YMCA Trout Lodge
YMCA Trout Lodge and Camp Lakewood has over a 100-year-old history, as well as ties to an American writer because of its location in the northeast corner of the Mark Twain National Forest. One of Twain’s pearls of advice — “Explore. Dream. Discover.” — rings true for Road Scholar adventurers. Based at this historic lodge overlooking beautiful Sunnen Lake in Missouri’s eastern Ozarks, Road Scholars embark on educational field trips to learn about an array of subjects, from the Missouri wine harvest to horsemanship, watercolor painting to canoeing, cave exploration to meditation. By sunset, a deck chair is the perfect place to reflect on a great day.
Perched on 5,200 acres of picturesque, forested hills in the northeast corner of the Mark Twain National Forest, newly renovated Trout Lodge offers hotel-style lodging with two queen beds, full bath and a balcony or patio overlooking beautiful Sunnen Lake.
Walking paths abound on the expansive “campus” and there are dozens of places to sit and socialize, indoors and out. An exceptional array of available activities includes nature hikes, horseback riding, zip lining, many water and boating activities on Sunnen Lake, a ropes course and a climbing wall.
- Alcohol allowed only in rooms.
- Soap provided, but not shampoo.
- No TVs in rooms; TV in common area.
- Cell phone service spotty.
- Housekeeping once a week.
This is a Road Scholar Retreats program. Our Retreat programs offer a tranquil respite from daily life in locales that lend themselves to outdoor exploration, reflection, or study. The accommodations may be basic in nature, but the facilities offer communal spaces to gather and to relax. During the week, opportunities usually exist for some combination of light exercise, a locally sourced meal, or evening entertainment.