UU in the Pines 


The Florida Poly Retreat 2009 will be held at UU in the Pines in Brooksville, Florida, the same location as the 2006 through 2008 events. We will have the entire facility to ourselves. While UU in the Pines is a Unitarian Universalist Retreat Center, FPR is NOT a UU or spiritual focused retreat. UU in the Pines is extremely accommodating to polyamory, and does not only host church and spiritual based conferences. The FPR Staff has thus far found the UU in the Pines staff to be extremely friendly and easy to work with, and they are excited to have our group host our retreat with them. UU in the Pines has a bit of a rustic feeling, while still providing the creature comforts of bedrooms, air conditioning and indoor plumbing. The facilities are bit older, and there is a damp feel to the center. However, the grounds are gorgeous and the layout is perfect for a retreat like ours. The onsite housing is more dorm-room like and have a communal feel. Overall, this will lend itself to more of a community feel to the retreat. However, those wishing for more privacy may opt to tent camp onsite or stay offsite in a nearby hotel.

Quick Links:

Location
Facility Layout
Lodging Options
Meeting Facilities
Other Cool Things to Do
Meals/Catering

Location


7029 Cedar Ln
Brooksville, FL 34601
Phone: 352-796-4457  (feel free to leave this behind as an emergency contact number)

Directions: UU in the Pines is located in Brooksville, FL. It's about 6 miles west of where I-75 and Hwy 50 intersect - just north of Tampa.  Off of I-75, take Exit 301 and head West of 50 about 6 miles. Cedar Lane will be on your Left (no traffic signal).  There will be a BBQ place at the intersection on the left. We will have signs posted at the intersection as well. UU in the Pines is located on the right less than a quarter mile. Parking will be tight... do your best to make use of the limited space. Carpooling is highly recommended if you can.

From Orlando: 1.5 hours
From Tampa: 1 hr
From Melbourne: 2.5 hrs
From Gainesville: 1.5 hrs
From Ocala: 1 hr
From Jacksonville: 3 hrs
From Tallahassee: 3.75 hrs
From Ft. Lauderdale: 4.5 hrs
From Miami: 5 hrs
From Ft. Meyers: 2.75 hrs

Facility Layout:

UU in the Pines has a fairly close knit layout that provides for a lot of community feel.

There are three guest houses (Adams, Barton and Cedar) with a variety of sleeping rooms, and a really well laid out meeting and dining hall. There are several outside areas, including a swimming pool, gazebo, meditation center and a moon capsule looking room in the woods that is quite awesomely cool. There are 14 acres to the facility, and a nature trail that runs around it for those wanting a little more outdoorsy stuff.

Above you can see the Barton House & Adams House (lodging) in the foreground, with the end of the meeting hall in the background. The Cedar house is situated behind the meeting hall.

Lodging Options:

Lodging options will include:

  • Guest houses. There are 3 guest houses onsite, each with a different layout, with a variety of private room configurations. There are no private baths in any of the rooms, and all baths are shared with other house mates. The guest houses are best described as being similar to dorm rooms.

      Please be aware, this is an older facility located in a damp forest setting - the rooms have a musty feel to them.  If you have allergies to mold or aversions to such conditions, we don't recommend staying onsite. We recommend registering early to secure your preferred room. Note on all guest house rooms: You will need to bring your own bed linens and towels.

  • Tent camping. The facility can accommodate a number of tents. All camping is primitive, as there are no electrical or water hook-ups. Campers will be able to access bathrooms in the guest houses.

  • Off-site lodging. For those that desire more privacy, there are also several name brand hotels about 6 miles from the retreat center near the interstate. Here are the hotels near I-75 and 50 (there are others in the area if you wish to research those):

    FPR does not endorse any of the above hotels, nor do we have any business relationship with them. It is up to each attendee to select the best option for them, and make their own arrangements for offsite lodging. Please be aware of your hotel's cancellation policies and terms/conditions when booking, and shop around for best rates.

Meeting Facilities

UU in the Pines offers a wide variety of meetings spaces.  Primarily, there is the Meeting/Dining hall that has 3 distinct meeting rooms, plus a library for smaller gatherings. One meeting room can accommodate 100-125 easily, and the two others can accommodate 30-40 each without problem. In addition, there is a dining hall that can seat about 50 at a time (one of the meeting rooms is used for dining overflow, plus there's courtyard tables too.)  There's also a Library room that can be used for general gathering and socializing.

In addition to the meeting hall, there is a gazebo outside that can fit about 10-15 for a smaller meeting, fire circle, memorial garden with bench seating and the Peace Chapel (a cool space capsule looking building) that can all be used for meeting space.  There will be plenty of room for formal workshops, as well as impromptu workshops that attendees may choose to organize onsite.

Other Cool Things

Here are some of the other cool things about UU in the Pines:

The fire circle, complete with seating!  Firewood is usually abundant and already gathered and ready to go. Our staff includes a fireman and a pyromaniac, and together they can create some pretty awesome FAHRs.  FPR will offer a bonfire every evening, with drum/music/dance circles - weather permitting.  The bonfires will be topless-allowed.

The gazebo - can be used for discussion group meetings, or for general shady hanging out.

The pool, fairly offset from the main lodging areas will be available 24/7. The pool area will be clothing optional, however all other areas of FPR will require clothing.

The Peace Chapel - out in the woods, and totally awesome. Round carpeted room with vaulted ceiling. FPR will offer experiential workshops in this room, and attendees may use the facility while not in use for impromptu discussion circles and workshops.

Meals/Catering

UU in the Pines will home cook all meals. Our staff will be working with the catering staff to come up with a menu that is vegetarian friendly as well. All meals will be served 'family style' in the dining hall.  All meals are included, as noted on our price sheet. (Day Passes without Meals, of course, do not include meals.)

There will be a refrigerator available to attendees in the Heinlein Room where you can keep any food or beverages. There will not be cooking facilities available to day pass attendees. However, there is a BBQ place within walking distance of the retreat center.

This is not the UU in the Pines website. UU in the Pines does not currently have a website available. For UU in the Pines booking information, please contact Suzanne at 352-796-4457

Please contact coordinator@floridapolyretreat.com for more information