The Story Behind the Sanctuary: How a Season of Adversity Built Swell Retreat
The unexpected journey that built Swell Retreat
Every story has a beginning, but the story of Swell Retreat didn’t start when we purchased our 208 acres of land. It actually began years earlier, during a season of my life that I never would have chosen for myself.
I was navigating a painful divorce I did not want. Soon after, I found myself deployed to Iraq. Surrounded by the harsh realities of war and the emotional weight of a broken marriage, I was forced to face some of the hardest questions of my life:
Who am I now?
What is my purpose?
What kind of life do I want to create from here?
During that deployment, two specific moments planted a seed that would change my life forever. The first was reading the book The Purpose Driven Life. The second was an experience provided by the Army, which sent me to a retreat specifically for single soldiers.
In that space, away from the daily noise and demands of deployment, I started to heal. And I started to wonder: What if there was a place where people could step away from the pressure of everyday life long enough to remember who they are? What if families could recreate, learn, and reconnect? What if people going through their own difficult seasons could discover that adversity does not have to be the end of their story?
Years later, that seed grew into Swell Retreat.
Since opening our doors in 2020, more than 10,000 people have crossed our property lines. They have ridden horses, paddled across our lakes, cleared trails, gathered around campfires, faced deep fears, built lifelong relationships, and created unforgettable memories.
While the property itself is undeniably beautiful, the purpose of Swell Retreat has always been bigger than the physical place. We didn't build this just for people to see the sights; we built it so they would leave stronger, more connected, and more aware of what is truly possible in their lives.
Adversity doesn't get to write the final chapter of your life. If you are looking for a place to disconnect from the noise and reconnect with what matters most, our gates are always open.
With love,
Lacy J Hardman
Swell Retreat
Live so SWELL
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