Review Of Sandstone Sanctuary: A Writing Retreat Turned Mental Health Reset In Central PA

This post may contain affiliate links, which help keep the blog running at no cost to you. See our Disclosure Policy for more information. Thank you for helping support Adventures Abound so I can keep creating free content for your adventure planning!

If you’re in need of a nature-drenched getaway, keep reading.

The Sandstone Sanctuary, located in Central Pennsylvania, is a one-of-a-kind wellness retreat and luxury nature lodge in one.

I spent a week here on a writing retreat while working on my Costa Rica ebook, and didn’t expect to also go through a personal transformation journey.

Here is my full review:

Table of Contents

Disclaimer: I was hosted by Sandstone Sanctuary during my writing retreat in exchange for content, however everything is my own honest opinion.

A woman with long blonde hair in a sage green sunshirt and black leggings walks on a trail towards the viewer. The trail is surrounded by a meadow of ferns and lined with tall trees, suggesting an adventurous setting in Central Pennsylvania.

My experience on a self-organized writing retreat

I spent three nights solo at the Sandstone Sanctuary Retreat in order to work on my ebook, and while I expected to get some work done, I never expected to be on a wellness retreat of my own.

That’s by design, of course.

Justine, co-owner of the cabin, tells me that everything located (or not) within the cabin is intentional. The space is meant to encourage you to reflect and disconnect. That’s why it’s filled with walls of windows, high ceilings and elaborate wooden beams, but no TV. Instead, visitors are encouraged to get outside, onto the trails around the property or around the firepit and pond onsite.

I stopped by a grocery store on my way to the cabin and loaded up on everything I would need to stay put. The cabin is equipped with a full kitchen, so I didn’t have to leave for the full 3-4 days I was there.

Each morning I would wake up slowly in the king-sized bed to the sound of birds singing outside the window. I put on a vinyl record to set the tone for the morning, ground my coffee beans, and brewed them in a French press. I brought my own set of records to listen to, but Sandstone has a great selection, from Jon Baptiste to Taylor Swift.

A phone sits with its screen off inside of a light wooden box with the lid open, a sign of unplugging at the cabin.

Time to Unplug

After a slow, peaceful morning, I spent the day writing on my laptop. The cabin does have wifi now, but encourages you to disconnect with an Unplug Box, meant to store your cell phone. I was surprised how well it actually worked.

I kept my phone in the box by the front entryway during the day and kept my laptop on focus mode.

Slowing down, staying in one place, and enjoying what’s immediately around me is also one of my favorite ways to practice more sustainable travel.

Early afternoons I’d make a quick lunch, then go for a walk outside to get some fresh air. There is a one-mile trail around the historic property that weaves through the woods, marked with informational signs the owners made themselves.

In the spring, you’ll find a vernal pool – a small area filled with water that hosts crucial wildlife like newts and tadpoles before drying up when the weather warms. In the fall, the entire forest lights up in a blaze of orange, red, and yellow.

😍 Book directly with Sandstone Sanctuary | Book on VRBO

A wooden cutting board sits on a wooden table, topped with flatbread pizzas and cucumber spears, and flanked by a wine glass with lemonade spritz. In the background, an electric fireplace is burning, setting the scene for a cozy retreat in a remote cabin.

When the sun goes down, and I’m all alone

Each evening I took some time off to clear my head. I would put up my portable Eno hammock on the porch and read a book, careful to avoid the bees, until it was time to come inside and sit by the fireplace with more music.

I had never heard a whippoorwill before, but I knew it the second I heard one calling out of the windows at nighttime. There is an old country song that mentions the bird, saying his love is “longer than the song of a whippoorwill,” and I can say with certainty that their birdsong goes on for quite a while!

The view of the cabin from a loft above, where the walls are lined with ceiling tall windows, a kitchen is to the right with counters cluttered with groceries, and island in front of the counters also covered in notebooks and miscelaneous items; a dining table along the wall with a tablecloth and various items like a camera, cloth napkins, and a vase of pink flowers, and in the left corner a couch with yellow blanket and pillows strewn about. A coffee table sits in front of the couch, with an empty bowl, open laptop, water bottle, and some books. The scene is that of a successful but messy writing retreat in a remote cabin. — The scene from the loft above is that of a successful but messy writing retreat in a remote cabin.

At night, I confess I did struggle to sleep as a woman alone in the woods, but the property is incredibly safe. All of the doors and windows lock, of course, and the road in is locked by a gate that can only be opened by a code that changes with each visitor. There are also cameras along the road, and the owners confirmed they have never had any incidents.

I did lock up my car thought, too, just in case of wildlife like bears who have been seen in rare instances near the property. Still, every twig falling on the metal roof had me wide awake again.

There are plenty of ways to just relax, though, including a loft perfect for yoga and meditation, and a cast-iron clawfoot tub that I spent an evening soaking in.

Luckily, the days went by peacefully, and I got a lot of work done. The days unplugged and connecting with nature left me feeling regulated, refreshed, and ready to get back home.

A woman faces the camera, her arm outstretched in a selfie pose, with a blue backpack and sunglasses on. Behind her, a cliff of rocks rises beyond the screen, a matching set of stairs cutting through in a never-ending climb.

The view from a mountain top of a river running through the trees stretching over hills in every direction, with curvy roads and a small city in the distance.

I would walk 1000 stairs

On the last day, I wanted to get in a heart-pumping hike before heading home, so I stopped by a coffee shop in Reedsville, then drove over to the trailhead.

