Cheatham County’s Penuel Ridge Retreat Center was the realization of a dream by a founding board of compassionate individuals drawn and dedicated to creating a safe and sacred retreat space for people from all walks of faith in Middle Tennessee and beyond. Founded in July of 1984 and hosting 2,200 guests annually, Penuel
to guests. One of the first straw-bale structures built in Middle Tennessee, it has been the setting for prayer, meditation, religious observances, weddings, memorial and healing services, and has been used as a gathering place in times of turmoil for the past 25 years. In 1997, the Well was dedicated as a non-sectarian space to build upon spirituality and wellness- both personally and as a community. The Well is not the only intriguing aspect
Ridge began by simply offering day and overnight retreats for individuals and small groups that were interested in deepening their spiritual, private, and public lives.The bucolic setting of their Ashland City acreage make the perfect backdrop for the retreat, as experiencing nature is a pillar of the spiritual center. By honoring their heritage and fostering values of contemplation, silence, hospitality, rest, social justice, and communion with nature, a trip to the retreat is sure to nurture one’s inward journey. Each visit boasts unmatched sacred hospitality, the hallmark of the organization. Always aiming to respond generously to the needs of others, the team at Penuel Ridge graciously took in neighbors
of the Ridge. In May of 2011, an 11 circuit labyrinth was constructed for guests to use as a tool for prayer and meditation; the labyrinth was dedicated in October that same year. Over the span of nearly four decades, Penuel Ridge moved from an all-volunteer run, grass-roots organization to a stable, well-organized small non-profit that is mindful of its edict to compassionately serve the public while also being good stewards of its land and resources. The founding nine board members, Don and Joyce Beisswenger, Hoyt and Martha Hickman, Harmon Wray and Judy Parks, Kathryn Mitchem, Beth Richardson, and Kathy Nickerson-Sage, have gone above and beyond to create a warm and welcoming meeting space where people are accepted for who they are. Penuel Ridge is governed by a volunteer board of directors who meet monthly. Since 2005, Laura E. Valentine has resided at the retreat center as the executive director, and is the only full-time member of the staff. However, an array of volunteers assist in managing the facilities and land, serving in hospitality, programming, and administrative roles. Kathryn Mitchem, a Cheatham County resident herself, has been providing leadership, volunteer, administrative, and facility support since 1984. An integral part of the retreat’s operations, Mitchem oversaw the operations of the retreat center so Valentine could safely work from home during the pandemic. Like Valentine and Mitchem, each person involved plays a critical role in the successful operations of the retreat. Working side-by-side, they manage to keep operating expenses and overhead low, and make the best use of funds donated to the organization. Genuine camaraderie and compatibility allows the team to deeply focus on the needs of the retreat and its visitors. Because they only have one full-time staff member, volunteers are the life blood of the retreat and therefore, a wide array of opportunities are available for both individuals and groups. Over the next five years, Penuel Ridge will explore “controlled and prudent” growth as they outgrow their aging facility and staffing model. This will allow them to adequately support the growing number of people seeking the benefit of retreat. The Penuel Ridge Heritage Statement is to call people apart in a natural setting to encounter in deep ways the love of God, neighbor, and self, and to experience the integrity of all creation. And in this day and age, this is something many people need. 41
and travelers when the 100-year flood hit Middle Tennessee in May of 2010. Once flood waters receded, it then became the host for national groups traveling to Cheatham County to assist in recovery and rebuilding. Not stopping there, the organization was able to secure funding to rebuild areas of their land that had been damaged, and made a point to hire only local vendors to do the work. All hired vendors
had been flooded out of their homes and couldn’t work, and the team at the retreat made sure those families had an income they could depend on while they worked on rebuilding their lives. Then, during the bleakest period of the COVID-19 pandemic, the center provided much needed space and time for people to be outdoors, connect with nature, and cope with the complexities of managing home, work, and wellness. Because they operate as a small non profit, they were easily able to lower their occupancy to meet the requirements of the CDC, state, and local health departments to ensure the safety and well-being of guests, staff, volunteers, and vendors during that trying period of time. During these two notably difficult periods of time, Penuel Ridge kept its doors open and offered sanctuary to people, both friends and neighbors, who needed a safe, peaceful place to be. While the entire retreat center is packed full of unique history and interesting facts, “The Well” certainly stands out
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