How do I register for a retreat?
Individuals and couples can register via internet, phone, email, or regular mail. Visit our Registration page for more information about each option.
Do you offer group registration for retreats?
We do! Call Ann Jack, the Laity Lodge Registrar, during business hours at 830-792-1230, or email her at annjack@laitylodge.org.
What time do the retreats start?
Unless otherwise indicated, retreats begin at 7:00 p.m. with dinner and conclude at noon on the last day of the retreat. Arrivals begin at 3:00 p.m.
What accommodations does the registration fee cover?
All meals, programs, and sleeping accommodations are included. All rooms are double occupancy.
How much is the deposit?
A deposit fee is required to confirm your registration and will be returned if space is not available in that particular retreat. The deposit fee is $50 per person for nonsummer retreats. Summer retreat deposit is $100 per person. Deposit fees apply to the total cost and are nonrefundable. You may pay by check or credit card. Credit cards are accepted by mail or phone 830-792-1230. We do not accept credit cards by email as emails are not secure. Please make checks payable to Laity Lodge.
What is an “Open Retreat”?
Open retreats are scheduled by Laity Lodge and are available to any adult.
What if I would like to attend a “Church Retreat”?
If this is your church’s retreat, please register through your church. If you are interested in attending but are not a member of the sponsoring church, please call the Laity Lodge office at 830-792-1230 to check on room availability.
What if I would like to attend a “Private Retreat”?
A private retreat is not open to the general public. Registration must be made through the group.
What is an M. D. Matthews Speaker?
We are grateful to the M. D. Matthews Foundation for providing funding for new and emerging speakers for Laity Lodge. Gifts to the Laity Lodge Speakers Fund allow us to invite leading thinkers and teachers to our retreats.
What activities can I expect at a retreat?
A relaxed pace allows time for developing new friendships, sharing in small groups, interacting with gifted resource people, or enjoying solitude. Afternoons afford a variety of recreational activities. Depending on one’s individual need, ample opportunities abound for canoeing, hiking, reading, study, a paddle-boat ride, kayaking, biking, a set of tennis, arts/crafts, or simply a peaceful nap in a hammock. The Laity Lodge bookstore offers countless volumes of varied literature for hours of reading pleasure.
Who started Laity Lodge?
Laity Lodge is a program of the H. E. Butt Foundation. Individual renewal has been a cornerstone of its history. Laity Lodge was started in 1961 by Howard E. Butt, Jr. His radio encouragements are heard on stations across the country. To find out about the Laity Lodge logo, click on the logo at the top of the page.
Where is Laity Lodge?
Laity Lodge is located in the Frio River Canyon, 12 miles north of Leakey, Texas, on Highway 83. For the most direct route from San Antonio, go west on Interstate 10 past Kerrville to the Highway 41 exit. Turn left on Hwy. 41. Travel about 22 miles to Highway 83. Turn left on Highway 83 and travel 15 miles to the H. E. Butt Foundation entrance on the left. Please watch for deer and other wildlife—especially if you are traveling at night. Also, there is only one small gas station available after leaving Kerrville.
What is the nearest airport?
San Antonio is the closest commercial airport to Laity Lodge. Be sure to include the two-hour drive from the San Antonio airport to Laity Lodge in your travel arrangements. Private aircraft can land at the Leakey airstrip, 12 miles away from the Lodge.
What is the difference between the Lodge and Black Bluff?
Black Bluff is built on the side of a bluff, with two suites on each floor. Each suite has a private bath, two twin beds, a shared balcony, and a great view of the Canyon. The suites are only accessible via a spiral staircase. The suites are larger, so the cost is slightly higher than the Lodge rate.
The Lodge is the main building for housing guests, with 10 upstairs and 10 downstairs rooms. Each room has two twin beds and a private bath. All rooms are double occupancy. Each upstairs room has a balcony.
Towels and linens are provided for all Laity Lodge housing. All rooms are centrally cooled and heated.
What is the schedule of a typical Laity Lodge retreat?
Check-in is any time after 3:00 p.m., with dinner at 7:00 p.m. on the first day. The evening meeting is an introductory time. An optional devotional around 8:00 a.m. starts the day, with breakfast at 8:30 a.m. The morning meeting begins around 9:30 a.m. with the speaker(s) presentation(s) usually followed by small-group time. Lunch is served around 12:30-1:00 p.m. The afternoon is free time for guests to play tennis, hike, swim, canoe, read, rest, or explore creativity in the Cody Center art studios. Dinner is served around 6:30 p.m., followed by another speaker presentation or a musical concert in the evening. The evening meetings generally wind down around 9:30-10:00 p.m. Retreats at Laity Lodge conclude with a rolling breakfast, remarks, and closing worship followed by brunch at 11:00 a.m. and noon departure.
What do I bring?
Good walking shoes
Comfortable, casual clothes
Warm outerwear for cool nights
Swimsuit (for those considering swimming in the Frio)
Toiletries
Flashlight
Hair dryer
Bible, notebook
Do you have accommodations for special needs?
Please indicate on your registration what your special needs are. We are amazingly flexible with advance notice. Let us know if you have special dietary needs. Since there are upstairs and downstairs rooms, indicate if you have a mobility limitation. There are a couple of wheelchair-accessible rooms equipped with grab bars. Laity Lodge has several golf carts and wheelchairs to help folks get around.
Will my cell phone/computer work?
Cell phones don’t work in the Canyon. There are no telephones, televisions, radios, or internet access in the rooms. Yes, it really is a retreat place, time to truly get away. Consider it a blessing.
How can I be contacted in an emergency?
The emergency phone number to leave with folks at home is 830-232-5236 to reach the host/hostess desk at the Lodge. The host/hostess will take a message for you. Return calls can be made by using the pay phones. Bring a phone card, or one can be purchased at the hostess desk. The fax number at the Lodge is 830-232-5176 if you need to receive a fax.
What if I leave something behind?
Call the Laity Lodge business office at 830-792-1242 about lost items.
May I bring my pet?
Please leave your pets at home.
May I bring my child?
Laity Lodge is an adult retreat center. There is no babysitting provided for children at the facility. High school aged children can attend a retreat for the same registration fee as an adult.
How can we promote a Laity Lodge retreat at our church?
Laity Lodge has produced a seven minute DVD that you can show to potential retreat attendees. Contact our office for a copy. In addition, you can download one or more of the following promotional templates:
a) a 2-sided 8-1/2″ x 11″ flyer
b) a 11″ x 17″ one-sided poster
c) a 3″ x 3″ bulletin ad insert.
Contact Ann Jack if you have any questions (annjack@laitylodge.org).
