Ben Lomond Quaker Center

Ben Lomond Quaker Center is a peaceful retreat and event venue set among the redwood forests of the Santa Cruz Mountains in Northern California. The centre welcomes groups, organisations and couples looking for a relaxed setting for conferences, training sessions, retreats, meetings, community gatherings and small weddings.

Two dedicated group facilities, Orchard Lodge and Redwood Lodge, can be rented separately or together. Each lodge combines overnight accommodation with a large meeting and dining hall, a commercial kitchen, outdoor meeting areas and wireless internet. This makes the site suitable for residential programmes where attendees can stay, meet, share meals and enjoy the surrounding woodland setting in one location.

The venue is particularly well suited to organisers seeking a practical, informal and values-led environment rather than a conventional hotel or luxury conference venue. Groups can prepare their own meals in the kitchens or arrange their own cook, while the flexible facilities support workshops, training programmes, spiritual retreats, planning sessions and organisation-led events. Guests are expected to handle their own cleaning, helping Quaker Center keep hire fees modest.

Quaker Center also hosts outdoor weddings and quiet receptions, with capacity for weddings and receptions of up to 100 people. The redwood setting, open-air gathering spaces and simple approach appeal to couples and organisers who value nature, community and a less formal event experience. The centre welcomes groups from a wide range of backgrounds, provided their activities are compatible with its emphasis on peace, equality and nonviolence.