This page outlines the essential details of our facilities and daily life on retreat. Prior to their arrival, retreat guests are also sent the FRC Handbook which has even more detail. Email us at team@focusretreatcenter.com if you have any questions!
Retreat Groups
Retreats range in size from 4 to 14 guests. Most retreats are 1 week in length. We also may have guests doing longer term residencies at FRC as well and they generally mingle in with the retreat groups seamlessly.
Private Bedroom
Each guest has a private single-occupancy bedroom equipped with:
- full-sized bed
- linens and towels
- sit-stand ergonomic desk & office chair
- a reading chair and ottoman
- a reading lamp
- clothes closet - either built-in or freestanding
- central air conditioning
- smart thermostat to adjust the heat in the room
- lighting with adjustable brightness and color balance
- top-down-bottom-up window shades
We do not provide hotel-style room cleaning services. Linens and towels can be exchanged for clean items as needed.
Click here to see the full gallery of room photos
Common Rooms
There are 2 larger common rooms where guests are encouraged to work in a collaborative atmosphere. Each guest's desk and chair are on wheels so they are easy to move back and forth between the common rooms and bedrooms at will. There are some larger tables for working together as well. We adjust and tailor the furniture layout to best suite each retreat.
Media Room
There is a media room with smart TV and home theater speakers for watching movies and listening to music in small groups.
Hobby Rooms
Spare rooms can be set up for hobbies like music, sewing, crafting, etc as fits the interests of each group.
Shared Bathrooms
The main building has 6 total guest bathrooms that are shared. 4 are off the common rooms, and 2 are semi-private situated between 2 bedrooms. There's plenty of hot water and with so many bathrooms available it's unlikely that you will ever need to wait to use one.
Meals
Meals are served in our dining room which can seat an entire retreat group at the same time. Breakfast is either cooked-to-order diner fare: eggs, pancakes, etc or continental style: oatmeal, cereal, yogurt, fruit, etc. Lunch is typically based around sandwiches, soups, and salads. The dinner menu is chef-chosen, prepared for the group, and served buffet style.
Self-serve coffee, tea, snacks and leftovers are available to guests at all times. Bread, cookies, and assorted delicious pastries are baked fresh almost every day. There is a large refrigerator named "Chilly McChillface" in the dining room where guests can keep a small amount of supplemental personal food items. There's a few appliances available for continental style use by guests for snacks outside of mealtime including a microwave, toaster, and egg cookers.
We do not provide nor serve alcoholic beverages, but guests are welcome to buy their own, store them in the dining room refrigerator, and consume on premises in moderation.
Dietary Restrictions
FRC's main menu is omnivorous and varied, emphasizing fresh seasonal ingredients available locally. We can accommodate vegetarian and vegan diets as well as most food allergies. When booking a retreat, there's a section where you can specify your dietary needs and we will work closely with you to ensure you are well nourished and cared for.
Internet and WiFi
FRC has blazing fast (900+Mbps) Internet and WiFi6 access points throughout the property. Wireless internet is reliable and fast in every room of the building. If you prefer wired, there is also wired ethernet in all bedrooms and common rooms as another option.
Cell Signal
Most carriers have plenty of celluar service in Malone and the surrounding towns. Once you are within Adirondack Park itself, coverage is gone or spotty at best.
Laundry
There is a laundry facility on site with free washing machines, driers, and detergent. Guests may wash their own clothes as needed. Bed linens and bath towels can be exchanged for fresh clean items as needed. We encourage guests to use towels and linens for a week before exchanging for laundry.
Parking
FRC has private off-street parking available on our property. There's additional parking available as needed in the church parking lot next door as well. Guests are encouraged to carpool as much as possible in transit to FRC.
Porch and Yard
There's a sun porch adjacent to the dining room available for chatting over coffee, working, etc. We have adirondack chairs, a hammock, blankets, etc for use in the back yard. There's also a fire pit that's lovely to sit around in the evenings under the stars.
The Village of Malone
FRC is located in the heart of the Village of Malone, NY. All of your basic needs are easy to meet nearby including pharmacies, convenience stores, grocery stores, liquor stores, Walmart, hiking outfitters, etc. We are in a historic district that is lovely to walk around the residential streets, or head over to the Recreation Park for nature trails right in the village. Most cellular providers have plenty of signal in the village. Directly in front of FRC is a small lovely park called Arsenal Green full of mature trees and benches with plenty of good squirrel watching.
Daily Schedule
Details of each retreat will vary, but we lean toward self-directed activities. So each guest will have a lot of autonomy around how they spend their time at FRC. Meal times set the main rhythm. There's typically a daily check-in just after breakfast. We prefer for the entire group to eat dinner together.
Hiking and Nature
We are located just at the northern edge of Adirondack Park. It's the largest system of hiking trails in the nation with over 2000 miles of trail. There are thousands upon thousands of lakes, rivers, and streams among 6 million acres of forest land. It is very large (bigger than the state of New Hampshire) and very beautiful. Retreat guests are encouraged to explore and to self-organize and carpool for excursions into the park. The nearby towns of Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, and Tupper Lake all have interesting things to see and do as well.
Transportation
See our travel page for full details around transportation to FRC.