Nestled at the edge of the mountain, at the top of a meadow, above a sprawling network of underground springs and a healthy, vibrant, spring fed pond, in many ways the Sanctuary property tells its own story.

Sandstone Sanctuary is a retreat for individuals or partners looking for a place to escape the day to day pressures of modern life - and sink into nature in comfort and ease.

Our mission is to offer its guests an experience grounded in the beauty and energy of the place.

The Caretakers

 Located in the heart of Central Pennsylvania, Sandstone Sanctuary was purchased in 2017 by the husband and wife team of  Justine and Michael, who love to explore the outdoors and retreat into nature. In their travels, they noticed that they often faced challenges finding places that had the qualities they look for: peaceful simplicity, natural beauty and seclusion.

  Justine and Michael worked with master carpenter Josh McCracken to bring the vision of Sandstone Sanctuary to life. The Sanctuary House was designed to reflect and absorb the energy of nature.

Sandstone Sanctuary opened its doors in late 2020.

A place to unplug and enjoy the natural environment, to rest and reset in secluded natural luxury and simplicity.

Sanctuary guests will find everything they need to relax and sink in to the experience - and nothing more.

The History of the Place

Situated alongside an old trail that winds its way back through the forest to a place that speaks its own history if you listen for it, including one of the oldest springs in the area.

The Old Spring sits at the end of an abandoned trail called “Indian Trail” on the old maps that winds down from the ridge above the property around the edge of the Sanctuary to the Old Spring.

The trail likely gained this name because of its use by the Native people who called Central Pennsylvania home, including Susquehannocks, Tuscarora, Lenni Lenape and Iroquois, before white settlers pushed them out.

 Sometime around the 1700s, the property that is now the Sanctuary became a settlers homestead.

The many rock piles throughout the property and beyond are evidence of early agricultural use as land was cleared by hand for farming and rock piles or rock walls marked newly emerging property boundaries that arose as white settlers took over the area.

In the 1800s an orchard was planted. The 15 very old apple trees on the property have been estimated to be upwards of 150 years old. If you are lucky enough to visit in the fall in the fruiting season, you will be able to taste this history!

During the 1950s a cabin was built on the property with the remnant wood from an old barn. Some of the boards in the loft and entry room were preserved yet again for the Sanctuary renovation.

The property was used as a seasonal camp by several different families for decades. In 2017, Justine and Michael purchased the property and began designing it to be enjoyed as a retreat space.

Now, the Sanctuary plays host to people from far and wide. Guests come to the Sanctuary for many reasons: for spiritual retreat, time to reset, rest from busy lifestyles, to explore or boost creativity of all kinds, or to enjoy time in solitude or special time with a loved one.

In many ways, the property has not changed at all. When you sit and listen, or walk quietly through the woods at the Sanctuary, you can hear many of the same sounds and see many of the same trees, plants, streams and springs that have been here for hundreds of years, and you share the woods with the same creatures that have been here for eons, including bear, coyote, deer, fox, raccoon, and others.

The Sanctuary offers everyone who enters what we all need most of all - the beautiful energy of nature.