Hermitages
Come to me, all you who are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
~ Matthew 11:28
Chapel of St. Anthony |
Hermitages |
Reservations |
Rate Schedule |
Calendar |
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Retreat
“In a time when religion itself has become so busy, verbal, and even contentious, the perennial Christian tradition of the hermitage is finding a strong new appeal and plenty of short term hermits! There seems to be no other way for many of us to clean the lens, stop the tongue, quiet the ears, and soften the heart for God and for the world. We live in such an ego–controlled culture that we need to go to a place where our egos mean very little and profit us not at all. Treat yourself to ‘the one thing necessary,’ and although it will feel risky at first, no other form of retreat will ever quite satisfy you again.”
What Are Hermitages?
Places where people live in seclusion for a period of time to commune with God, hermitages have long been a part of many faith traditions. Solitude and silence can provide transformative space to heal and grow. The Hermitages were built in 2008 as a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina and the Valle Crucis Conference Center. They are used by anyone seeking renewal and retreat. Writers, artists, teachers, and people of many faith backgrounds have loved these quiet places.
The Chapel of St. Anthony
A little jewel of a chapel sits between the cabins, with the sweet smell of hickory floor and a hand-hewn altar. Local art and custom woodwork grace the interiors. The Chapel of St. Anthony is fully accessible and is equipped with prayer and song materials. The Chapel is available to all Hermitage guests for quiet prayer, contemplation, or spiritual direction.
The Cabins
Each approximately 500 SF Hermitage includes a bedroom, bathroom, living space, kitchen, and rocking-chair porch.
- queen-sized bed and fold-out single bed
- linens + towels
- washer/dryer in three Hermitages
- Underhill Hermitage is wheelchair-accessible (no washer/dryer due to larger bathroom)
- utensils, cookware, and coffees and teas with condiments supplied
- decent Wi-Fi
- 456 acres of woodland laced with trails
Reservation Form
Easy reservation steps:
- Use the calendar of availability below to check the Hermitages calendar for your desired dates. Check that your dates and preferred cabin are available before completing your reservation form to avoid disappointment. You can also call (828) 963-4453 or email director@vcconferences.org to ensure that your dates are available.
- Complete your Hermitage reservation online here.
- Reservations are confirmed upon receipt of your completed registration form and deposit. If you are unable to make your retreat, we will consider your deposit a donation to our ongoing ministry.
- Once your reservation is confirmed and deposit is paid, you can pay your the rest of your balance online any time between making your booking and your retreat date, or pay by cash, check, or card in our office on your arrival.
- Hermitage check in time is 4:00 p.m. on your day of arrival. Check out time is 10:00 a.m. The Hermitages are full houses with kitchens, living areas, etc. and thus need extra time for our housekeeping staff to ensure they are impeccably clean for the next guests. Thank you for your mindfulness of these times.
2024 Hermitage Pricing
Single Occupancy: $60 per night or $360 per week (7 nights)
Double Occupancy: $90 per night or $540 per week (7 nights)
- NEW: A one-night fee of $10 will apply for single night retreats, to defray the considerable strain on our housekeeping staff.
- The Valle Crucis Conference Center reserves the right to decline applications for retreats or place applicants who have made a number of retreats with us in the past on a waiting list. Valle Crucis may also exercise discretion over use based on other priorities. Deposits are returned to applicants if they are placed on a waiting list or are declined.
If you have any questions about the Hermitages, please call Margaret Love at (828) 963-4453 or email director@vcconferences.org.
Availability
PAY ATTENTION. This calendar is maintained for planning purposes only.
Please call or email to confirm availability, as bookings are subject to change. The calendar is linked to our internal Google Calendar system. There are many days that show a "+2 more" or "+3 more" at the bottom of the date square. This means that there are too many calendar reservations to be shown in the small calendar space - usually because there are multiple guests leaving and arriving in the same cabin on the same day. We do not have the ability to change the font or size of the calendar at this time; if you have trouble reading the calendar, please don't hesitate to get in touch.
You can see individual calendars here if you have a specific Hermitage preference.
| Evelyn Underhill | Bishop Taylor | Thomas Merton | Julian of Norwich |
| 1 - Evelyn Underhill |
| 2 - Bishop Taylor |
| 3 - Thomas Merton |
| 4 - Julian of Norwich |
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