Ravenwood Suite

A NEW Nature Retreat offering
in the Highlands Nature Sanctuary
for individuals, couples, families or small groups
 

Immerse yourself in Nature’s beauty on the edge of the Rocky Fork Gorge

    while supported by the warmth of human connections in a light-filled house.

Individuals, couples, and small groups from 1-6 people in size may rent Ravenwood at an affordable prices adjusted to the size of your party. Ravenwood Suite offers you privacy and seclusion -- as well as a spaciousness not  ordinarily provided in a rental facility. Guests may choose among renting one, two or three bedrooms total.  Ravenwood is dependably a warm, friendly and comforting abode whether you are solo or you come as a small group. If you want to step right outside your door to access the stunning beauty of an Eastern woodland canyon, take advantage of a large and well-stocked kitchen to  cook a healthy meal, have sufficient space to do your morning yoga, or a the  wrap-around porch all to yourself, renting Ravenwood's first story is a perfect strategy for the setting of a well-deserved nature retreat.

Ravenwood lies on the western edge of the Highlands Nature Sanctuary  – that place of Contact where the vast and fertile glacial plains of the Midwest touch the ancient and rumpled hill-country of the Appalachian foothills. The Sanctuary is a 2000 acre nature preserve located less than a two hour drive from Columbus and Cincinnati. Ravenwood offers the opportunity to , to journal, read,  hike, meditate or simply listen. Throughout the ages when times were challenging, Nature was a dependable source for clarity, renewal and support. In these modern times, let Ravenwood offer you  Sanctuary.

Ravenwood Listening Trail. The highlight of the Ravenwood facility is the Ravenwood Listening Trail, an artistic endeavor to bring back the practice of creating sacred landscapes. The trail, beginning right outside Ravenwood's back door, invites visitors to rediscover the art of simply BEING. It is a place of contact, contemplation and inner dialogue. Most importantly it is a place of inspired art. The trail descends into a deep valley cut by the Rocky Fork Creek, amidst a beautiful landscape of moss-covered boulders, rock walls, small grottos, and rushing water. Scattered along the trail are inviting meditation points, where hikers are encouraged to stop and listen to the sounds of nature, contemplate the subtle works of created natural art, and listen to the quiet voice within. The trail offers special nooks  to curl up and sit, inviting you to look at the world as you once did as a child – full of wonder, playfulness, and openness. Hikers can walk barefoot in the sand in a sacred circle of stones, curl up in a fern-shrouded grotto, or swing above the sparkling creek.  Everyone who has ever taken the time to be still and receptive, has always been rewarded with  magical moments. You might -- like others in the past -- catch a sight of a wood duck with its babies swimming downstream, a beaver swimming beneath the water's surface,  an ancient mollusk feeding in the water’s floor, or the swirling mandela of ripples created by a swarm of whirligigs.

For more information on the Listening Trail, click here.

Fourteen Miles of Hiking Trails. Ravenwood lies on the intersection of culture and nature, civilization and wilderness. To its front lies the developed rural countryside of southern Ohio; to its back, a few miles distant, lies the heart of the 2000-plus acre nature sanctuary where most of the Highland's hiking trails lie -- approximately a fifteen minute drive away. Visitors have access to miles of wilderness hiking  trails as well as optional entry into the scenic Cave Canyon trail system for a small additional fee.

The History.
We have a story to tell ...
In the days when mills lined the banks of the Rocky Fork Creek, an industrious family made their home on a  particularly scenic curve of the creek -- harnessing the flow of the river to make a modest living grinding grain into flour.  Although the mill is now gone, the Beaver Mill Manor House and mill falls remain, witnessing an continuing panorama of human dreams.  Ravenwood's farmhouse can be counted on to exude warmth, hospitality and informality. Graced with large windows and a pleasing architectural design, it is a house filled with light. Generations of the Beaver family -- the original founders of Beaver Mill -- lived continuously in the Manor House until the last descendent -- Barney Beaver -- sold her home to friends of the family in 1999. She was 95 years old when the transaction was made. The latest owners made extensive renovations to this elegant home, and passed it into the hands of Sanctuary early in 2003, complete with all of Barney's family antiques. Perhaps the most cherished piece in the entire house is Barney's baby grand piano. Built in 1898, it remains a focal point of the main gathering room, and is still played, though a bit out of tune! The grounds are a quilting of mowed grass, large shade trees, and perennial flower gardens. The house sits on the edge of the Rocky Fork Gorge, which drops quickly into a deep ravine behind the house, accessed by the Listening Trail.

