I had the role of a group leader for a retreat where we brought 82 young adults to Bliss Haven…read moreRetreat Center from august 1-4. Unfortunately, our experience with the facility and its management was deeply disappointing. When we arrived, the property was extremely dirty and unprepared for guests. The entrance was cluttered with personal belongings and storage items, despite being told multiple times during our earlier visits that everything would be cleared and stored away in a storage area. We were also told cleaning staff would arrive 30 minutes after our arrival -- this was completely false. No one came. Instead, our leadership team took it upon ourselves to clean the space thoroughly, including clearing dust and cobwebs. While the owner and one other man eventually helped clean one area, no cleaning staff or adequate support were present. The situation with the beds was unacceptable. The "twin beds" provided were essentially narrow, flimsy lounge chairs that were uncomfortable and inappropriate for sleeping. We were repeatedly assured that a full shipment of proper beds was on its way, even receiving misleading photos of a FedEx truck as "proof." Yet, nothing was delivered. On top of that, the night we arrived, we discovered several mattresses were missing. When we approached the owner about it, she was asleep and, after being woken up, told us the mattresses were too heavy for her staff and suggested we sleep on the floor -- adding that "Jesus would not have asked me all these," which we found deeply inappropriate and dismissive. Me and one other leader took it upon our selves to take the mattresses from a dirty, dark and scary attic by ourselves. Even more concerning was the state of the kitchen. We had been told a clean outdoor kitchen would be set up under a tent with chefs doing the cooking. None of that happened. Instead, all food preparation took place in a crowded room where 19 people were also sleeping. The kitchen was unsanitary -- far below acceptable standards -- with no gloves, visibly dirty dishes, and unsanitary cooking equipment. Many of our participants ended up eating elsewhere due to the poor conditions. On Sunday, another woman came in to help, and the food service and cleanliness improved slightly, but it was too little, too late. On Saturday, we were told we'd be having a barbecue at the beach. We rented the beach space, but the owner never showed up and didn't answer her phone. We later found out she had stayed behind at the retreat center and was cooking everything there instead, changing the plan without communicating with us and planning to bring it to the retreat instead of giving us what she promised she would. To make matters worse, the owner slept by the main entrance to one of the buildings, where many of our guests were staying. This made attendees feel uncomfortable and unsafe -- and several complained they couldn't sleep due to her loud snoring. While the owner was generally kind in conversation, any time we respectfully brought up issues or asked for clarification, she became defensive, dismissive, and even loud. Hosting a large group of 82 people clearly requires proper staffing, planning, and professionalism -- none of which we received. Despite her claim that she can host up to 120 guests, it's clear the facility and management are in no way equipped for that. As a leader, I was devastated. We did everything we could to ensure the retreat itself was meaningful, but the stress and chaos caused by the venue made our jobs ten times harder. I would not recommend Bliss Haven Retreat Center for any large group gathering. The lack of preparedness, miscommunication, poor hygiene, and unreliable service and her lying about every thing she would do during our 3 visits made this one of the most challenging experiences I've ever had in a leadership role. Please proceed with caution if you're considering this space for your event.

Stayed at the Vera for week 6 of CHQ Institute program. Great accommodations, great location…read more Close to all venues. Could sit on our porch and hear rehearsals and all programs at the ampitheatre. Hoping to stay at the Vera next year again.