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Gunther Wittenberg originally contacted Eco Log Cabins to build a conference centre, 4 houses and a manager's house all out of solid logs.
Plans were well underway when property became available for sale just up the road from the Kenosis Community.
The property used to belong to a family who ran a heavy engineering business, so there were 5 houses, several storerooms and sheds already built.
This was a much more cost-effective way of starting rather than building from scratch. |
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Graeme and Elly Willis (of Eco Log Cabins) were offered the task of developing and managing the property. They felt this was a calling so they moved from Underberg and started work in March 2003. |
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The houses were in a rather sad state of disrepair and it was only in August 2003 that the last curtains were being hung as the first large group of guests arrived. Trees, koi and solid slime were removed from the swimming pool and a new filter and pump installed. All the plumbing and electric wiring had to be checked. The large air conditioning system in the conference centre was reconditioned and air ducts replaced. Fences were removed so that gardens and lawns could flow. And so the list goes on.
Since then, all the houses have been renovated and a large double-storey log cabin built. Grounds have been cleared of untidy undergrowth and lawns planted. Although there is still a tremendous amount of work to do (dependant on funds and time), the place looks 100% better than when we first took occupation. |
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Our visitors' book bears testimony to the number of people who have enjoyed their stay and their meals here. Word-of-mouth is always the best form of advertising - although it is slow. After a quiet two-year period, the Retreat is starting to take off and soon we hope to be supporting the Kenosis Community in a big way. This is, after all, why the Retreat was started in the first place.
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