a bit more of a drive from Bay Area, but I really like SIerra Hot Springs, about 4 hours from SF and 1 hr from Reno and half an hour from Truckee. it's affiliated,loosely,with the nonprofit "church" that manages Harbin Hot Springs, but it;s nowhere nearly as developed as a "village" and I find it way friendlier and more kick-back,more like a family than a New Age church or tantra hotel. the green meeting room in the lodge (a great old rustic structure with a guest kitchen for fixing your own food, and a downstairs restaurant that's sometimes open for dinner.: check its availability) is a good meeting place for groups,and there are rooms right there as well as an attic dorm with five beds, and plenty of camping in decent weather it is at 5000 eet, so wintertime camping is only for the true hardcore..it;s beautiful when it snows!

they also own the Globe Hotel a mile or so away in the town of Sierraville,which also has a huige living room that could be used for meetings and retreats,and it too has a guest kitchen.plenty of rooms there (hey, it was once a brothel for gold miners)

the people who manage it are among the best, friendly and kind-hearted. say hello to Kip for me if you get there. Kaisa and some of the other folks managing it like Jake were raised there themselves


there's some fairly primitive camping, and several outdoor hot springs pools that are open at any hour. also some really good community feasts for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day .(though as a vegetarian for many decades, I thought the vegetarians were subsidizing the fancy organic meats that made it to the table and there was no corresponding vegetarian entree.but hey, these folks are my friends anyway.)

I'll need to check out what else is around.Orr Hot Springs became almost adults-only about 15 eyars ago and is pricey,and both Orr and Wilbur HS have been affected deeply by the firestorms over northern California. i sure miss the old, laid-back,low-cost collective days at the restored hot springs retreats of northern California (1970s to early 80s

harbin is a possibility and they ahve different places and rates and packages for groupsyou can call them to see what they have that cold water swimming poolis a blessing in hot weather! (one thing that thus far Sierra HS is lacking)

yo could try Mount Madonna Center near Hollister,though they are presently in the fire line too.

I'll have to think about,and lookinto, where else might work. Wellspring is nearby but I don;t know their present costs and policies and all. checkout Common Ground newsletter in the Retreats section.

I'm sorry to hear Frogwood is closing its doors that waty. I did an individual retreat with my daughter,who was then 12 and a bit last year, and we loved it...Trout and the group very welcoming and we talked at great length about plant ecology, science fiction, the native snails of Mendocino County and whatever else was of interest to all of us. and I got Trout to agree to autograph my copy of his cactus book when I could get it to him, but he didn't have them for sale there.

hope the Frogwooders enjoy the Oregon COuntry Fair oming up soon...say hello if yousee them there,everyone.

oh yes, I have heard of a lovely-sounding wellness center in Ashland OR butthat;smaybe too far..