F.A.Q.s
Frequently Asked Questions
What is La Foret?
Opened in 1944, La Foret is a not-for-profit conference and retreat center. La Foret is situated on 365 beautifully wooded acres in the heart of Black Forest, Colorado. Accessible year-round, La Foret offers multiple indoor meeting venues, the largest of which can accommodate up to 200 people. Our lodging includes Lapp Lodge, nine cabins, six yurts, and our dining hall. Recreation includes an outdoor swimming pool, a ropes course, hiking trails, archery, sand volleyball, tennis, basketball, horseshoes, gaga ball, etc. We can accommodate groups for retreats, reunions, weddings, family reunions, school outings, ropes course initiatives, and so much more.
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Alice Bemis Taylor, famous Colorado Springs philanthropist, developed and operated La Foret as a personal retreat from 1928 until her death in 1942. On April 15, 1944, the Bemis foundation deeded La Foret to the Colorado Congregational Conference, later to become the United Church of Christ. Over the years La Foret has developed into a full-service conference and retreat center, serving well over 100 groups every year.
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Is La Foret religious? Does La Foret require groups to be of a particular denomination?
No denominational affiliation is required to use this great facility. Everyone is welcome at La Foret! We provide sanctuary for all to consider the transcendent in life.
La Foret welcomes groups from a wide variety of organizations, including but not limited to faith communities, nonprofits, educational institutions, businesses, and community groups seeking meaningful retreat experiences. ​We are open to all, and we respect your beliefs, practices, and traditions. Please bring your program here knowing that our mutual priority is the need of your participants. We do not proselytize or promote during your visit here.​​​ Read more about our commitments to welcoming everyone.
Since its founding in 1944, La Foret has been affiliated with the Rocky Mountain Conference United Church of Christ. La Foret is a private 501(c)3 governed by its own Board of Directors.
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Can my family rent a cabin for a weekend?
Families are welcome to rent cabins at La Foret. Our cabins sleep between ten and twenty people, and are equipped with bunk beds. Rooms in Lapp Lodeg can accommodate up to five persons per room. We require at least twenty people to open our dining hall for meals, unless we are already serving other groups. Two of our cabins have full household kitchens. One of these cabins with kitchens sleeps eleven and the other sleeps eighteen. Small groups that rent our cabins with kitchens are able to be self-contained and cook their own meals.
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Does La Foret allow tent camping throughout the woods?
Group tent camping is only allowed in designated areas. This typically entails renting our yurt village, which has its own bathhouse and fire circle. It also includes use of the Ben Smith Stables. We are not a campground, so we cannot currently accommodate individuals looking for a spot to pitch a tent.
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Do you require a deposit upon booking?
20% of your Guaranteed Minimum is due 2 weeks after the contract has been issued. We contract based on minimum numbers, so if you exceed your contracted minimum, we will update the balance due, which reflects your actual count for meals and for lodging. Then, 30% of the Guaranteed Minimum is due 2 months prior to your arrival date, and 50% of the Guaranteed Minimum is due 1 month prior to your arrival date.Final Invoice will include charges for any additional guests/food/lodging.
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What is the refund policy?
If cancellation is outside 60 days of receiving a signed contract, 5% of the guaranteed minimum is non-refundable. If cancellation is within 60 days of the event, 50% of the entire contracted amount is due at the time of cancellation. If cancellation is within 30 days of the event, 80% of the entire contracted is due at the time of cancellation. If cancellation is within 14 days of the event, the entire guaranteed minimum is due at the time of cancellation.
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Do you offer discounts for non-profits or repeat users?
La Foret offers discounted rates for Ecumenical Partners, UCC and DOC churches, along with special rates for schools if they fall within our qualifying parameters. Discounts may also be offered during our off-season depending on occupancy rate. Please reach out to our Guest Services team to confirm eligibility.
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Are prices different during certain parts of the year? Do you have off-season rates?
La Foret's rates are based on what it costs us to operate and remain in business. We reserve the right to offer special pricing when it is possible. We offer off-season rates for weddings, November 1st - April 30th. We also offer discounted rates to our ecumenical partners and are happy to support our mid-week school groups with special rates.
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Can your kitchen accommodate our group’s dietary restrictions?
We want everyone to feel comfortable and cared for at mealtime. Our kitchen is peanut-free, and we’re happy to work with guests who have serious food allergies by offering alternate options. When needed, meals can be prepared separately to help reduce the risk of cross-contamination. While we take care in our kitchen, we do not have dedicated allergen-free prep spaces and our facility is not celiac-safe. Because of this, cross-contamination - especially with gluten - can happen.
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We do our best to honor dietary preferences whenever possible. Alongside a hot breakfast each morning, we always offer fruit, yogurt, oatmeal, and cereal. Lunch and dinner include a big, well-stocked salad bar in addition to the main meal. With these choices, we hope everyone can find something nourishing, comforting, and tasty at every meal.
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Do I need to bring my own bedding?
You may. We can also provide linens at the rate of $22.00 per person. Our linen set includes mattress pad, sheet set, pillow, blankets and a towel. Linens are included in Lapp Lodge room rates. Many of our guests bring their own sleeping bag/bedding, pillow and towel. You will also need to provide your own personal toiletry items.
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Can I bring my pet?
Only licensed service animals are allowed at La Foret. Emotional support animals are allowed, but you will need to have a letter, including their contact information, from a licensed psychiatrist, psychologist or therapist stating the need for your support animal. Download our rules here.
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Is La Foret open to the public?
No, La Foret is private, but you can visit us with a registered group or make arrangements with the office ahead of your arrival. For the security and safety of our guests, we are not able to accommodate walk-ins or transient guests. La Foret is a Colorado licensed resident camp. When licensed camps are in session, all adults on site must have completed a background checked process to be in attendance.
How can I volunteer at La Foret?
Prearranged work groups are welcome to come to La Foret. We also have volunteers who serve our summer programming. Visit the Refuge to learn more. Volunteers working in other capacities (such as with our summer camp programs) are first required to complete a background check.
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How do I sign my kids up for summer camp?
Summer camp is available through several different hosts, as well as La Foret's own camp. With the Refuge at La Foret, you can find details and links to our sign up forms for easy, online registration. Learn more here!
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Did any of La Foret burn in the Black Forest Fire of 2013?
We are very lucky that firefighters worked so hard to save our property and buildings, as well as many other important community spaces. Thankfully, our land did not experience any of the major wildfire that year.
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