Where are we located?

We are located in historic Florala, Alabama, adjacent to the Florida state line. In fact,  you can see Florida from our back porch! We offer the perfect blend of lakeside retreat and close proximity to the gorgeous white beaches on Fort Walton Beach and Destin, Florida.

 

Downtown Florala is a short 5-minute walk from our property.

 

Spend an day in town with lunch at The Depot or the Ranch House Kitchen. Shop antiques at Jackson's Corner (there’s also a fudge shop inside!), The Warehouse Market, 5th Ave Flea Market, and the historic Florala Pharmacy gift shop. Don’t forget to stop in at 2 Gals & a Goat, a well known artisan boutique for natural soaps and sundries. End a fun afternoon walking around our quaint downtown with dinner and margaritas at Monterrey's Mexican Cuisine. 

 

Want to enjoy some time outdoors? Walk straight down our steps and along the shores of Lake Jackson and enjoy Florala City Wetland Park. 

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How do I make a reservation for my group?

We can book you directly online. We accept payments online! Please fill out our contact form here! Want to call us? You can reach us at (205) 585-0058. 

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How far in advance do we need to book?

Most of our retreat groups turn into repeat guests and book year after year, so we tend to fill up very quickly! If your dates are very firm, we recommend that you book as soon as possible as we tend to book out popular months about a year out.

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What’s the cancellation policy?

We offer a refund until 60 days prior to your retreat. Within 60 days, all fees paid are nonrefundable because we are not likely to be able to rebook the dates on such short notice. However, should you need to cancel, we can apply any fees paid toward a future retreat.

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How many people can I bring?

Our weekday minimum is 5, our weekend minimum is 6, and we have room for up to 10 individual workspaces. We can host groups up to 12 maximum with special accommodations and shared workspace. Please contact us for set up information if you plan to have more than 10 at your retreat.

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How can I have the best possible time on retreat?​

We have hosted hundreds of wonderful retreat guests who have loved every minute on retreat and have come back year after year...and we've discovered the secret to having the absolute greatest time on a retreat.

 

Want to know what it is?? Gratitude and a positive attitude.

 

Having a wonderful retreat is pretty simple - show up with a grateful heart, ready to make some special memories with old friends or new ones, and have a good attitude about any unexpected bumps along the way. Communicate with us if you have questions while you're staying at the Lake House that way, if you have any needs, we have have an opportunity to resolve them for you. Find the silver lining in every situation and enjoy the precious time on retreat that you can't recreate anywhere else. If this speaks to you, we'd love to host on you retreat, so grab your friends and let's chat about available dates and creating an experience you'll love!

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What amenities do you offer for scrapbooking or other crafts besides quilting?

We provide you with the Retreat Room set up for your needs when you arrive. We have lights at every table, and upon request, we can include extra tables for crafting supplies and projects. Looking for ideas? Reach out & we'd be happy to share some of our favorite creative ideas from past retreaters. 

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What do you serve for breakfast?

We provide a complimentary breakfast basket upon your arrival. Just call it our Southern hospitality! In the kitchen, you will find fresh pastries, toast, oatmeal, cereal and granola, coffee and seasonal fruit. In the fridge, we stock milk, creamer, butter, eggs, and yogurt. We include a variety of options for toppings such as jam, peanut butter. We are happy to provide special dietary options upon request. 

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Want to cook something else for your breakfast? You’re welcome to use the kitchen to cook anything else you would like.

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Is alcohol allowed?

Yes, you are welcome to bring your own alcohol on retreats.

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Are pets allowed?

In order to keep our retreat center as allergy-friendly as possible for everyone, we do not allow any pets for any reason.

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What time is check-in and check-out?

Check-in for retreats is 1:00 pm and check-out is 10:00 am. We ask that you do not arrive at the property prior to 1:00 pm as we have tight turnover times and offer tours of the property in between guests. We want to provide you with a clean, inviting space for your retreat and to do that, we need every minute of our time in between guests to clean and set up the space for you.

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Can we get early check-in?