The Facility. The entire home of Ravenwood is filled with graceful antiques. One side of the livingroom has two stories of windows, giving a sense of bounteous space and light. An attached dining room has a large table seating up to eight, and smaller kitchen table for more intimate settings seating 1-4 people, A fully-equipped kitchen large enough to produce a feast is provided with stovetop burners, oven, microwave, pots and pans, and dishware. Guests are asked to wash their own dishes before departure. Separate bins for food scraps and recyclable refuse are provided, and all food remains are composted on the Sanctuary grounds. One large bathroom with choice of tub or shower is provided in the hallway with towels provided. Guests have the option of renting one or all  three of the first floor bedrooms, sleeping up to six people total. Two bedrooms have a full bed each, and one bedroom has two single beds. The premium bedroom of the three is the Royal Walnut Room, with lovely antique furniture, a full quilted bed, a writing desk, and hand-painted pictures of wildflowers painted on the walls...a bouquet of trillium at one's head, a jack-in-the-pulpit at one's feet, and a wreath of wood poppies above one's dresser.  In honor of the Eastern Forest's esteemed and varied wildlife, bedrooms  are named after the little-known, but dazzling beautiful giant silk moths -- animals which are still native to Ohio's woodlands, but are diminishing in numbers and are in great need of habitat protection. Room names include the Cecropia, Royal Walnut, and Luna Rooms.  If you keep your windows open, the sound of water can be heard tumbling over nearby Beaver Mill Dam. Ravenwood Suites provide the entire first floor of this spacious house to guests, and no other rentals will be going on simultaneously, guaranteeing a private retreat.

Terms for Ravenwood   

ALL RESERVATIONS RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE USE OF RAVENWOOD. WHEN YOU MAKE A RESERVATION, YOU WILL NOT BE SHARING THE FACILITY WITH ANY OTHER PARTIES, EVEN IF THERE ARE ONLY ONE OR TWO OF YOU COMING. Limit of two guests per bedroom. Guests, please bring your own food, soap and shampoo. To help our volunteer-assisted housekeeping and to help advance our mission of nature preservation, guests are respectfully requested to make their beds upon arrival, and strip sheets and remake beds without the linens upon leaving. We greatly appreciate your help in maintaining this beautiful educational facility affordable for individuals, couples, and groups. Please remember, the rates below are for the first floor only out of three possible floors. RESERVATIONS FOR THE FIRST FLOOR ONLY ARE AVAILABLE UP TO SIXTY DAYS IN ADVANCE.  If you wish to review rates for the entire three story facility, click here.

Call for this facility's availability or check yourself by clicking here This is an excel form and is updated immediately after each reservation made, giving you up-to-date information.

$75 Nightly Rate for any one bedroom (1-2 people) PLUS one-time housekeeping fee of $40

$100 Nightly Rate for two bedrooms (2-4 people) PLUS one-time housekeeping fee of $50

$120 Nightly Rate for all three bedrooms (3-6 people) PLUS one-time housekeeping fee of $60

$375 Weekly Rate for any one bedroom (1-2 people) PLUS one-time housekeeping fee of $40

$450 Weekly Rate for two bedrooms (2-4 people) PLUS one-time housekeeping fee of $50

$500 Weekly Rate for all three bedrooms (3-6 people) PLUS one-time housekeeping fee of $60

Other fees to be aware of:

• 7% sales tax

• Optional entry to Cave Canyon's hiking trails, with reduced one-time general admission rate of $10/adult and $5.00/child for your entire stay
   

To make a reservation or for general lodging information, click here. More links below:

Visitor's Guide to Private Lodging in the Area & other Attractions   Directions