Trade River Retreat Center
Near Gransburg, Wisconsin
Vision Quest's TRADE RIVER RETREAT CENTER is available for individuals or small groups of up to 6-8 people for personal retreats, private workshops or an Artist's Residency. Or have a custom workshop for you or your group created by Douglas Beasley. Located 20 miles north of St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, the retreat center is a scenic 90-minute drive from the Twin Cities. This beautiful, very private, north woods setting rests on the banks of the Trade River, a designated trout stream and protected waterway.
The Trade River, with its clear water, shallow depth, strong current and smooth sand bottom, makes a great location for photo shoots, swimming or just cooling off with friends. The secluded grounds are subtly landscaped but mostly kept in a natural state with many pine, maple and birch trees. There are numerous Japanese garden touches, walking paths and numerous small shrines and artistic details to awaken your creativity, nourish awareness and provide inspiration.
If you come for a Vision Quest Photo Workshop, such as our annual fall Renewing Your Creative Spirit workshop, delicious, healthy meals will be prepared for you from fresh organic or locally-sourced ingredients and served in a casual, relaxed setting. If you are on a small group or private retreat you can use the large fully equipped modern kitchen with commercial gas range to make your own communal meals or we can help provide a cook for you. You can also cook outside on the infrared gas grill or use the cooking grate on the fire pit.
After dinner, gather around the fire pit with a cup of tea or glass of wine to discuss the day's events, journal on the screen porch by the bank of the river, nap in the hammock, sit inside by the wood stove or detoxify in our wood-fired sauna. Or just enjoy the quiet, listening to our many frogs and birds. Other wildlife visitors include deer, black bear, porcupines, coyotes, fox, bobcat, wild turkeys, grouse, pheasants, owls, hawks, eagles and an occasional wolf.
The Trade River Retreat Center facilities are modern yet rustic but not primitive. The center has been built not only for maximum energy efficiency, but with much care in providing a safe, non-toxic, all-natural environment. Comfortable indoor sleeping facilities are provided with several sleeping options available including a private bedroom, a large futon in the living room by the woodstove and under the skylights, or a futon on the screen porch by the river. There are also cots for the gazebo by the fire pit. If more private accommodations are desired, there are several local motels that are very modestly priced, or you may bring your own tent.
Facilities include large modern kitchen, full bathroom with hot and cold running water, gas heat, electricity, phone, wireless high-speed internet, wood-burning fireplace, skylights, wood-fired sauna, screen porch along the river, gazebo, fire-pit, library and high-resolution audio system with computer and iPod inputs and CD collection.
There is also a separate hand-built log cabin on the premises with a large stone fireplace, view of the river, woodstove, sleeping loft with outdoor balcony and high-definition flat-screen TV/DVD player and small movie collection upstairs. If renting, the log cabin is available for an additional fee.
With its close proximity to the Twin Cities and its extremely tranquil and private setting, this is a perfect location for a small group or personal retreat for artists, writers, yoga practitioners, people in the healing arts or anyone in need of personal or artistic rejuvenation.
View a list of ‘Activities’ available at the Retreat Center & surrounding area.
Download Rental Rates.
See some student photography from the retreat center.
Watch video: Winter in the North Woods filmed at the TRADE RIVER RETREAT CENTER.
Student testimonials:
“One of my favorite moments of all this past year is when we stayed up late around the fire at Vision Quest. You have created a beautiful and thought provoking place to take a deep breath.” — Natasha D’Schommer, Minneapolis, MN
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“One of my favorite moments of all this past year is when we stayed up late around the fire at Vision Quest. You have created a beautiful and thought provoking place to take a deep breath.” — Natasha D’Schommer, Minneapolis, MN
“I find myself taking photographs that perhaps I never would have taken before. Emotional content has improved. The freedom to fail and courage to create are as strong now as in the first days of picking up a camera. NEW JUICES FLOW! I have more patience behind the ground glass, if I can’t feel it I shouldn’t shoot it, the emulsion is becoming my best friend. I wonder where it will lead me and try to remain open as possible to the journey.” — Brian Droege, Minneapolis, MN
“I really gained a wealth of information that will help me throughout my photography career.” — Alli Jagoda, Minneapolis, MN
“I just returned from your lovely spot in the Wisconsin woods, where we had a spectacular weekend. Today we canoed on the St Croix River where the water was abundant, the rapids fun and the weather absolutely perfect. Back at your place Connor loved exploring in the river and we even caught six or seven fish, including a decent sized small mouth bass. They were all returned without harm to their home. We picked raspberries along your driveway and watched a big snapping turtle burrow in the sand and a large turkey vulture land nearby. On the St Croix we saw a mature eagle, a deer and a fawn drinking from the river and very few other people.” — Chris Polydoroff, Lauderdale, MN
“Thank you for a wonderful weekend at Vision Quest. It was everything I had hoped it would be: adventurous, relaxing, nurturing, challenging, and gorgeous weather to boot.” — Bonnie Butler Brown, San Francisco, CA
“I want to say thank you for the portfolio workshop. It was so relaxing and at the same time invigorating. I loved talking to the others and also viewing the work on display. I hope that our paths will cross again.” — Bruce Nimmer, Minneapolis, MN
“I took some of the best photographs of my life and discovered things inside of me that I didn’t know were there. I feel like you can easily, honestly and gently point out many of the emotional blocks keeping me from making photographs. I don’t want to make excuses and I want to create work that is true to myself, and I feel like you’re a great catalyst.” — Sarah Rust-Sampedro, Minneapolis, MN 2008
“You and your staff went out of your way to help me get the most out of the workshop. I also want to compliment you on the meals that were prepared and the unique facility in general. Your retreat center location is artfully inspiring. The lodging was peaceful and comfortable. Maybe next time I will try and brave it outdoors in the tipi. I’m a creature of comforts…and I was delighted with your rustic ambience. The food was fantastic. I loved it all—the vegetarian burritos, fresh salad creations, ral lemonade and the cook-out was great. You have done an exceptional job of offering courses in an unparalleled setting. I will be back for more!” — Peggy Lauritsen, Minneapolis, MN
“They say that if you can touch one person in a lifetime... I feel as though I might have been fondled.” — Jamey Guy, Minneapolis, MN
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Trade River Retreat Center
13911 Oeltjen RD, Andersen Township WI.
20 miles north of Saint Croix Falls, WI. 7 miles south of Grantsburg, WI.
Retreat Center phone: 715-488-2245.
Get directions: PDF Directions. Go to Mapquest.
For more information:
Please contact Doug at doug@douglasbeasley.com.