We are very busy and most of our reservations are back-to-back with no time in between but we do offer early check in the night before or the morning of your retreat when it is possible for an additional fee of $200 for the group. If you would like more time, please contact us for availability.

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Is there parking?

Yes, at the front of our property we have a single driveway that is ADA-accessible with a ramp. Around the back of our property (enter on 1st St.), there is a large parking lot at the top of the hill.

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Is there a coffee pot and other cooking appliances in the kitchen? Can we cook?

We have everything you need to cook in our kitchen. This includes a traditional coffee brewer, a Keurig, a crockpot, toaster, microwave, and blender. There is a full size refrigerator and freezer for your use. We have all the utensils, pots and pans, drinkware, and silverware you will need for your group.

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Will we share the space with another group?

No. We only book one group at a time. When you come on retreat with us, you are on a totally private retreat. We are a contactless retreat center.

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I want to come on a retreat but I’m not a member of a group. 

Check out our instructor-led open retreats where anyone can come without a group!

 

Are spouses allowed? Can I bring my husband?

We do not allow additional guests who are not participating in the retreat. Should you have spouses or family members who want to travel with you while you are on retreat, we can recommend a couple of great Airbnbs within a 5 minute drive or 15 minute walk of our property.

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Where is the closest quilt shop?

We have a wonderful local quilt shop 18 miles north of us in Opp, Alabama, called Oh Sew Pretty. Please tell them you are on retreat with us when you shop there!

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Additional quilt shops close by:

Andalusia Sewing Center, Andalusia AL (30 mins)

A Quilter's Place, Crestview FL (30 mins)

Margie's Sew Much Fun, Crestview FL (30 mins)

Stitch by Stitch Boutique, Crestview FL (30 mins)

My Sewing Barn, Milton FL (1 hour)

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What other fun things can we plan for our retreat?

Yoga: we have great local yoga instructors if you'd like to book a private yoga class at the lake house - including chair yoga (ideal for quilters and great for mobility issues!).

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Soap-making: our favorite local soap shop offers classes on soap making. You can arrange for a group class at their store just down the street and then after your soap cures for a few weeks, they'll ship it to you!

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Instructor-led quilt workshops: we offer classes for private groups! We're happy to build a custom class for the skill level and interests of your group. We teach everything from One Block Wonder, machine applique, foundations paper piecing, to our popular mystery scrap retreat (you don't know the quilt pattern until you arrive!). Let us know what you're interested in and we can make it happen!

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What else should I know about booking a retreat with you?

Our retreat center is a historic home approximately 140 years old and we take great care in the maintenance of our property and we continue to make upgrades to our facility. Although unlikely, it is possible that during your stay, you may see our landscaping service, quarterly pest control, emergency maintenance, or other work being done to maintain our facility.

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Air Conditioning & Historic Homes: 

Our house is over 140 years old and over 4,000 sq. feet. We have three AC units: one upstairs & one downstairs, and one mini-split unit in the main living area. Please note: Our normal heat index in the summer is around 100F degrees. The AC’s normal temp in the house will be between 73-77 during the hottest part of the day. The bedrooms are cooler than this but the living room tends to be around 75-77 degrees due to the floor to ceiling glass windows that overlook the lake. During excessively hot times, the thermostats may be locked to prevent overuse or our units freezing up. If the heat index is above 100F on an unusually hot day, the house may be warmer during the middle of the day, but the AC is still working. Most AC units cannot cool any house more than approx. 30-40 degrees so a temperature in the 70s range is normal if it over 100 degrees outdoors. 

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Summer in the South:  Bugs and mice are part of the Gulf Coast ecosystem--which also includes cuter animals such as rabbits, deer, etc. Please enjoy our sun decks & surrounding areas but know that you may encounter mosquitos at dusk, especially in the grass, gnats, and chameleons sunning themselves on our porch. We have annual power sprays of the exterior of the house, professional interior pest control every 3 months, fly swatters, essential oil sprays and all bugs are removed before your visit. But, particularly in the summer rainy season, there will be bugs.

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