Sad Friends x Grateful Woods

A Community Retreat

June 23-27, 2025

What is Grateful Woods?

Grateful Woods is a 75-acre farm property in beautiful Hudson Valley, New York. Owners Marc and Casey spent 2 years building, renovating, and fixing up the property on a mission to create the magical gathering place of their dreams.

Upon waking, you’ll hear thousands of tree frogs and birds communicating while a 30 foot, three tier waterfall roars with fresh water from nearby mountain tops. With a cup of coffee in hand, you can begin your day with a beautiful walk on over 2 miles of groomed nature trails. Or, take a dip in the natural watering hole and spend the rest of your day exploring the property’s 40 acres of deep woods and 35 acres of farm meadows.

AMENITIES

75 acres of gorgeous wilderness and farmland. Numerous outdoor gathering spaces with charming accents, crowded tables, and a swimming pool/hot tub combo. Hammocks, lounge chairs, and Adirondacks up the wazoo. Campfires galore - anyone thinking singalongs?! Nature for admiring, bathing, and foraging. Lawn games, basketball, and volleyball for our elite athletezzzz, or at least the wannabes. Globe lights and twinkly magic things for our dreamers. Grills and smokers for our chefs! 14 stall horse stable, numerous horse paddocks, a riding ring, and miles of trails in the woods. And ANIMALS, too! Grateful Woods is home to a dozen goats, three Scottish Highlander Cows, and over a dozen horses. Gaze at the sweet animals and even feed them yummy treats. This place is ALL ABOUT togetherness and belonging… honestly, what more do we need to say?

Grounds

Okay, we don’t want to reveal EVERYTHING we have up our sleeve… but can you say writing workshops, nature art, photography classes, crafting, SHRINKY DINK (iykyk), bread-ice-cream-and-cookie making, outdoor movie nights, games, a talent show or open mic, even stick and poke tattoos (all included)?! And to start and end your day, you can expect professional chef prepared meals. We’re talking adult summer camp vibes but TURNED UP. Oh…and as much downtime as you want and need, of course, because we may be excited, but we’re still a couple of chill bitches.

Workshops, Activities & Food

Grateful Woods partners with the area’s top practitioners to allow visitors access to wellness and adventure experiences like massage, yoga, kayaking, hiking, rock climbing, and fishing! A group farmer’s market outing for some fresh local dinner bounty, anyone!? Your organizers are open to what you’re looking for - if you dream it, we can make it happen.

Local Perks

SFSC Perks

I mean, you already know we love an opportunity to flaunt it. Welcome bags on arrival, branded goodies, Sad Friends x Grateful Woods memorabilia, and more. Probably (definitely) much better than you are envisioning, but I guess we’re biased.

Oh yeah, and the best fucking people on the planet all in one place.

Lodging Deets

The heart of the property - a 3 bedroom, 2 bath log cabin that has recently been fully renovated with a new chef’s kitchen, bathrooms, dining room, and media room.
Situated in between the Lodge and the Barn is our one bedroom Cottage with an ensuite bathroom and living room.
Located next to our waterfall, a former horse stable that we converted into a 3 bedroom, 2 bath Barn-house.
A newly renovated house located just across the street from Grateful Woods. The home overlooks the farm with views of the mountains in the distance. It sits on nearly seven acres and includes a fully stocked fishing pond, game room, fireplace, fire pit, hot tub, pizza oven, and more. Just a two minute walk down the scenic driveway through the animal pastures will bring you to the other units of Grateful Woods.
A retro converted school bus equipped with full electricity (lights, outlets, and AC) and located in the gardens near the pool and outdoor shower. Includes a queen bed, seating, and mini fridge.
4 spacious, luxurious canvas tents raised on platforms and fully furnished with real beds, rugs, blankets, clothing racks, mirrors, decor, electricity, and fans.

Our Queer, Neurospicy,

and, Let’s Face It,

Gastronomically Gifted

Team

Organizer. Community Builder
Simply unable to do anything that isn’t at least a little about mental health or being gay. Lover of ice cream. Unlover of soup. Therapist who says fuck. Pious for chosen family. Ready to pull out the cooking skills, too. Destroyer of patriarchy.
Chef & Food Stylist
Big fan of the 99 cent poncho. 90% of headspace at any given time dedicated to deciding what’s for dinner. At war with gluten since 2020. Making bad decisions with Lindsay since 2002.
Pastry Chef & Food Stylist
Found either on the water or in the kitchen serving up what you wish you were having. Not your basic bitch - more of a captain, but also ready to unpack trauma at any time. Bridge builder whose alter ego might be Taylor Swift. Laughing and crying with Lindsay since 1997.
Photographer & Fun Documenter
Newly deemed autistic WIP (work-in-progress - wink). Photography Wizard hiding behind a viewfinder since '88. Last on the dance floor, first in the water. Caregiver who is lost if not caring. Not always sure when you're joking but trying really hard. Trademarked sweet baby angel.

Learn about our package options

The Lodge
The Barn
The Cottage
Tent Village
The Bus

Options

Breathe in the amazing, hold on through the awful, relax and exhale during the ordinary. That’s just living a heart-breaking, soul-healing, amazing, awful, ordinary life. And it’s beautiful.

L.R. Knost