Retreat and Conference Centers

Main Page

Nonprofit Links

Nonprofit Networking

Facilities for Meetings, Retreats and Conventions

In and around Seattle

Compiled by Katherine Friedman and other readers of NonprofitNetworking starting early in 2004.

Camp Burton on Vashon Island: http://www.campburton.com/facilities.htm
They can accommodate at least 175 people and they have a small beach as well as trails through the woods. A smaller, more intimate site (about 36 people max, 10 acres) on

Vashon is Trillium Retreat Center: (about 35 people)
http://www.trilliumretreatcenter.com/
Side note: Trillium is all vegetarian and can accommodate vegan diets (or you can bring your own food/chef in) and Camp Burton also has a vegan chef who would love to prepare veg meals for guests

Shoreline Conference Center     http://www.shorelinecenter.com

Tukwila Community Center     http://www.ci.tukwila.wa.us/recreation/rectcc.htm

Bakes Place at Providence Point     http://www.Bakesplace.org/
Owner Craig Baker is great to work with, and they have wonderful catering if desired. It is very nice space for up to a 100 or so. For day and evening gatherings (no overnight accommodations

The Palisades in Federal Way http://irc.myhome.net/shnyves/palisades_retreat_center.htm
It's a Catholic retreat center that also rents to non-profits (non-religious).I can't remember exactly how many rooms it had but I believe we were able to sleep 60. I believe you use their food service, which was quite good and plentiful. We could bring in drinks (even alcohol was allowed) and snacks for our events. There are several meeting rooms of various sizes. When we used it in Feb, it had only been re-opened for 2-3 months--the facility is brand new now and very nice. Each room is individual, with private baths. We were quite pleased and would use it again.

Harmony Hill      http://www.harmonyhill.org (360) 898-2363.
Harmony Hill is about an hour from the Bremerton ferry, on the south shore of Hood Canal, with a spectacular view of the Olympics and Hood Canal. We have overnight accommodations for 15, with a possibility for additional accommodations at a neighboring retreat center. We can handle groups of 30 - potentially more - for day use, depending on activity.

Sleeping Lady Retreat in Leavenworth     http:// www.sleepinglady.com

Goodenough Community's Sahale Retreat Center http://www.goodenough.org/Sahale.htm

We have space for about 36 people (in the summer, there is camping for many more and a large meeting tent for up to 200). We are very flexible to meet your needs...we have great cooks, or you can cook for yourselves, have both individual and group sleeping rooms, a large hot tub, beautiful land for walks, etc. We also have skilled facilitators available for your use. We're about 1 1/2 hours away from Seattle near Hood Canal. Our office number is 206 323 4653.

The Friends Meeting House in the U District is quite reasonable for Non-profits. The meeting room can easily hold 50 or 100, not sure about 200. It is also a nice arrangement looking out over a treed area--parking is not the greatest.

Whidbey Institute/Chinook Learning Center: http://www.whidbeyinstitute.org "Nestled on beautiful Whidbey Island with one hundred acres of evergreen forest and meadows, the Whidbey Institute's Chinook Center provides an ideal location for personal and organizational retreats, corporate or special events. Overnight accommodations include the Farmhouse, Granny's and four cabins near the woods accommodating 26 people, and a large camping meadow. Our meeting facilities include Thomas Berry Hall, for up to 175 participants; our dining room, which will accommodate up to 50; and the Bioregional room, for meetings up to 16. The Farmhouse and Granny's are also available for day meetings and will accommodate small groups of 10-20."

Cedar River Watershed Education Center,
http://www.cityofseattle.net/util/cedarwatershed/edctrvolunteer.htm
Chris Holland is the "Facility Coordinator" who does all scheduling. I encourage you to visit the Center for a short outdoor hike. There are pleasant trails around the center, and a nice hike up the side of the mountain to a great view point overlooking Mt. Si. It is only about 1,200 feet elevation, and takes an hour or so of leisurely hiking. The Center itself is informative, and there is interesting Seattle history to be learned.

Dumas Bay Center      http://www.cityoffederalway.com/Page.aspx?page=535
In Federal Way – nice views/ good meeting rooms.

Rainbow Lodge in North Bend (From Tami Simms) 425-888-4181. Our organization used the lodge just a couple of weeks ago and the setting and privacy are fabulous.

From Dick Johnson: A great place in warmer weather is the Snoqualmie Falls Forest Theater in Fall City. Many organizations enjoy their 95 acres of land surrounding the outdoor theater overlooking the falls set in a beautiful natural park with access to the Snoqualmie River, trails to the foot of the falls, etc. It's a great place for weddings too. They have a commercial kitchen, BBQ shelter, a large covered picnic shelter to help make your retreat a once in a lifetime event. Their web site is at http://www.foresttheater.org and you can get more information at 425-880-4469 or 425-222-7044.

From Dena C. Parmer: Another beautiful facility on Whidbey Island is Lakeside Bible Camp. It is just 5 minutes from the Mulkilteo ferry. They have a lodge for small groups and then cabins that can house over 120. There are beautiful grounds, basketball, pickleball and volleyball courts, boats for the small lake. I am not sure what the fee is for rental - it depends on the number of people and if they cook for you or you do your own cooking. Contact info: Kevin Craig 360 341-4170. http://www.lakesidebiblecamp.org/

From Derrick Hochstatter - Camp Sealth is located on the southwest side of Vashon Island, just a 15 minute ferry ride from West Seattle, Tacoma or Southworth. Organized in cabin clusters, lodging and program space can be assigned to accommodate small or large groups. Main camp (excluding Wrangler) has heated overnight accommodations for 240, plus 225 in non-heated facilities. Rounds Hall, a large dining hall and meeting room, seats up to 400. Our newest unit, Wrangler, has overnight accommodations for 60. Guests provide their own bedding and toiletries for all Sealth facilities. To receive information about renting Camp Sealth, call 206 463 3174 ext. 21. http://www.campfire-usa.org/rentals/sealthrental.htm.

From Betsy Edwards: I work in the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park in Seattle, 117 South Main St. near Elliot Bay Bookstore. The National Historic Park has a conference room that holds 30+ that you can use on the weekend for a small administrative fee of $25. You have access to bathrooms and it is quite nice. You can reserve it by calling Visitor Information (206)553-7220. See http://www.nps.gov/klgo/.

From Dick Johnson: The Snoqualmie Falls Forest Theater in Fall City would offer a unique setting for your retreats. The 95 acre park surrounds the outdoor theater which overlooks Snoqualmie Falls. It is a natural park with access to the Snoqualmie River, trails to the foot of the falls and other scenic view points. There is a large BBQ shelter, commercial kitchen, restrooms, tons of parking, etc. They hold many retreats, seminars, weddings, company picnics, etc. there each year. Take a look at their web site -- http://www.foresttheater.org.