Site and Food

Location

“I am very impressed with this facility. It is compact so no one has far to go to the dance hall or dining hall, which helped to build community. The courtyard is a wonderful gathering place. The jigsaw tables and bookstore next to the main hall kept everyone engaged with each other.”

Green Mountain Retreat is nestled in the Santa Cruz Mountains on 66 acres of majestic redwood and oak woodlands. It is a short drive from downtown Los Gatos and a 25-minute drive from San Jose Airport.

The beautiful campus features an outdoor swimming pool and a pond, a labyrinth and private hiking trail, activities such as ping pong, bocce ball, and foam ax-throwing, and an outdoor amphitheater. There are common areas around the facilities, both indoors and out, for socializing, singing, resting, or even practicing dancing. And we have the whole campus to ourselves!

“The location was beautiful and the layout of the camp encouraged us to socialize.”

Dance Hall

“The main dance hall is beautiful, with great acoustics.”

The air-conditioned main dance hall in Pueblo Lodge is a large, impressive hall with a big stage, an excellent floor, superb acoustics, and high ceilings with attractive chandeliers. It is connected to the dorm and to other workshop spaces by a beautiful, enclosed outdoor courtyard, where we hold parties and social gatherings. Attached to the dance hall is a mini-kitchen with hot and cold water, and a seating area with tables and chairs right off the dance floor, so you can rest, socialize, and work on a jigsaw puzzle while still in the thick of the dancing action. The Hey Days bookstore is also attached to the hall.

Housing

“I loved this venue. We stayed in the dorm … dance hall and classes in same building! Cafeteria just one building away! Good food, bathrooms kept spotless, Green Mountain staff all friendly and helpful.”

There are two types of lodging, each with its own character and charm: Dormitory Rooms in Pueblo Lodge, and Cottages. 

Pueblo Lodge features lovely, historical architecture and a convenient location connected to the dance hall and other program spaces. It has dormitory style rooms, most with three to four beds (with a maximum of two people per room, unless otherwise requested) and shared, dormitory-style bathrooms. The dorm building has some lounges, a washer and dryer, and a small kitchen with a refrigerator.   

The rustic cottages have many different sizes, configurations, and kitchen availability. Most rooms are double rooms. They are on a small hill, a bit further away from the program spaces and dining room, and many have uneven paths and stairs.

Most people will be in a shared room. There are a very limited number of singles available for people with health concerns. 

Once you are registered, you will receive an information form to submit. This will include questions about your preference for being housed either adjacent to the program spaces (the dorm building), or further away with some uneven ground and changes in elevation (the cottages). It will also ask about any medical needs you may have, such as being on the ground floor (i.e., no stairs). 

“Beautiful setting, charming older buildings with character, dining hall marvelous.”

Food

“The food was excellent — healthy and nutritious. Loved all the fruit salads and excellent cooked seasonal vegetables.”

The on-site restaurant serves fresh, healthy, and nutritious food in a buffet setting. The kitchen staff is well-versed in special dietary needs and allergy restrictions, and they take pride in providing guests with a customized menu based on group size, age, and cuisine preferences.

We will have the dining hall all to ourselves, sitting at round tables for eight. 

“The staff was very responsive to diet restrictions.”

(click images to enlarge)