SEE DETAILED DESCRIPTION BELOW + HOUSE RULES BEFORE BOOKING!
FarmHouse Guest Suite is offered for 1-NIGHT STAYS ONLY. [EXCEPTION: when all cabins are booked. Welcome to inquire]. 2BR + seasonal Sleeping Porch. Need an extra bed? Check out our “FRANCES ELIZABETH” Room.
WELCOME TO RAPHA’s REST RETREAT!! Our “FarmHouse Guest Suite” 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 ... (ask QUESTIONS @ HOUSE RULES BEFORE BOOKING). Property & Cabins are ALCOHOL-FREE, TOBACCO-FREE (incl vaping) & PET-FREE, all for liability reasons.
IF THESE PARAMETERS ARE NOT AN ISSUE, PLEASE READ ON...
This retreat at RAPHA’s REST is 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 to congregate for small family reunions or ministry groups! 3 Cozy Rooms (Single nights) & 5 Cabins on 42 acres were created for sojourners seeking healing REST & RESTORATION to hike, explore, & spend time w/Papa-God. 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!
Our beautiful FARMHOUSE GUEST SUITE is offered for 1-NIGHT STAYS. (EXCEPTION: when all multi-night cabins are booked. Welcome to ask.) As part of the owner’s house, this 2BR has a bonus seasonal screened Sleeping Porch. FOOD is NOT ALLOWED in the bedrooms, but there are multiple eating spots outside on the property if you wish to bring a cooler with drinks/snacks or breakfast. You have access to a private small refrigerator & microwave. Perfect for a family of 3-4 or 2 couples.
Need an extra bed? Ck out our “FRANCES ELIZABETH” Room …
VRBO #3005510 / https://www.vrbo.com/3005510
FARMHOUSE GUEST SUITE INCLUDES...
ROOM 1: “RACHEL’s REST” offers a 4-post Queen-size bed with TEMPURPEDIC mattress. Enjoy a relaxing atmosphere decorated in a modern twist of a vintage Shabby-Chic style. Screened in porch accessible to guests for enjoying morning coffee, listening to pool waterfall.
SUITE BATH:
Within the Suite is a spa-like bathroom including a walk-in shower.
ROOM 2: “THE LIBRARY” offers a FULL-SIZE Murphy Bed with plush memory foam mattress. A library of books & DVD’s is located here. When not in use for guest sleeping, this room makes a comfortable lounging spot for LATE NIGHT MOVIES. [NOTE: Room 2 is accessible by other guests utilizing the library during the day, but owners do their best to coordinate privacy for all.]
ROOM 3: “THE SLEEPING PORCH” is a screened porch w/entrance into RACHEL’s REST. This is the perfect spot to enjoy a cup of coffee or have your morning quiet time while listening to the soothing sounds of our pool waterfall outside. We don’t want food in the bedrooms, but there are multiple eating spots on the property if you wish to bring a cooler with drinks/snacks or breakfast to keep on the porch. You also have access to a private small refrigerator & microwave. The antique ‘futon’ folds out into a double bed (+$10 set up fee). This option for sleeping is obviously SEASONAL & WEATHER-DEPENDENT. Once in bedroom mode, a feather mattress and plush bedding is added for comfort. (Request bedding @ booking) Glamping at its finest!
**You will also find a firepit to enjoy late nights reminiscing or roasted smores and marshmallows on our Pool Deck. [Ask about a SMORES BASKET $8]
GRILL: We do have a gas grill for your use, however, since there is no kitchen amenities, we recommend to bring a cooler to keep any food refrigerated on the screened porch in your suite. There is a small frig and microwave on screened porch as well.
NOTE: SELF-SERVE COFFEE BAR included ... however, FARMHOUSE BREAKFAST available 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 egg 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.
PARKING: FREE / 1 VEHICLE.
$10/stay for each additional vehicle - INQUIRE @ 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) 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!! Bluetooth your favorite relaxing tubes to the 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 in each Room, but you may want to bring a robe/flip flops for walking back to room or cabin. Please be respectful of other guests.
YEAR-ROUND HOT TUB:
(Attach’d to Pool) **IMPORTANT** 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/ ICED COFFEES: Upon request with small DONATION when “Barista Cheryl” is avail. [formerly owned a Coffeehouse]
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.
- CHECK-IN/OUT … FOR THIS LISTING, important PROPERTY INSTRUCTIONS upon ARRIVAL. We may not work for all… SO PLEASE READ:
— CHECK-IN: 3-7:00pm [FIRM]
** Plan +30min for traffic/detours
— CHECK-OUT: 1pm [FIRM]
** INSTRUCTIONS sent to cell#
*** EARLY/LATE CHECK-IN/OUT OPTION: Up to 2-HOUR Early/Late Check-in/out for $20 Donation WHEN OWNERS AVAIL ($30/both) … INQUIRE @ BOOKING.
[Proceeds go to HEALING HAND-UP MINISTRIES which oversees maintenance at Rapha’s Rest.]
ANIMALS: 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/turkeys/quail, 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!!
BOATERS: Only minutes from Lake Fork/Lake Quitman, we make every effort to park your boat. However, if Overnight Battery Charging needed, we only have 1 cabin for boat hookup [$20 donation]. INQUIRE @ BOOKING. All Fish cleaned outside with remains sealed & placed in trash (not tossed on property).
VISITOR POLICY: It is not a surprise that guests occasionally want to share their Rapha’s Rest experience w/ a friend or family member. However, due to past experience, we have had to become stricter @ non-reservation visitors on the property. We do not want to be in a position of deciding who is responsible & who is not, so we now have a VISITOR POLICY w/ DONATION that applies to ALL visitors of our Cabin Guests. DETAILS in HOUSE RULES.
ENGLISH: Guests must be able to communicate in ENGLISH for the safety of all. We are an interactive property & best experienced when all amenities & boundaries are clearly understood.
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.
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
