The Retreat at Pointer’s Ridge (named after a Rhodesian Ridgeback and 3 German Short Hair Pointers who live in the neighborhood) is a 21-acre campus along the Big Sioux River just 12 miles north of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. We’re close to the intersection of I29 and I90, making it very easy to reach us … close to home, yet far away.
You’ll find The Retreat sign at the junction of 473rd Avenue and Big Sioux Road, just on the edge of South Dakota farmland. Stay here away from busy everyday life; or make your way to our state’s largest city, Sioux Falls, where you’ll find so much to do: arts, museums, beautiful parks, movie theaters, lots of shopping, and … of course … Falls Park, where the Big Sioux River spills 7,400 gallons of water 100 feet over ancient quartzite rock every second.
Main Hall is the center of many Retreat activities. The building itself is 100′ x 40′; the open area is 60′ x 40′ and can be set up in theatre style, cafeteria style … many options. The remaining space contains a large kitchen, fully stocked; and the men’s and women’s bathrooms and showers. Most of the plumbing on our campus is found only in this building.
Cabin Row! The Retreat campus has 9 cabins that have been rehabbed and updated for various uses. Three of them … Rustic, Artist Studio, and the Writer’s Bunk … are fully accommodated for your stay, whether overnight or for a month or more. While cabins do not have plumbing, each is air conditioned for hot weather and heated when it gets chilly. There is a small refrigerator, microwave and (most importantly) a coffee pot in each cabin. Linens are provided. Find solace alone or bring a friend … or two. We have a comfortable space for you!
A-Frame inside. This is the most popular place to stay at The Retreat, especially for groups of two or more, or for extended stays. It is comfortably equipped with plenty of beds (2 queen, 3 twin), desk and chair, table with seating for 4, separate small room with the fridge, microwave, and coffee pot, a DVD and many old movies, a bookshelf full of books (you can also enjoy reading what is on hand in our Little Free Library), AND, perhaps best of all, a half bath! This space is used for family stays; small recitals and art exhibits; double artist residencies; prep room for brides and their attendants … let us know your housing needs and we’ll take care of them.
Rustic Cabin is just that … rustic, yet very comfortable. With wood paneled walls, floor rugs, lamps, and cozy comforters, you’ll spend very pleasant evenings in this cabin. There is a twin bed, one queen, table and chairs, couch, and two swivel rockers with foot stools. The Rustic is in the heart of our campus so you’ll be in on all activities if you like. The back door opens onto the wooded hillside, where we’ve worked hard to clear out old tree debris and bothersome weeds to give you a quiet place to find a trail or set out on your own path among the huge burr oak trees and towering cottonwoods that grace this property.
Artist Studio is a place to get down to work on your art, whether it is visual art, writing poetry or a novel, composing music, or finding the quiet to dream big dreams. It is furnished with a twin bed, table and chairs, bookcase full of books on visual art, upholstered swivel chair, and a work table with stools. This is the room to make a mess in! And when you’re done with that, it is close to the playground … and the river … and the big firepit.
Writer’s Bunk has plenty of space for you and a few friends or your family to crash at the end of a day enjoying nature at The Retreat. With 5 bunk beds, there is plenty of room for all of you, and you can spend the night telling spooky stories or playing board games around the kitchen table on one end of the cabin. For chilly shoulder season nights, there is a wood burning stove. This is a great space for groups of special friends that need a place to get away to have some carefree time.
Sun Porch is the sweetest spot in southeast South Dakota to spend a warm summer evening. Completed during the Covid years, the Sun Porch is a great place for social distancing … and is fully screened to keep out those pesky skeeters! Stocked with picnic tables, overhead fans, funky wall sconces, and wifi connection for your music speakers, this is also a perfect spot to watch for the local turkeys taking their afternoon walk, or a possible deer siting later in the afternoon. Many fun times have been had on this porch; come to The Retreat and add some of your own great stories!
Camp along the Big Sioux River during the dry, hot summer; nothing like the sound of the river bubbling by to ease your soul. This is a rough camping spot, but you do have access to showers and kitchen in the Main Hall, and use of the big bonfire pit, tiki bar and screen porch. And join in the activities taking place at The Retreat … you may luck upon a concert, poetry reading or a creative at work on a project somewhere on the grounds.