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Slumber. Party.
Perfect for peaceful relaxtion and a big celebration!
You'll love the amenities and beauty of this 1919 farmstead.
Just 5 miles from Tuscola, Tanger Outlet Center and I-57.
(217) 253-3555 Reservation Link
Become a fan on our Facebook page and share a comment: "This is a great place! We had our wedding reception here and it was the perfect setting. There was family that came from all over the state and loved the country around here.” -Tuscola, IL "This was a wonderful family reunion at a wonderful place – perfect actually! God bless and thank you for everything!” –Arizona, Missouri, St. Louis, Chicago, Monticello & Mahomet, IL "Very nicely furnished, peaceful, quiet and beautiful retreat.” -Rantoul, IL "A beautiful location for our TUMC women’s retreat! Thank you!” –Tuscola "I am so overwhelmed it is hard to convey my thoughts. Being able to have my wedding reception at the home my parents lived in for over 25 years is perfect. Thank you! God bless you. You have melded old and new in a beautiful combination. This day was perfect.” -Tuscola, IL "Lucky enough to stay on the first floor this time around. Absolutely beautiful! Very spacious, comfortable and "homey". John & Teresa have outdone themselves. Simply a gorgeous place and as always the hospitality is all remarkable. -Ursa, IL
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From the Guestbook out at the retreat...
"This was a wonderful place for our "Sister's Vacation" with some coming from Arkansas and some from IL & Wisconsin, this is a half-way place for us to meet. We plan a vacation once a year for us sisters to relax, refresh, play, eat, visit and catch up. Beautiful house, floors, furniture, and enjoyed reading the history of the house, and having everything furnished." -Arkansas, Wisconsin & Northern IL
"All three families came for the weekend. We had a great time. We loved the house. It was the perfect place for us together." -A, L & H Families
"We had a fantastic time :) Wish we could have stayed forever!!! We will come back for sure. Thanks for the stay!" -K & K
"This place was the coolest place I have ever stayed it was nice. like I really like the horses. The Bath tub was the Bomb!!!! P.S. Here is my signature for when I become a pro-soccer player! Thanks" -M
"Such a wonderful place! We had previously had a family reunion & fell in love with everything here. So it was the perfect spot for our families to be together for my mother's 80th birthday. Enjoyed our stay - hope to return again. Thanks so much." -Rio Rancho, New Mexico, Zionsville, Indiana, Tampa, Florida
"The first wedding ever at Riverbend Retreat! The house was amazing, the ceremony site was beautiful, and everything went according to plan. These past two days will be inour hearts forever. This place's beauty and "down-home country feel" made it the perfect place to have a wedding. Thank you to everyone who was involved in making this the most memorable weekend of our lives. " -Bride & Groom
"Once again we had an awesome stay. The Amish stores were great. The Arthur Strawberry Festival was a treat. We've enjoyed the birds (Eastern Bluebird, Indigo Bunting & Pileated Woodpecker). " -Swansea, IL
"Our whole family made the trip to watch our daughter play softball against Illinois. This was perfect for our large group to feel at home away from home. Thanks for a wonderul time." -St. Louis, MO
"It has been wonderful staying here for a week." -Indio, California
"We were looking for some place unique to stay while visity family. This was everything we hoped for and more - a welcome change from motels. We loved watching the birds and squirrels in this peaceful setting, as well as relaxing in the beautiful home. You thought of everthing to make your guests comfortable." -Lecanto, Florida
"This place is insanely cool." -O'Fallon, Missouri
"We celebrated a 50th birthday this weekend and what a great time we had. We sat around and talked, played games and ate great food! We will all definitely be back to celebrate many more birthdays! We loved this place!" -Tuscola, IL
"Thank you fro a another wonderful weekend. This is a weekend that I look forward to each year. It is such a treat!" -Swansea, IL
"Amazing! That's all I can say! Attention to detail is absolutely unbelievable!" -Shiloh, IL
"This is our second time staying overnight. Love it as much the second time. Thanks for doing such a wonderful job on the house in the perfect location." -Overland Park, Kansas