The Thousand Steps trail is a well-known hike in this part of Central Pennsylvania, but the name is no joke. There are literally over 1000 stairs up the side of Stony Mountain, a relic of quarry workers’ past commute. Each 100 stairs is labeled, and I kept count as I slowly made my way up to the top.

Straight up and down, the trail is 1.7 miles with about 850 mi elevation gain. It’s labeled as hard on Alltrails and takes the average hiker roughly 1.5-2 hours up and back, but there is a lovely and relatively flat trail along the top in either direction to viewpoints above the valley.

I think I probably took 3-4 hours total, and rewarded myself with an ice cream sundae and some fries at the Reedsville Creamery roadside stand before heading back home.

A cabin is surrounded by trees and framed by the branches above. In front sit Adirondack chairs and a covered grill on a wrap-around porch.

Where is Sandstone Sanctuary?

Officially located in “Spring Mills” the sanctuary is located in a remote part of Central Pennsylvania, just about equally between Centre County and Mifflin County.

It’s close to Bald Eagle National Forest, Poe Paddy State Park, and Reedsville, PA, and there are plenty of opportunities to get outside on a hike, paddling, or even gravel riding.

The cabin is within 3-4 hours drive from major East Coast cities NYC, Philadelphia, and DC, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh.

If you’re planning a longer trip, there are plenty of other things to do around Happy Valley, from outdoor adventures to local food and small towns

Who should stay there?

The nature lodge is ideal for solo travelers, couples, and adult groups of 2 who are looking for a nature-filled getaway. It sets the perfect tone for a romantic getaway, a solo retreat, yoga and wellness journey, or a luxury “glamping” type of experience.

Best time to visit

The cabin is open for stays year-round, and it’s mountainous geography makes it a great choice in any season. I can just picture a snowy day cozied up by the fireplace!

The best times are likely early summer or fall, when its cool enough to have the windows open for a breeze, you can enjoy a warm shower or bath in the luxurious bathroom with heated floors, and go on a lovely hike without breaking into a sweat from the heat.

In winter, a 4WD or AWD vehicle is required, though, due to the terrain.

Book directly with Sandstone Sanctuary | Book on VRBO 🤩

A white tub with antique style silver hardware sits beside several square windows lining the wall, sunlight dappling in from the soft green outdoors.

A record player sits on a wooden cabinet, flanked by a small white radio to the left, and a wooden box with vinyl records to the right. Jon Baptiste's record is in front, bright red.

Everything included

The front door opens to a mudroom with space to keep your adventure-riddled belongings like muddy boots or wet rain jackets. There are extra towels here, and laundry facilities if needed.

The cabin is one bedroom with a king sized bed and small closet. The bathroom is full sized with an open shower, heated floor, and cast iron clawfoot tub. As a nice touch, there are several nature and wellness books available to borrow in the bedroom, and luxury toiletries including bubble bath in the bathroom.

The kitchen is full vsized with a refrigerator, stove and oven, sink, dishwasher, and a few appliances like a toaster, coffee bean grinder, and percolator. Also provided are dishes for preparing, serving, and eating meals for two. There is a small dining area next to the kitchen.

The meditation loft upstairs has yoga mats and blocks, some books on meditation, and a comfortable tufted chair. It is accessible by ladder from the main living room.

Guided retreats are also available.

In the living room, a couch and glider sit facing the large windows overlooking the porch and spring-fed pond. There are several games and books, a radio and record player, large selection of vinyl records, and a remote-powered fireplace for a truly cozy experience.

A porch wraps around the backside of the cabin, with plenty of seating options and even an outdoor grill. This was the perfect spot for me to set up my hammock and read in the afternoons. There is also a fire pit in the lawn just steps away.

Guests are often welcomed with a few local goodies and a Purple Lizards map of the surrounding area to set you up for an adventurous stay.

The owners of the cabin also run Purple Lizards, and it is from all those travels that they were able to conceptualize the perfect getaway cabin.

🗺️ Check out all the maps available from Purple Lizards

A glittering pond is dappled with sunlight and ripples from the wind, surrounded by lush vegetation on the property of Sandstone Sanctuary.

The surrounding property

Sandstone Sanctuary sits on 20 acres of private land with ample access to outdoor recreation.

A private 1-mile trail meanders through various habitats, from meadows to century old apple trees among the forest.

The owners added well-researched educational signs along the trail, leading to interesting spots like a natural spring, the old homestead landfill with glass and ceramics still tucked in among the rocks, a vernal pool that only fills in the spring, and an old road from 1800s travelers.

A spring-fed pond is steps away from the lodge, and offers visitors a refreshing dip (but swim at your own risk – there are critters and plants inside)

If you want to explore beyond the property, Happy Valley also has a number of accessible outdoor experiences for travelers with different mobility needs.

In warm weather, there is even an outdoor shower along the back of the house, accessible from the mudroom or sliding doors in the bedroom.

Due to the remote location, it’s also an excellent spot for extraordinary dark sky stargazing.

How to book

Sandstone Sanctuary is a popular destination for those looking to retreat into nature, so if you’re interested I recommend booking as soon as you can. The website takes booking requests directly, but you can also reserve on sites like Airbnb and VRBO, though booking directly is usually the most affordable.

Book directly with Sandstone Sanctuary | Book on VRBO

Review of Sandstone Sanctuary: A writing retreat turned mental health reset in Central PA