In Progress: Nature Retreat

Yoga. Massage. Fitness. Farm-to-table dining.

From an abstract vision to a 640-acre retreat set deep in the woods of Star Tannery, Shenandoah Nature Retreat has evolved into what its creators now call a model for “regenerative hospitality”.

The developer believes that most of our problems can be solved if we look at how Mother Nature solves things. Former financial executive Mike Marburg has described the facility as a place for “experiential travel” where guests will take time to reflect, reconnect, recover from life’s major transitions — and listen to nature’s wisdom.

No cars will be allowed beyond the initial check-in area. The “bridge of intention” will lead guests to a central village surrounded by hiking trails, forest restoration zones, and a number of retreat-style buildings designed for meditation, survival skills, wellness, mountain biking, and cooking classes.

Described as a symbolic threshold, the bridge will mark the start of each guest’s personal journey and will help to encourage “conscious living” by inviting him to pause, reflect, and set his intention before entering the retreat space.

Even the planning has been intentional and the Marburg family has committed to building the project the right way — financially, environmentally, and culturally. Mark and Jennifer Marburg are relocating and say that their extended family will also be in the area.

They envision 140 guest rooms, a spa, aquatics center, and a variety of meeting rooms in buildings that will complement the landscape.

Shenandoah Nature Retreat is expected to provide more than 200 full and part-time jobs. The Marburgs have committed to providing one-third of their room nights on a scholarship basis to first-responders, veterans, and others seeking relief from the emotional toll of their life experiences. There are also plans to partner with universities by providing opportunities for research in a number of fields.

The space, which sits next to Devil’s Backbone State Forest, will open with a limited preview experience in late 2027 before a full launch in 2028.

Read the original stories by Bruce McClinton in Mountain Courier and Ryan Fitzmaurice in The Northern Virginia Daily