We just returned from our first retreat at Rockin R and we loved it! We have been around the state…read moretrying out the different retreats, and I think this one is my favorite to date. It is out in the middle of the country, nice and quiet. You pull in the driveway and you can basically back your car up to the front door-to load and unload all that stuff us scrappers drag around with us. You enter through a small living area, nicely furnished and cozy, walk by the kitchen and enter the "crop room." I think crop cavern might be a more appropriate term. This place is huge! Each cropper gets her own 8 foot table. I am used to the 4 foot and 6 footer that are the usual set up at retreats, and 8 feet is huge! The tables were so big I felt like my friends were practically in another room. So, an 8 foot table each, with wide aisles between for moving around. The owner (Rena) has a nice little store set up against one wall, with paper and embellishments-all those little things you seem to forget and need. She also has an embellishment bar with buttons, flowers, rhinestones, dewdrops, etc. It is all reasonably priced and accessible. She even ran a sale while we were there and my sister got some great goodies for 40% off.
The tool center is very well stocked with stamps, punches, paints, crop a diles, templates, and everything else. She has several Cricut machines for your use, and a ton of cartridges you can use in her machines or your own. Sadly, there are no printers because they have had so many broken recently, but it was one minor detail in an otherwise well stocked stash.
There were no classes, or silly contests at Rockin' R- whew! As a matter of fact, the only thing you get interrupted for is meal time! The food was good and plentiful, I didn't feel hungry all weekend. As a matter of fact, there were several times she announced meals and I was still full from the previous meal. They were good meals too, nice and balanced, without a huge emphasis on the sweets.
The bedrooms and seating areas are very nice, with plenty of seating and cute decorations. There are plenty of bathrooms scattered throughout the place, so I never had to wait for a shower or to brush my teeth. There are bedrooms upstairs and down and each room has twin beds, a specific number to each room. We had 5 people in our party and we stayed in a room with 5 beds. The bedding is provided along with a bath towel, floor towel, and wash cloth. They do ask that you use the same towel all weekend and that you strip your beds on Sunday. Hey, if that is the hardest I have to work all weekend, I'll take it!
So, all in all, we give Rockin' R a huge thumbs up! Routinely priced at $199 for a 2 night/3 day retreat with 6 meals, it is a great bargain. Add in the tools, extra big tables, and comfortable setting and it is a recipe for a good time. Also, alcohol is not frowned on here-which I love. We enjoy having a glass of wine, now and then, with our paper and glue.