Creative Focus
All photos courtesy of Wild Acres Retreat.
Wildacres Retreat: A Hidden Treasure of the High Country
By Elizabeth Baird Hardy
Nearly a century ago, in McDowell County, near Little Switzerland, a planned artists’ colony became the early sprout of what has now blossomed into a thriving retreat center, Wildacres Retreat. After the Great Depression shuttered the original project, it was purchased by I.D. Blumenthal who felt Wildacres was a gift that should be shared and a place where the solitude provided by the natural beauty of the mountains could truly benefit those who came there to be inspired and refreshed. Wildacres Retreat became a center where artists could benefit from the seclusion and beauty of the forest and the Appalachian Mountains. For decades, Wildacres has been a non-profit devoted to hosting non-profit groups seeking the opportunity to thrive in and benefit from this beautiful environment. Today, Wildacres Retreat continues to be the ideal location for non-profit groups to refresh, recharge, learn, and grow in the middle of a spectacular mountain environment.
Situated on over 1,200 acres of federally protected land, Wildacres is truly a retreat from the stresses and noise that often clutter our daily lives, but it is also a site that remains committed to its mission of the betterment of human relations. Hosting groups centered around experiences ranging from music and storytelling to science and the environment, Wildacres draws non-profit organizations from across the country and even from all around the world. While each group brings its own programming to the site, Wildacres itself also offers two Gatherings each year, in April and October. Staying on-site allows participants to focus on their experiences and to enjoy Wildacres’s hospitality and unique natural resources.
Some of the regular opportunities offered each season at Wildacres include a residency program that provides artists with space and quiet to work on projects. The week-long slots allow artists in an array of media to withdraw from phones, screens, and other interruptions in order to focus on their projects while staying in one of the three cabins on site. Since 1999, the program generally hosts around seventy artists each year. The Environmental Artist in Residence Program, launched in 2022, allows environmental artists to focus on their work with minimal distractions while exploring topics connected to the environment and our relationship with it.
Groups who come to Wildacres include interfaith organizations, artist groups dedicated to specific disciplines, and musicians specializing in particular instruments. Wildacres partners with organizations such as Mayland Community College that provide unique opportunities. Through the Wildacres Leadership Initiative, Fellows from the William C. Friday Fellows for Human Leadership can hone leadership skills for tomorrow. In particular, the Wildacres team appreciates hosting groups that, like Wildacres itself, focus on improving human relations, interactions, and meeting needs.
David Griffin, who began serving as the retreat’s Resident Director just over a year ago, describes Wildacres as a “hidden gem” that drew him just as it does so many of those who come to learn, reset, and refresh. While its “hidden” aspect means that many people, unfortunately, are not aware of this remarkable resource, it does mean that the site retains its secluded nature, one of its primary appeals for many who travel here.
In addition to hosting those who come to experience the beauty and seclusion Wildacres offers, the retreat center is also an important part of the region, employing over thirty staff members and protecting an irreplaceable piece of the mountains. Philip Blumenthal, nephew of founder I.D. Blumenthal, is currently the retreat’s Executive Director, and the Blumenthals take very seriously their stewardship of the retreat, the preservation of its history, and the continuation of its legacy of service to those who serve others. By protecting the Wildacres property with an easement that conserves the streams and forests it encompasses, the retreat is saving this pristine site for the future and has even inspired adjacent property owners to consider similar measures to ensure the mountains retain their natural, undeveloped beauty.
Griffin, who has been involved with other camps and centers, says that Wildacres is unique, with its own beautiful spirit. In serving non-profits exclusively, Wildacres offers a remarkably affordable and diverse experience for a wide array of groups.
Despite some infrastructure damage during the catastrophic flooding the area experienced during the Hurricane Helene after-effects of 2024, Wildacres is going strong in 2026. Some of the nearby Parkway amenities remain closed, but the retreat itself provides a wealth of natural attractions. This year’s retreat schedule is filling up, but there is still room for groups who may be interested in planning retreats. Since Wildacres is an annual destination for numerous groups, the calendar is, fortunately, packed for most of the season, but groups may still be able to find just the slot for the perfect retreat. Griffin stresses that Wildacres is great for any non-profit, including ones located nearby, as it is truly an escape that can be transformative for members of groups of any size.
To learn more about Wildacres and about possibly scheduling a retreat, non-profits should check out the website at wildacres.org. The website is also a great place to learn about upcoming community programs, such as the free master’s concert scheduled for June 26 and open to the public. The schedule on the website is also the place to see what groups have retreats scheduled each season. Those who are interested in joining in a wild week of storytelling with master tellers or an immersive experience honing a craft can see when groups are scheduled and contact those groups about availability for the retreat. Those who want to help continue the mission of Wildacres Retreat can also learn about opportunities to be involved and assist with support.
One of the best ways to support WIldacres is to help spread the word about this fantastic resource right here in the High Country. Although it is secluded, Wildacres doesn’t have to be a secret, and those who come here can attest that it is a treasure too extraordinary to be hidden. https://wildacres.org/