I hate that I'm just now getting to post this review because this place, by far, deserves a good review! My husband and I decided that this would be the year that we took our first family vacation with our son. We came here from Aug. 2nd (Thursday) through the 5th (Sunday evening). Our son would be heading back to school on the 16th, so this was a nice end-of-the-summer getaway before starting a new year. First, I'll start with the area itself that the retreat is located: Jacksonville is what I'd call "simple." It has lots of trees and country roads - a beautiful scenic place. The town itself has a Walmart and a decent amount of restaurants to satisfy your inner-city needs. The farm (Elijah's Retreat) is located on a large piece of land and owns horses/ponies, goats, donkeys, chickens, ducks, rabbits, and an awesome little kitty named Lucky. There are 3 cabins. My family occupied Cabin No.1 directly located across from the playground. It was a perfect little piece of seclusion that we'd been yearning for since living in a big city. I have no complaints whatsoever about the cabin. It was spacious, clean, and had plenty of donated items to keep you comfortable (i.e. sheets, towels, dishes, etc.). The air conditioning functioned perfectly in the sweltering summer. The quietness of sleeping in the country was amazing.​ Each morning around 9:30, Jason would drive by on his tractor and start the day off by feeding the animals, which the children were encouraged to help with. By the time the feeding would end, the kids would be at the main barn where most of the toys are kept. My son spent most of his time playing with the train sets. There is a sensory room (air-conditioned​) in the corner of the barn as well. The thing I liked the most about this place was that the expense did not run us into the ground like some other places I won't mention. I know that can be an extra worry for families with autistic kids. This place was safe and was worth every penny. Our little family enjoyed ourselves immensely and can't wait to come back for another getaway. I'll end this review by praising Cheryll and Jason for what they're doing. Thank you both SO MUCH for making this place available. We had an awesome time :) read more

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Fantastic retreat for families facing autism. Our son is on the spectrum and loved being able to relax and do what he wanted here. His little sister had a blast as well! There's lots to do (animals, playground, sensory room, sound room, activity barn, clubhouse, etc.) and the rates are very affordable considering you get an entire cabin to yourself. The staff is great and you're treated like family. We only spent one night, but we'll definitely be back and hope to become regulars. read more