Elk Island Retreat

Thanks so much for making our anniversary weekend we spent in the Eagles Nest GeoDome so memorable - Amazing experience and so private in nature! The trail nearby is a treat and the new facilities for events look amazing! Was a pleasure meeting such welcoming hosts and look forward to our next visit!

My spouse and I have spent getaway weekends in two of the Elk Island Retreat geodomes. They are cosy and comfortable and allowed us to have a relaxing weekend away from it all in a natural wilderness. The interiors have heating if it gets cold and the windowed section of the dome lets it feel light and spacious. The facilities near the domes include a sheltered BBQ grill and fire pit and seating that allows you to have the flexibility to cook and have your meals either indoors or out. The geodome includes helpful amenities like a small freezer+fridge and cutting board and coffee maker and some selections of coffee and tea but you will have to bring your own dishes (they provide detergent and a tub for washing them.The surrounding area within the retreat is lovely with several footpaths and there is also a showering facility and the ability to buy some small camping essentials (we ran out of bug spray so this came in handy). It’s also about 5 minutes drive away from the East gate of the Elk Island National Park as well.We loved staying at their geodomes and are definitely coming back next year.

I'm only giving 2 stars for this trip because it was quiet and relaxing but annoyed by several ant hills in site 27 your over run by ants and sand ticks/fleasThe staff are amazing thoMy site wasn't cleaned prior to check in either or they would have made sure the elm alder and willow cotton balls where not all over the site we where basically in alder and ant villeThe sites are big and full service is providedVery disappointed that when we called we could have fires with our own wood at that to finding out only way to have a fire is to rent a propane fire pit which come with a full tank of propaneIt's a surprise to the pocket book very pricey48 for full service plus 45 rental for propane fire pitNot very treed the trails feel like your just crossing a farmers field no wildlife what so ever seen near or in the retreat except bugs and birdsI was disappointed for the price I paid when inside elk island national park which is 3 km more down the road gives you sites with fires allowed has scenery and is more a nature adventureThan the retreat is the retreat clearly is using services off site as there was no spas no beach no fine dining never even seen a hotel on siteThe domes are cool but again wouldn't be worth the money and you can't have your pets with you unless your in a full service camp siteDisappointed birthday girl

I was there today,but my boss told me I had to meet up with him right away, so I ended up getting a site in Fort Saskatchewan.The people were so friendly and the elk resort is beautiful.I'm packing up my trailer after I get some sleep and headed back there tomorrow.It will be worth the extra 20 minute drive each day to be in a site that is so peaceful surrounded in beauty.

My husband and I were blown away by this experience starting at check in. We were greeted by one of the friendly owners who gave us a complimentary bottle of wine because it was our anniversary. The Willow Yurt is so clean and bright and the attention to detail is second to none. The owners source local products and also support artisans from all over the world; it is obvious how passionate they are about your overall experience.We had a private fire pit and picnic table; and birch firewood! Bonus to not come home smelling like campfire. There is also a private section of the cook house with your own bbq and picnic table.We ordered the bits and bites charcuterie board which was EXQUISITE. Shweta delivered the board and, with great pride, spent 20 minutes describing the ingredients and where she got them; it was a delightful experience that went way beyond our expectations. The green olives were from the Italian Centre, but she made her own fennel brine for them which was SO DELICIOUS. Everything on the board was edible, even the flowers. (which were also surprisingly tasty) The wine that accompanied the board was perfectly paired. Shweta even brought us an apertif from Italy to induce our hunger, and gave us a gift of a homemade bowl. The story she told us about supporting the children making these bowls was unbelievable, so much kindness exuded from our host!Thank you to Elk Island Retreat for hosting us for our first anniversary celebration. We will be telling our friends and family about this getaway spot and will be coming back ourselves for sure.There is also an amazing new event space available if you are looking for a very classy and peaceful outdoor venue.

We absolutely love this resort. First of all, it’s super close to Edmonton, 35 minutes to a wilderness paradise. We arrived to a super quick check in. Our lovely host brought our firewood up to the cabin. All we did was unpack and kick off our shoes. The cabin was super clean and bright. The bed was really comfortable and soft. The bedding was layered and luxurious. We had a small fridge with a freezer. Bring ice cream. Cooking was really easy on the stainless steel BBQ and surrounding counter. It was nice to bring everything outside and cook in one area, covered but open to the elements. I loved it. The chairs outdoors were comfortable, oh there were these great rocking chairs in the cabin, as well. I brought some watercolors and books , we walked the endless trails around the resort and park. I cannot recommend this resort more for a quick escape out of the city. Bring your family, bring your girlfriends. I can’t wait to come back.

We stayed at the Frogs Hair cabin. We absolutely loved our stay, and will be back for years to come. It’s was clean and well setup. The cooking house was convenient when it rained. It was nice to have the bbq, wash basin and basics already there so you didn’t have to pack so much. The staff was friendly and very helpful. The campground was quiet and peaceful at night well sitting around the fire. It was the perfect stay for our holiday!

We enjoyed a magical evening with Ignissimo! It was an intimate outdoor dining experience, with welcoming chef Pawel. The food was delicious, the company was fantastic, the elements were stunning! Would definitely recommend!!

We really enjoyed a nice getaway close to home. We stayed in the Willow Yurt. They are SO clean! And you get a fridge! the style is on point! We loved that we had our own BBQ picnic area, and fire pit. Giving our true feedback, we found the main Queen bed, SOOOO uncomfortable. Hard as a rock. I spent a lot of our first morning there in a lot of back pain. The next night I used the pull out couch and I slept much better. I would suggest maybe a soft pad for it? The owners are so friendly and we hope to go back one day. :) we do wish there was a store closer to the location for anything we forgot. Wasn’t really much for the kids to do. Such as a playground. But we are still happy with our stay.

Loved our stay in the Dark Sky Geodome! Very clean, super cozy, and the bed was very comfortable. It was on the edge of the campground, so a very quiet location. This Geodome faces a scenic forested area. Close to Elk Island Park for an easy day trip in. The staff was very friendly and helpful. Would definitely recommend staying here!