Christian Marriage & Couples Retreats

Be the hero who chose Black Rock for your marriage retreat!

Planning a marriage retreat for your church or organization?  Black Rock Retreat in Pennsylvania is a wonderful choice.

Conveniently located on 100 acres of woodland in south-central Pennsylvania (~1 hr drive from Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Harrisburg), our Christian retreat center has just what you need for your next marriage retreat, no matter the season.

What We Offer

Christian Marriage Retreat in Pennsylvania

Including…

✓ Customized Retreats — If you’re looking for a place to hold your next Christian marriage retreat, you probably have several goals in mind. We can help customize your retreat to meet those goals, so that you and your group have a memorable and enjoyable time.

✓ Venue For Christian Marriage Conferences — Churches and ministries alike use our Christian retreat center as the venue for marriage conferences, seminars, and intensives. Black Rock is ready for your group (no matter how large or small) with meeting spaces of various sizes, plenty of lodging, lots of indoor and outdoor activities, and delicious food served buffet-style.

✓ Weekend or Week-Long Retreats — From 1-2 day retreats to an entire week-long getaway, we’re able to accommodate your itinerary.

✓ Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter — No matter the season, our retreat center lets you enjoy God’s creation and each other. There’s plenty of indoor activities for cooler months and outdoor activities for warmer months.

✓ Perfect for All Ages — Couples young and not-so-young enjoy the wide variety of indoor and outdoor activities at Black Rock. From quiet hikes through the woods or relaxing by a fire, to swimming (in our outdoor pool or lake) and ziplining, there’s plenty of relationship-building opportunities at our couples retreat center.

✓ Grow Closer to God & One Another — Perfect for spending dedicated time together, we make it easy for Christian couples to get away from the busyness of life, strengthen relationships with each other, and focus on growing spiritually.

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Marriage Retreat Options

Chapel Conference Room Meeting Space

Meeting Spaces

There’s plenty of large and small gathering spaces at Black Rock Retreat. If you’re having a marriage conference, our chapel can hold up to 400 people, with nearby meeting rooms that are perfect for breakout sessions. We’re happy to find the perfect space for your group’s size and needs. Meeting rooms/outdoor spaces are assigned based on group size and availability.

Indoor Meeting Rooms
We have a variety of indoor meeting spaces with audio/visual equipment (perfect for worship time, group games, etc).

Outdoor Meeting Areas
When the weather’s nice, there are numerous outdoor areas that create a beautiful setting to hear teaching, worship God, and fellowship with one another. These include outdoor pavilions, an amphitheater, nature center deck, gazebo, and more.

Lodging

There’s nothing quite like getting a good night sleep when you’re away from home. That’s why we offer a variety of comfortable accommodations, including:

All options have heating (perfect for winter getaways!) and air conditioning (except for the bunk cabins, which have ceiling fans). There are plenty of options to match your group’s size and needs, including some handicap-accessible rooms. And all accommodations have a private bathrooms.

Christian Family Getaway Lodging Accommodations

Family Retreat Meals

Meals

When you’re on a marriage getaway, the last thing you want to eat is bland cafeteria food. That’s why our carefully-prepared buffet-style meals are actually delicious, and we accommodate for any food allergies*. A typical menu contains seasonal fruits and vegetables, and looks something like this:

Breakfast: Eggs, bacon, baked oatmeal, sweet breads, fruit, yogurt, cottage cheese, and assorted cereals

Lunch: Chicken corn soup, turkey, ham & tuna sandwiches on homemade rolls, tossed salad, fruit bowl, cantaloupe and honeydew, and pie

Dinner: Orchard salad, tilapia, meatloaf, a vegetable blend, macaroni and cheese with shells, applesauce, dinner rolls, and an ice cream bar

*If your family has specific dietary needs, please let us know (as far in advance as possible) and we’ll make every reasonable effort to accommodate your request!

Activities

Couples won’t be bored in our 100-acres of beautiful woodlands; there are lots of things to do (both outside and inside) at Black Rock:

Recreation Areas
There’s plenty of indoor and outdoor recreation spaces, such as an outdoor pool, lake, hiking trails, full-size gymnasium with basketball court, sand volleyball court, ball field, basketball court with lights, a Frisbee Golf course, and more. There’s plenty of indoor and outdoor seating areas (pavilions, decks, Adirondack chairs, overlooks, fireplace lounges, etc) that are perfect for playing board games/cards or reading a book. Better yet, they’re all included in the price of the retreat!

