the first campsite

Once we had our road cut in around the pond, we often walked along it, trying to imagine what it could be like if someone pitched a tent right there beside the water.

It was overgrown, of course. Thickets of brush and fallen branches covered the whole area. But we could see it—a gentle slope, a flat patch of ground, and right on the water. We knew it had to be our first site.

Clearing it wasn’t quick. We spent days hauling out debris, trash, lopping limbs, and bushwhacking through everything that had grown wild. But every time we cleared a little more and the view opened up, it kept us going. We could see it starting to take shape.

Eventually, we made a space that felt like a campsite. Flat enough for a tent or a small camper. A fire pit circled in stones. A spot by the waters' edge, just right for launching a kayak or fishing. A view of the water that makes you stop and breathe deep. It was peaceful, just like we wanted it to be.

That first clearing set the tone for everything else we’ve done since. It reminded us why we came out here in the first place—to slow down, to make space, and to share something raw and real.

There’s something unforgettable about where it all began. Pondfront Retreat is that place for us—and we hope it becomes a favorite for you too.