"This place is fabulous. So quiet and peaceful. A place you can go and have a total relaxation time. We all enjoyed staying here. We are definitely coming back this summer." -St. Joseph, IL
"What a gorgeous and peaceful place. I wish we lived here! We definitely hope to make this a tradition for us. Thanks for creating such a wonderful place for us to celebrate our 3rd wedding anniversary!" -Moweaqua, IL
"This place is beautiful. Wish we had more time but we will definitely keep Riverbend Retreat in mind for the future. It's nice to think such a wonderful place is only a few minutes from home. Thank you for making our first Valentine's Day together extra special" -Camargo, IL
"Thank you so much for your hospitality. My staff absolutely loved the accomodations, and it made for great bonding experiences for us. We will be sure to return!" -Charleston, IL
"We all loved everything about it. It is very quiet and peaceful and the animals were amusing. Hope to return again." -Troy, Missouri
"Thanks for opening your beautiful home to us. We really enjoyed staying here. Your decor is charming." -Eureka, IL
"This was our first annual "scrap" ladies weekend. We very much enjoyed our time here. It was so beautiful and very relaxing! We shared so many laughs, stories and snacks! This is definitely going to be a repeat event for us. Thanks so much, Teresa, for letting us enjoy this amazing home. We also got so many pages done in our scrapbooking albums" -Bement, Sidney & Tuscola, IL
"This weekend stay was a gift from my mother to my sister, cousin and myself. We had a great time visiting, watching chick flicks, eating, playing games, eating some more, napping (did I mention eating?) We have all decided that this will be our gift to each other every year and make this home our weekend get away every winter. On our last day it snowed and the views were breathtaking. Thank you for sharing this wonderful home with us. The memories made will never be forgotten" -Tuscola
"How wonderful to relax at such a comfortable oasis. The accomodations are beautiful and just the the doctor ordered for road weary travelers. Wish we had more than one night! We will come again with more time. Thank you!" -Illinois
"We all loved everything about it. It is very quiet and peaceful and the animals were amusing. Hope to return again." -Troy, Missouri
"We loved the place." -Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania
"The lodging was excellent. We enjoyed the wonderful views from all the windows. We could sit at the the table and watch the squirrels." -Vincennes, Indiana & Jacksonville, IL
"Being here in the fall is so beautiful and peaceful. We hope to be back!" -Deer Park, IL
"Everything is so warm & beautiful. We will definitely recommend this "little secret" to everyone. Thanks again for such a memorable retreat." -Indianapolis, Indiana
"It was way beyond our expectations. Also thanks for all the hospitality. We hope to come back soon!" -Phi Sigma Pi, Eastern Illinois University
"Workmanship to restore the building is outstanding - beautiful wordwork. Thank you for making us feel so at home." -Vero Beach, Florida
"A wonderful time! Could not have been more warm & inviting. Hope to come back again soon!" -Bradley, IL
"Felt like we were in a first class hotel but with the warmth & charm of someone's home. The woodwork is incredible and your attention to detail is not overdone, just warm & charming. This is close enough to home but made us feel like we were some place very special." -Bath, IL
"The house is gorgeous! We all wanted to move in." -Manteno, IL
"We have all had a wonderful time." -California, Texas, Minnesota, Michigan & Atwood, IL
"Took lots of pictures. A great place to stay." -Springfield, Missouri & Chicagoland, IL
"Very beautiful & Quiet Place - Relaxing!" -Decatur, IL
"Wonderful place to have a family & friend gathering." -Indianapolis, IN & Tuscola/Homer/Decatur, IL
Riverbend Retreat is a lovely get away place. John & Teresa have left no detail unnoticed. We had a great time and productive retreat." -Tuscola, IL
"The beauty of the home & the setting far exceeded our hopes & expectations! It was a blessing & we are already planning our next visit!" -Eureka, IL
"If I were a wealthy man, I'd offer a blank check for purchase. This is such an oasis, the word "retreat" says it all." -Mark, Wisconsin.
