Shambhala Mountain Center is available for rent by groups seeking a contemplative environment. We are conveniently located just two hours north of Denver International Airport. Our facility and its surroundings provide a comfortable, rustic and naturally peaceful environment for your gathering. We are the ideal location for intimate group retreats, yoga, meditation, martial arts and contemplative arts. Our campus can accommodate 150 guests in the fall, winter and spring. During the summer, furnished platform tents increase our housing capacity to 500 guests.
Our campus has three unique meeting facilities ranging in size and architecture, which can be used singly or jointly. All meeting facilities provide an environment that can be configured to suit your group's needs and activities. Rooms can e equipped with meditation cushions, tables and chairs, or left open for free movement.
Faith
Buddhist:
Buddhist
Open to All:
Open to All
Mission/Lineage: Shambhala Mountain Center is affiliated with Shambhala International, a network of 140 urban communities and seven rural retreat centers.
Average Cost: $$ - $$$
Environment: Mountain, Rural, Rustic, Woods
Special Needs: Wheelchair Access
Language: English
Overnight Guest Capacity (defined as):
500
Meeting Space Capacity (defined as):
500
Meeting Rooms:
| Room Name | Square Feet | Capacity | Description |
| Sacred Studies Hall | 1600 | 125 | A marble-tiled entryway leads into the assembly hall with bamboo flooring and floor-to-ceiling windows. Recessed partitions enable the hall to be divided into three rooms. Use of the outdoor courtyard and Zen garden. Kitchenette available. |
| Red Feather Lodge | 1200 | 75 | Nestled into the mountainside, this lodge provides a rustic, secluded and quiet meeting space. A large entryway with fireplace is located adjacent to a dining area with banquet tables and chairs. A kitchen is available for exclusive, on-site meal service. |
| Rigden Lodge | 875 | 65 | This bright, spacious hall is floored with bamboo and encircled with windows. It offers the perfect setting for meditation, contemplative arts and body-awareness practices. An adjacent dining room can hold smaller groups or service for snacks and tea. |
| Conference Tent | 5350 | 300 | This large tent is available June through September. It can be configured for audience seating up to 300, meditation space for 200, or yoga sessions for approximately 100 people. It can be left open or configured differently based upon your group's needs. |
Groups Served: 12 Step / Addiction / Recovery, Arts / Crafts, Business, Church / Faith / Religious, Dance / Theater, Educational, Families, Health / Healing, Lesbian / Gay, Meditation Groups, Mens Groups, Music, Nature / Adventure, Non-profit, Peace / Justice, Personal Development Groups, Silent, Womens Groups, Writing, Yoga Groups, Youth Groups
Amenities: AV Service, Carpet, Fire Pit / Circle, Fireplaces, Gardens / Outdoor Space, Meditation Hall, On-line / Internet Access, Walking/ Hiking Trails
Technology and AV: Slide Projector, Projector Screen, Mics, Recording Equipment, Video and Stereo.
Room Types: Dorm, Hotel, Tent
Some or all housing is single sex only.
Children OK: Yes!
Food: Vegetarian Options
Meal Availability: Available On Site, Kitchen - Private, Provided - All Meals
Location of this Retreat:
151 Shambhala Way
Red Feather Lakes, CO 80545
United States
Travel Info: The Center is located in Colorado, northwest of Denver and Boulder. The nearest major airport is Denver International Airport. We provide transportation service between Fort Collins and Shambhala Mountain Center for travelers arriving on the scheduled arrival and departure days for their program. The fee for this service is $40 per person each way, payable in advance.
For more information, visit the Shambhala Mountain Center web site: www.shambhalamountain.org
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Lila B
10/18/2008
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I recently attended a weekend yoga workshop at Shambhala. The location is idealic. As I drove further and further from Colorado's congested Front Range, I already started feeling more peaceful and relaxed. The private accommodations are wonderful--I can't speak to the shared dorms or platform tents. The quality of teaching with Jill Satterfield was excellent, as was the yoga room. A peaceful place for retreat the fosters the inward journey. The tour of the Great Stupa was also wonderful.
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Sumati
2/13/2008
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I visited SMC this past fall as part of the “Take Down” crew- volunteers who help to take down the lodging tents before the snow comes in exchange for food and lodging. I have very fond feelings for SMC based on my experience, but I have say that the experience itself was challenging and may not be for everyone. But I have also I spoken with several people who give SMC rave reviews and try to return each year. Please realize that my experiences were a bit different than most because I had the role of being “staff”, which is very, very different than being a participant in one of the retreat programs. Rather than being on the land with a specific focus for my attention (a retreat program), I was there completely open and ready to experience whatever the land and the teachings had to offer.
