WELCOME TO RAPHA’s REST RETREAT!!
PLEASE READ ALL HOUSE RULES BEFORE BOOKING. "Cabin on Dogwood Pond” is located at RAPHA’S REST Spiritual Retreat ... a PLACE OF PRESENCE ... surrounded by 42 wooded acres w/trails to hike, explore & spend time w/Papa-God. Before describing this Destination Retreat, please note we are only set up for very specific sojourners & may not be the best place for you ... (please ask any QUESTIONS @ HOUSE RULES BEFORE BOOKING). Property & Cabins are ALCOHOL-FREE, TOBACCO-FREE (incl vaping) & PET-FREE, all for liability reasons. Guests must be able to verbally communicate in ENGLISH for the safety of all. While your privacy is important to us, we are an interactive property & best experienced when all amenities & boundaries are clearly understood. IF THESE PARAMETERS ARE NOT AN ISSUE, PLEASE READ ON...
The retreat at RAPHA’s REST offers 5 Cabins & 3 Private Rooms remotely located in the piney woods of East Texas. With a location only 1-2 hours from Louisiana, Tyler, and Dallas/Fort Worth, Rapha’s Rest is a great space for single adults or couples to come for some Rest & Restoration, or small groups using multiple cabins to congregate for ministry or extended family gatherings! Cozy Rooms & Cabins on 42 wooded acres were created for sojourners seeking healing REST & RESTORATION to hike, pray, or explore. Play w/the goats, read a book, relax in the hot tub, roast marshmallows, enjoy seasonal show of bats dancing at sunset ... PERFECT REST-STOP on your continued journey!
CABIN ON DOGWOOD POND is one of 5 cabins located at Rapha's Rest & only one of two cabins with 2 separate bedrooms (FarmHouse Suite also has 2 bedrooms for one night stays). This cabin overlooks our wooded property and (future) pond. The kitchen comes fully stocked with appliances including a stove, refrigerator, toaster, microwave & dishwasher! Also an outdoor grill. This is one of our only cabins where the sleeping is separated from living/dining. The Master includes a My Pillow Gel-infused Memory Foam Queen Bed & has an adjustable frame which raises head or feet for good night sleep. A small closet stores your suitcase. 2nd BR includes a FULL-SIZE bed also with plush gel-infused memory foam mattress and a small closet.
CABIN ON DOGWOOD POND offers the largest covered porch/deck of all our cabins! In addition to ample seating, on the porch is a gas grill & easy access to amenities at main house deck ... pool, hot tub, & (future) pond. On its open deck, you will find a private firepit to enjoy late nights reminiscing or roasted smores and marshmallows [Ask about a SMORES BASKET available for a small $4 Donation.]
We especially recommend this cabin for families of 3-4, 2 couples, & extended-stay missionaries. STILL NOT SURE?? Check out all of our cabin designs, or ask for our recommendation … https://www.vrbo.com/p/properties
**Ask about DISCOUNTS for active MILITARY, VETERANS, & MINISTRY LEADERS.
CHECKIN: 3pm-6pm
EARLY/LATE CHECK-IN/OUT OPTION: Up to 3-Hour early/late check-in/ late check-out for $25 Donation when available ($40/both). Please INQUIRE BEFORE BOOKING.
PROPERTY: In addition to 42 acres to explore & your own private deck, relax on large Retreat Center Pool Deck - also perfect for group gatherings when using multiple cabins. A hot tub & fire-pit is perfect for enjoying those cooler evenings. Multiple yard games including corn-hole, frisbee golf (1 basket), horseshoes, etc! Summer evenings can bring a bat show over the newly dug (future) 2acre pond.
[ NOTE: You will notice multiple unfinished projects around the property! We're a work-in-progress, but it shouldn't keep you from having a good time!!]
HIKING: There are 42 tree'd acres to hike, pray, & explore. You will need good shoes for exploring/walking, especially when wet.
WORK-OUT ROOM:
Complete with weights, a TreadClimber, and MASSAGE CHAIR!! Just another layer of “Rest” for guests here at Rapha’s Rest!!
POOL: Open 8am-10pm so BRING SWIM SUITS!! Kids love it but it was designed around adults: Pool features Waterfall, Hot Tub, & Tanning ledge. BEACH TOWELS provided, but you may want to bring a robe/flip flops for walking back to room or cabin. Please be respectful of other guests sharing.
YEAR-ROUND HOT TUB: Attached to Pool. DUE TO RISING COST OF PROPANE, use 1x FREE/Booking. Each additional use = $15 DONATION. [Once temperatures drop below 50 degrees, each use $15]. We ask that once you request heat on, you arrive within 10 MINUTES of being ready - after that we have to cut it off. (We understand delays happen, but you may not be fond of cold showers if propane is depleted!)
LATTES/FRAPUCCINOS: Upon request with small DONATION when “Barista Cheryl” is avail. [formerly owned a Coffeehouse in Saint Jo, TX]
NOTE: FARMHOUSE BREAKFAST avail. by DONATION (Couple $30; Family $12ea /$5 under 5) when Randy & Cheryl are avail. PLEASE REQUEST UPON BOOKING. It may include any of the following ... farm-fresh eggs casserole, our own coffee roast, juice, pancakes, bacon, sweet rolls/muffins or other ... served inside the Retreat Center Main House or on the poolside deck.
[ALL DONATIONS given to Healing Hand-Up Ministries]
ANIMALS: Unfortunately, our property cannot accommodate PETS or EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS. [Certified Service Dogs permitted]. However, we have a virtual zoo ... 2 VERY LARGE lovable dogs, 2 cats, small goats, multitude chickens/ducks, and 1 potbelly pig!
INTERNET: The Retreat Ctr Main House has internet available, but it is VERY SLOW - fine for a quick email check, but it does not stream well if you need to do extensive work/Zoom calls, etc. We also ask that you not upload/download/ or stream movies, games, etc. while here due to the LIMITED SPEED/ DATA.
TV/DVD PLAYER/BOOK NOOK: We want guests to be as free from distractions as possible, so we do not have cable in the rooms/ cabins. However, we have a full LIBRARY of BOOKS & DVDs for rainy or extra hot days (or bring your own!) We are also working on a small BOOKSTORE onsite for the future!!
KID FRIENDLY? While the answer is YES, our design is ADULT-ORIENTED. For example, the pool. was created with adult relaxation in mind - it is not a sports pool. Kids can enjoy it, however. The primary purpose of Rapha’s Rest is found in its name ... REST. If you choose to bring your children one time, we encourage you to come back again without them to receive all the “Rest & Restoration” that God has waiting to give you in His Presence.
BOATERS: We are only minutes from Lake Fork and Lake Quitman, we make every effort to park your boat. However, if you need to charge your battery, we have another cabin available called TEXAS HICKORY HIDEOUT CABIN which, for a donation of $20, this is our only cabin where we can provide Overnight Battery Charging for one boat. Bring Extension Cord. (We are in the woods, so seasoned drivers only please!) We ask that any fish be cleaned outside but remains be sealed and placed in trash (not tossed on property).
PRAYER CHAPEL: So excited to have our “CHAPEL IN THE WOODS” finally open - it’s been a labor of love!! Another quiet space to spend with Papa-God.
One name for Jesus is Jehovah-Rapha which means "God our Healer". Rapha’s Rest was created as a healing PLACE OF PRESENCE ... a PERFECT rest-stop on your continued journey for healing REST & RESTORATION!
Blessings,
Randy & Cheryl Bland
