txt

Over The Hill Outfitters for riding, fishing, wildlife photography and more. Approximately 10 miles away and on the internet at http://www.OverTheHillOutfitters.com 970-385-7656

Elk Point Stables at Vallecito lake, 8 miles east, for hourly trail rides, day rides and dinner rides. Call them at 970-884-2482. http://www.vallecitolakechamber.com/home.cfm?filename=2_3.txt

Mild to Wild Rafting offers river trips down the Animas for all levels of rafters. They also do Jeep trail tours. Call 970-247-4789 or visit them on the web at http://www.mild2wildrafting.com

Southwest Whitewater does raft trips and has a kayak school. 970-259-8313 http://swwhitewater.com/

Durango River Trippers 800-292-2885 or http://www.durangorivertrippers.com

There's always The Train. You can take a really really long ride to Silverton - bring warm clothes etc. or do shorter rides. 970-247-2733 or http://www.durangotrain.com

Mesa Verde National Park is about 90 minutes away. http://www.nps.gov/meve/

Southwest Adventures does bicycle tours. 970-259-0370 http://www.mtnguide.net/

And for the skiers, there's Purgatory (aka Durango Mountain Resort) a 1 hour drive away. Check out their site at http://www.durangomountainresort.com - they have cross-country and downhill areas.

An hour and a half east is the wonderful Wolf Creek Resort, favorite of many locals. It's an easy day trip. http://www.wolfcreekski.com

Silverton, past Purgatory heading north, has a new 'extreme' ski area. Needless to say you had better be great and carry avalanche protection gear. Not for the family ski trip. 970-387-5706 http://www.silvertonmountain.com/

After all that activity, go to Trimble Hot Springs, just north of Durango on the way to Purgatory. They have a great pool and hot springs. They also offer massage. 970-247-0111 http://www.trimblehotsprings.com/

The Springs in Pagosa Springs, 1 hour east, is a mineral spring famous for being the world's largest and deepest. The resort is a lot of fun with many different pools and beautiful views. http://www.pagosaspringsresort.com/ or call 800-225-0934

Chimney Rock is on the way to Pagosa Springs. They have tours of the sacred site, you do need to find out when they are open, check out their web site at http://www.chimneyrockco.org/chimneyrock.htm

Leslie Swanson

The Healing Retreat

P.O. Box 396

Durango, CO  81302

970-385-0764

970-259-9636

970-946-1376

lotta2003@earthlink.net