Programmed Activities
We also have lots of fun programmed activities, such as high and low ropes courses, a zipline, team building activities, and more!

Lake at Black Rock Retreat

Submit Inquiry » Call (717) 529-3232
"Black Rock is beautiful. The staff are friendly, kind, and helpful. The facilities are well maintained. The surroundings are beautiful. As both a paying customer and a recipient of Black Rock’s complimentary pastor’s retreat, I can say without reservation that this place has been a huge blessing to me, my ministry, and my family."
Jud Kossum

Our Location

Our retreat center in Pennsylvania is conveniently located near Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington DC, New York City, New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware. Only :30 from Interstate 95 and :50 from the PA Turnpike, we're both secluded and easily accessible.

Approximate Driving Times:
  • Philadelphia, PA - 1:10
  • Baltimore, MD - 1:10
  • Harrisburg, PA - 1:10
  • Washington, DC - 1:50
  • New York City (NYC) - 2:30
  • Pocono Mountains - 2:20
  • Wilmington, DE - :50
  • Dover, DE - 1:20
  • Allentown, PA - 1:40
  • Trenton, NJ - 2:00
  • Atlantic City, NJ - 2:00
  • Hagerstown, MD - 2:10
Get driving directions »
Submit Inquiry » Call (717) 529-3232

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you rent facilities year round?

Our retreat facilities will be open all year round. The only day that we are closed on is Christmas Day.

How far in advance can I make a retreat reservation?

You can make a retreat reservation up to 11 months in advance.

How much deposit do I need to reserve a marriage retreat?

A 10 percent safety deposit is due within 2 weeks of making a reservation, along with the signed contract which will be provided to you detailing all of the retreat charges.

What is the retreat reservation process?

You can send us an email directly or call at (717) 388-4480. We’ll check for the availability of your requested dates and facilities.

Once a reservation is made, a contract is emailed to you, which will need to be signed and returned with the 10 percent deposit within 2 weeks.

The final payment for your reservation is due at check-out.

What size group can I bring for a marriage retreat?

We currently have space up to 436 people in lodging facilities, though we are in the midst of an expansion project that will add space for even more guests!

Contact us for more info about setting up your retreat at Black Rock.

Can our group cook our own meals?

Retreat groups can eat their meals in any one of our two dining halls. A weekend retreat does require at least 5 meals as part of the package. Unfortunately, we do not have an open kitchen that is available to our guest groups.

***If your group has specific dietary needs, please let us know as far in advance as possible and we will make every reasonable effort to accommodate your request!

What is the typical menu?

Our meals are all buffet-style. A typical menu would consist of seasonal fruits and vegetables and look similar to the following example:

  • Breakfast: Eggs, bacon, baked oatmeal, sweetbreads, fruit, yogurt, cottage cheese, assorted cereals
  • Lunch: Chicken corn soup, turkey, ham & tuna sandwiches on homemade rolls, tossed salad, fruit bowl, cantaloupe and honeydew, pie
  • Dinner: Meatloaf, tilapia, macaroni and cheese with shells, vegetable blend, orchard salad, applesauce, dinner rolls, ice cream bar

***If your group has specific dietary needs, please let us know as far in advance as possible and we will make every reasonable effort to accommodate your request!

Do the cabins have heat and air conditioning?

All lodging spaces have heating available, including our cabins. The majority of our accommodations do have air conditioning: Maranatha Retreat CenterWhip-Poor-Will LodgeDogwood Motel. Our cabins are generally cool in warmer months because they’re shaded in the woods. Ceiling fans are in the cabins, but they do not have air conditioning. Guests are welcome to bring their own fans if they have concerns. See lodging options here.

Are linens supplied in lodging facilities?

Linens will be supplied in all lodging facilities except for the cabins. This includes sheets, blankets, pillows and cases, bath towels, hand towels, and washcloths. When staying in a cabin, we suggest bringing a sleeping bag, pillow, and towels. Linen packs are available for the cabins for an additional charge.

What personal items are supplied in your hotel/motel style rooms?

Complimentary soaps are placed in each and every room for your convenience. We have shampoo/conditioner, shower caps, toothbrushes, toothpaste, earplugs, and hairdryers available at the front desk if needed.

Can we take a tour before we schedule a marriage retreat?

We will always be happy to provide a tour around our facilities to potential guests and discuss how you can use them to accomplish your ministry goals. Contact our Guest Services Department at (717) 388-4480 or online here.