What I found to be quite shocking was SMC’s approach to Buddhism. I had not read much of Trungpa’s work or anything about his life so I was surprised to hear about the eating of meat and the drinking of alcohol (at staff gatherings). I was also surprised by the Kasong who were dressed in military style outfits and march around the land. But when I approached people to discuss my issues I found everyone to be very open to discussion and came to understand and respect the role of the Kasong in the protection of the land and the lineage. While at first they worried me, I came to be grateful for the security that they offered. I still chose not to eat meat, did not drink and refrained from sexual activities, and I felt very safe and supported in doing so, even by those who were drinking, etc.
In the end I am very grateful that my time at SMC helped me to confront my assumptions about what Buddhism is and is not, about the role of meat, alcohol and even sexuality in the face of spirituality. In essence SMC helped to strip me of my veils and to more fully realize a core Buddhist principle- that life is about how we approach each moment, our intention with each action is what is important, not the outcome or even the action itself.
I have been told by those who have attended retreats that SMC is a wonderful place, my experience was a bit different, a bit more challenging that the word “wonderful” allows for. But I am happy for the transformation that occurred through my time at SMC.
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Sumati
2/13/2008
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I visited SMC this past fall as part of the “Take Down” crew- volunteers who help to take down the lodging tents before the snow comes in exchange for food and lodging. I have very fond feelings for SMC based on my experience, but I have say that the experience itself was challenging and may not be for everyone. But I have also I spoken with several people who give SMC rave reviews and try to return each year. Please realize that my experiences were a bit different than most because I had the role of being “staff”, which is very, very different than being a participant in one of the retreat programs. Rather than being on the land with a specific focus for my attention (a retreat program), I was there completely open and ready to experience whatever the land and the teachings had to offer.
What I found to be quite shocking was SMC’s approach to Buddhism. I had not read much of Trungpa’s work or anything about his life so I was surprised to hear about the eating of meat and the drinking of alcohol (at staff gatherings). I was also surprised by the Kasong who were dressed in military style outfits and march around the land. But when I approached people to discuss my issues I found everyone to be very open to discussion and came to understand and respect the role of the Kasong in the protection of the land and the lineage. While at first they worried me, I came to be grateful for the security that they offered. I still chose not to eat meat, did not drink and refrained from sexual activities, and I felt very safe and supported in doing so, even by those who were drinking, etc.
In the end I am very grateful that my time at SMC helped me to confront my assumptions about what Buddhism is and is not, about the role of meat, alcohol and even sexuality in the face of spirituality. In essence SMC helped to strip me of my veils and to more fully realize a core Buddhist principle- that life is about how we approach each moment, our intention with each action is what is important, not the outcome or even the action itself.
I have been told by those who have attended retreats that SMC is a wonderful place, my experience was a bit different, a bit more challenging that the word “wonderful” allows for. But I am happy for the transformation that occurred through my time at SMC.
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Gretchen Vaughn
2/5/2008
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I've been to four retreats at the Shambhala Mountain Center: Turning the Mind into an Ally, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, and Shambhala Warrior Training Levels 2 & 3. My favorite was the MBSR retreat which was an unbelievable experience. The facility itself offers a variety of accommodations. Since I've gone in the winter, I always chose either Shambhala or Rigden Lodge. Those two lodges are new and very, very nice. The staff are very attentive and make sure your dietary and other needs are met. The cooks sometimes get a little too creative, but the food quality is good overall. The location is very spiritual and looked over by the Great Stupa, which is a tourist attraction unto itself.
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soccerlexis
1/1/2008
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Unfortunately, I cannot recommend Shambhala Mountain Center based upon my time there. A tremendous amount of time was spent paying homage to the teachings through chants and other ceremonies, but people at the retreat, including staff members, did not seem to follow the core Buddhist ethical principles. Twice, a woman was hit on by staff members, one of whom is already in a committed relationship, which is completely against their Code of Conduct. I also heard of staff having large quantities of alcohol on campus. In the Dathun (retreat) program, participants spend five hours per day eating oryoki style meals, which consist of a great deal of ceremony and a great lack of hygiene. There were pictures on the shrine of the two teachers whose teaching we were supposed to bow down to. Many participants complained that they were not getting into a deep meditative state and that much of the day was spent moving around cushions. People rarely obeyed the rules for functional and noble silence which proved disruptive for the retreat. They were packed like sardines into a tiny shrineroom for 10-12 hours per day, which couldn't have helped. One strange thing was that 20-30 male staff members were walking around in faux-military uniforms. The physical area was beautiful, but that could be said about a lot of retreat centers. Sorry, but I simply cannot recommend this place.
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Dave Platter
11/20/2003
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I spent a summer at Shambhala Mountain Center and loved it so much I'm still working with them, even though I've moved back to New York City. It's a wonderful place. I recommend everyone try it, if for a weekend or a year.
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Estelle Van Pavert
3/24/2003
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Shambhala Mountain Center is completely delightful. Highly recommend visiting this special place if you are interested in meditation or yoga.
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