Calvin Center

Five stars for the rustic surrounding and honesty of staff. I left my purse behind and I came back the next day they had it for me intact.But This place is a dump. The carpet in the rooms is brown and dirty. We had tablets under our bed and ricola cough drops. Which confirms that the place isnt cleaned.They place is.run down and the meeting room had peeling wallpaper. There was a refrigerator in what seemed to be a.makeshift kitchen where the.paintbwaas peeling.The grounds around the residence were fill of weeds unkempt and unhedged.Our beds were uncomfortable. We had a full and a twin in a tiny room.The commode in the bathroom was like a rocking chair and moved when you sat on it.No TV or refrigerator in the room nor any toiletries other than a sliver of soap and toilet paper.The stay included meals. We are vegetarian and they had no clue how to cater to us. Our sandwich for lunch was garbanzo beans made with Mayo. The chef could have made a large salad if he didnt know how to cook veggies.The worst part was that I was stung by a wasp INSIDE the place near the coffee station. Some other people in our group see snakes near the main door of the residence.I hope management reads reviews and works on the shortcomings.

Its truly a hidden gem The place was so beautiful everything was beautiful

The Conference Lodge had water damage last year and even though they fixed that there is still a mold presence.And the upkeep of the grounds has seen better days.October 2021

We had a wonderful time at the Calvin Center Conference Lodge for our annual marriage retreat. The staff were extremely nice and very accommodating. The grounds are beautiful. And the food was delicious. It is the idea place and setting for a retreat.

Ive been running out at the Calvin Center for a little over a year now. Theres an expansive wooded area with nicely groomed trails and the staff for the most part have been really nice. Over the weekend my car was vandalized so I stopped by the front office to ask about it. I also wanted to mention the multiple deer stands and tin bellowings that resemble animal traps nails spiked into the circumference of the top so as not to allow escape. As a local Veterinarian its my job to report any inhumane devices or traps but keep in mind that these woods are frequented by kids on horseback almost daily. This alone is cause for concern. On arriving at the front office I was greeted by the office manager Marilyn McDonald whose responses were wildly inappropriate. She told me any information regarding vandalism at the Calvin Center was none of my business and that Im supposed to sign in although I had never been told of any sign in process and that I had been given permission to run out there by Calvin Center staff. Sign in or no sign in is this how you respond to vandalism inquires Her rudeness was so insulting I left before I could even finish telling her about the dangers on Calvin Center property I had discovered. I immediately called the executive director and CEO of the Calvin Center. The call went to voicemail and about an hour later I received this mystery text Got your message. At Dr. appointment right now but will get with you by tomorrow morning in regards to Calvin Center. Dont know who sent it. Still have not heard back. Very unfortunate a beautiful place like this could be ruined by an incompetent staff.

My daughter started horse lessons here a few years ago as part of their equestrian program and has attended horse camp several times. This is a wonderful program The first thing I noticed is that all instructors are certified and safety is addressed first at every lesson. The horses here are also extremely loved and well cared for. The staff is so kind and are truly good people. For camp the camp leaders go through extensive training prior to camp. Not sure what the training is like but they are great with these kids Even at handling minor medical issues with ease I am thrilled we found this program for our daughter

I was there for a small conference. Here are a few thoughts.Its clean and its quiet. Very restful because of that.Chef Terance makes the best food Let me emphasis that the food is amazing.The staff are simply good people. I observed these two things.1. A delivery man delivered something during lunch. I know because on my way to lunch he stopped me while in his truck looking for the camp office. This was obviously his first time delivering to this location. This ties in with what I observed just 15 mins later.After we got our food at meals the staff camp director down to the maintenance would get theirs and sit together to eat. Surprisingly the delivery man was quietly welcomed into their table to eat as well. I say quietly because they didnt make a show of it and I say welcomed because he was introduced to the people at the table and then dialogue at the table continued as if he had been part of the group the whole time. I was sitting at the table when this happened.My second observance is that I saw a business meeting start with all the staff as we were leaving lunch. They openly prayed together before starting.Whether or not you agree with people praying its easy to see their character to both talk AND act godly. Truly good people.

We held a 4 day conference here of primarily national and some international participants and everyone reported an excellent time. The food was exceptional hospitality gracious and the grounds in our fall retreat were beautiful. We will definitely be back

I recently attended a faculty retreat at the Center. The accommodations were clean and comfortable. The staff was friendly and attentive. The setting was like being at a campsite in the woods while being a main road from creature comforts. I know that this goes against some other reviews but I was a little underwhelmed by the meals which is the only reason I did not give the Center five stars. Overall I would enjoy staying at the Center again.

From Charleen SmithYou have a beautiful campus. I was with a group of high school chorus students. We had a wonderful weekend. Your food service is excellent. Please tell your chef that the mango jerk chicken curried vegetables and beans and rice were so delicious I almost wanted to cry. Thanks for providing us with the perfect atmosphere for our retreat.Charleen Smith