The property
A place made for stillness.
A refuge for those who shepherd others
A place for pastors, church-planters, and missionaries to rest. To be still. To be restored.
"A day's breathing of fresh air upon the hills, or a few hours' ramble in the beech woods' shaded calm, would sweep the cobwebs out of the brain of scores of our toiling ministers who are now but half alive."
— C. H. Spurgeon
For pastors
Ministry is a life of sustained giving. Rarely does anyone ask what you need. The Retreat at Long Mountain exists to change that, if just for a few days. Nestled in the mountains of North Georgia, this is a place with no agenda, no expectations, where nothing is required of you. Come tired. Leave restored.
A ministry of Lakewood Baptist Church.
What we offer
No program. No schedule. No one needs anything from you here. The mountain, the trails, the pond, all of it is yours to explore at your pace. To spend time with the Lord, enjoying his creation.
Guides for reflection, contemplation, and prayer are available if you want them. Use the guides to be still and set your heart and mind upon things above.
For those who want it, pastoral counseling and couples care can be arranged before you arrive. Counseling is always confidential, compassionate, and completely optional.
"Oh, there is, in contemplating Christ, a balm for every wound, in musing on the Father, there is a quiet for every grief and, in the influence of the Holy Ghost, there is a balm for every sore. Would you lose your sorrows? Would you drown your cares? Then go plunge yourself in the Godhead's deepest sea; be lost in his immensity; and you shall come forth as from a couch of rest, refreshed and invigorated."
— C. H. Spurgeon
The stay
We don't have a program for you to follow. What we have is a beautiful place, a team that genuinely wants to serve you, and the freedom to spend your time exactly how you want.
Whether you come alone, with your spouse, or with your family — whether you want silence or conversation, recreation or reflection — we'll help you shape a stay that meets you where you are.
Check-in 2:00 PM. Departure 11:00 AM.
A simple form tells us a little about you and what you're hoping for. There's no lengthy application — we trust you.
Someone from our team will connect with you to understand your needs and begin tailoring your stay. If counseling is desired, we start those arrangements here.
Your cabin will be ready with a welcome basket, optional devotional and journaling materials, and a menu of things available to you — from meals to recreation to guided reflection.
The rest is yours. We're here if you need us and invisible if you don't. Leave whenever your soul is ready.
What's available
Walking and hiking trails through 167 acres of North Georgia mountain land. Fishing, kayaks, and canoes. Fire pits. Open space and time to let the creation do what no program can.
Journals, prayer guides, Scripture reflection materials, and enrichment prompts are available in your cabin. These simple tools are yours to use at your own pace, or leave untouched.
Each cabin is stocked with pre-cooked frozen meals for your stay — ready to heat and enjoy at your own pace, with no schedule to keep.
Children are always welcome. The property offers wide-open space for you and your kids to roam and explore. Come as a family and simply be together, unhurried, unscheduled, and at ease.
Optional couple's reflection guides are available, designed to rekindle connection without pressure.
Individual, couples, ministerial, and family counseling can all be arranged upon request — before you arrive, quietly and on your terms. You don't have to carry it alone.
Soul care
For those carrying wounds and burdens that rest alone cannot reach, we offer something more. Maybe you simply need to talk, to be heard, or to be reminded of the grace and mercy you yourself have received.
Before you arrive, you can let us know if you'd like to meet with one of our pastoral care team, for individual soul care, for couples counseling, for family counseling, or simply to speak with someone who has no expectations of you. We will arrange it quietly, carefully, and entirely on your terms.
All counseling and care is confidential. Always.
"The Lord heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." — Psalm 147:3
The property
Cleveland, Georgia
Three fully furnished cabins, each with two bedrooms (king bed and two twin beds) plus a loft with two additional twin beds, two full bathrooms and a kitchen. The cabins have everything you will need for your stay.
Walking and hiking trails through forested mountain land. Space to pray, to think, and to be still in God's creation.
Fishing, kayaks, and canoes available on site. Horseshoes, cornhole, and outdoor recreation for those who rest better through movement.
Quiet outdoor gathering spaces, fire pits, and places to sit and simply observe the mountain around you.
The property
This is a subsidized ministry. We charge a modest nightly rate — currently $100/night — well below the cost of hosting you. The gap is covered by the generosity of Lakewood Baptist Church and its members who give generously to make this ministry possible.
We never want cost to be a reason you don't come. If there is a need, please mention it in your request.
Request a stay
Tell us a little about yourself and what you're hoping for. We'll reach out personally to begin planning your stay. There's no lengthy application process — just a brief conversation.