Afgelegen Mountain Lodge Eco-Retreat omgeven door majestueuze schoonheid

Our group of 7 adults, 1 baby and 2 dogs stayed here for 3 nights in July 2019. Skalitude Retreat was a good compromise between those who prefer being off-grid (e.g. backpack camping) and those who prefer running water. The more outdoorsy people went on several walks on the property and did a nearby hike. The less outdoorsy people relaxed in the meadow valley and visited Winthrop (~45 min drive).

Everyone enjoyed their stay. I definitely think those preferring being off-grid had the best time.

Things to be aware of before booking...

First, there is no cell coverage and you should assume there is no internet access despite the listing description. Most of us could not connect to the network at all, even if we walked down the driveway to the caretaker's house (where the modem is). Two people were able to connect early in the morning, but only for a few minutes before getting kicked off. I mentioned this to Maeyoka and Ben, but they just said the signal was poor because of how out in the wilderness we are.

The assumption is you're there to get away from it all, including the internet. Unfortunately, one of our friends had to work on Friday (they couldn't get PTO) so they had to drive to Chelan (60 min drive) to work from a Starbucks all day.

Second, these are rustic accommodations. Better than a campground, but not as nice as a good hotel. We ended up buying dish sponges since the one provided smelled and the scrub brush was very old/well-used. We had lots of bugs in the Bermhouse and outdoor bathrooms. We were fine with it, but just be aware.

Third, it rained and the ceiling in the kitchen leaked. We mopped it up then immediately told Maeyoka and Ben, who seemed unconcerned and said no one else every complained of it. I assume they will have the leak fixed before the next visitors. It didn't rain hard again during our stay.

Fourth, there are camping spots on the property. During our stay there was only one group camping. Our only interaction was waving hello across the field. We saw another reviewer who had problems with their dogs interacting with campers so be aware if you're wanting to let your dogs roam.

We collectively had an incredible experience utilizing this magical space for our yoga retreat. There were a couple of hiccups in the beginning that the new groundskeeper, Andrew, was extremely quick and helpful in taking care of. In fact, Andrew was an incredible part of our overall experience. He was timely, friendly, incredibly informative and a true treat to have around.

The lodge space and the bermhouse were loved by all. We had the fire in the lodge and the sauna stoked constantly, and it kept us all beyond cozy. Folks raved about the comfortability of the beds, and those camping out in the field were so pleased to wake up to the epic landscape each morning. The night before everyone left, they begged us to have another retreat here and we couldn't imagine NOT taking advantage of this remarkable, affordable space in the future- hopefully that is sooner than later!

After speaking with Andrew about the prospective direction of the property under this new ownership, I am very excited to see what they do with this stunning land. It seems like Skalitude is in very good hands.

We had a family reunion, a gathering from both sides of the state. It was a perfect place to gather, take walks together, play games, and unplug.

This worked fairly well for us as there was a room at ground level and a fairly accessible bathroom for my husband in a wheel chair. As there was a step into each house entrance, this would not have worked with an electric wheelchair unless you brought a portable ramp with you. With the versatility of the sleeping arrangements in the berm house, it was able to accommodate the 16 of us here for a memorial service. The kitchen was well equipped and met all our needs.The view and hiking trail were great bonuses and the caretakers were great helping us with all our needs.

I stayed here with my family over a winter break. The snow was wonderful and it was great to have a private area to enjoy all to ourselves. We ended up killing dozens of wasps that found their way into the cabin. My son and mom both got stung. The staircase was dangerous for little kids and the wood burning stove was the only source of heat. Not ideal for a family vacation.