The Edge Christian Retreat Center

The Edge Christian Retreat and Conference Center was formerly known as Eastover, but is under new ownership. I was never there under the former ownership. I want to start out with the positives. The staff are really nice people. Everyone working there seemed very responsive, kind and eager to please. I will also add that although old, the place is very clean.The value for the cost was very good. I paid $125 for Friday to Sunday at the motel and used the adjacent meeting room for our event. 3 meals were included at the very close by dining hall space. The meals included a nice little salad bar, several drink choices, and generally two choices of meal. Veggie meals available if requested. Meals included sliced ham and mac n cheese, baked fish or fried chicken with mashed potatoes, and pasta with meat or without meat sauce. Each meal included bread and a dessert choice from cheesecake to brownies. Meals are served at a specified time so it is not in any way a restaurant. Also the included meals are optional depending on the arrangements you pay for.The location is very serene. It is out in the middle of nowhere, or at least it feels that way. It is a precarious drive at night or if unfamiliar with the road, which was me, but I came and left safely.I stayed at the motel. The room was simple and makes Motel 6 look well appointed. There was a double bed and a single in our room, a basic desk, and 2 small red shade lamps that gave off a sort of red light district vibe. Heat was great in the room, as I was there in January. Overhead light was good. Parking was right outside the door for easy unloading. The bathroom is tiny with toilet seats set facing the tub like someone who won a Darwin award installed them, but the owners plan to change this as funds allow. Some rooms have already been 'upgraded.' The hot water is quick and plentiful. Towels are thin and sparse, and there is no maid service or towel changes, although I'm sure if one asked they would accommodate. There is no TV and they are just getting internet at the place. We had spotty internet access but I use my data no problem.The meeting room had fabulous light, clean bathrooms, good heat, comfortable conference chairs and light tables for ease of set up and take down. There is a full kitchen with all the basics so you could cook your meals right there if you wanted.The roads are pretty much dirt and it can become muddy in inclement weather. There is a path to walk from the conference room to the dining hall, about a 3 minute walk. The dining hall shares a space on Sundays for a religious service, as this is a popular location for religious sponsored youth activities. I am not particularly Christian and I felt comfortable there. I think it is because the place was serene and everyone was nice. They did not try to push any religion on me, although there are plenty of little inspirational signs about hope, faith, grace and all that. Those are all good things to have in any case.I really look forward to returning for a retreat activity in the future. I think it could make a great wedding venue except for how isolated it is for guests to navigate.