"What a beautiful place! So peaceful!" -Waukegan, IL
"Very beautiful & relaxing, we thoroughly enjoyed this place." -Overgaard, Arizona
"Wow! We appreciate your efforts so very much. We enjoyed watching the birds!" -Tulsa, Oklahoma
"It was wonderful and the stay was great. It is very peaceful here!" -Mayfield, Kentucky
"What a beautiful place. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay & hope to return!" - Suwanee, Georgia
"Great spot for a large family gathering. The home has everything you could possibly want. We thoroughly enjoyed our time here." -Ohio & Illinois
"This is one of the nicest places I've ever stayed! I appreciate the quality of the workmanship...every view is breathtaking..." -Burlington, Wisconsin
"We had a wonderful time...great location & fantastic amenities! I expect we'll return." -Urbana, IL, etc.
RIVERBEND JOURNAL ENTRIES
8/14/09: We'll be having a 90th birthday party for Riverbend's bungalow on Sunday, August 23rd. We'll have some games at 4pm and a snack and dessert potluck at 5pm. You are invited of course! Just bring a snack or dessert sometime that evening and join us for awhile!
8/8/09: Tonight was our first wedding reception! There was some dancing on the mission trellis patio under the lights! First time I've seen it used as a dancefloor. There's a photo of that on the home page.
6/13/09: Today was our first wedding! Wow! The riverfront lawn was beautiful with all the white chairs, the arch, the flowers and the wedding party of course. See the photos on the home page in the album.
3/29/09: Now we've got a Paypal cart so that guests can pay for multiple nights OR reserve online. Guests can have a meal together on the picnic tables and enjoy watching the birds and the horses out in the pasture. Four lider chairs, more outdoor lighting and two campfire circles have been added this year. A walking path along the pasture fence is in progress. The “The retreat’s guestbook entries helps us know what guests enjoy most and we post those comments on the guestbook page at www.callriverbend.com,” says John Davis, who has been active in marketing. “The website is up to five pages and I’ve also posted every link I have for area businesses that may appeal to visitors on the ‘Things to Do’ page.” Teresa adds, “To encourage more weeknight business, we’re offering lower weeknight rates. We also have special winter rates from January to March.”
2/20/09: We debuted our new reservation calendars this week and they are working out great. Looking forward to a busy spring season!
12/11/2008: We are celebrating the retreat's 1st anniversary this week. The Tuscola Journal was nice enough to publish an article about us in this week's paper. Here's the article:
Riverbend Retreat has welcomed guests from
10/21/08: Progress continues at the retreat! The four glider chairs we put in the sitting circle are a big hit. I've been installing fieldstone edging along all the landscaped areas. We are also about to begin working on a walking path between the pasture and the field.
7/30/08: During our vacation in July, I was keeping an eye out for things to add to Riverbend Retreat. I snapped photos from Illinois to Walt Disney World (by way of Atlanta, Savannah & Jekyll Island) and back north to Traverse City, Michigan. Our cleaning crew did a great job while we were gone and we were thankful for them! Today is the 9th birthday of Riverbend's youngest host, Marc Davis!
6/16/08: Yesterday, Father's Day, we installed the farm dinner bell by the picnic area and built a stacked pole fence at the corner of 825N & 1440E. My father, Roger, and my son, Marc, worked together to make this a three generation project. This will be the backdrop for the sign. We got some more of the daylillies and huckleberry planted. Dad finished staining the picnic tables and mowed the lawns during this stay. The flood of 2008 briefly turned the pasture into a very large pond, but it has already subsided. The flowers are in bloom and the strawberries taste great!
4/28/08: More flowers have been ordered, the grass seed has been planted and we're still waiting for spring's warmth to settle in and stick around until summer! At least the forest is beginning to green up. Soon we'll be stringing up lights above the mission trellis picnic area and enjoying summer evenings at the retreat. -The Davis Family
3/18/08: The retreat has been rented for a club retreat, birthday party and women's retreat. Call Riverbend Retreat to book a date for your celebration or retreat soon!
3/5/08: The Decatur Herald & Review was also kind enough to run a story about us. We are thankful for all the nice newspaper articles. Some guests have made good use of the charcoal grill for the first time and we are sure looking forward to spring and enjoying the flowers being in bloom again.
2/2/08: Riverbend Retreat was the subject of a full page article on the front page of the Showcase Section of the Charleston Times Courier and the Mattoon Journal Gazette. In 2007, the retreat was the subject of article in the Champaign News Gazette, Tuscola Review, Tuscola Journal, and the Villa Grove News. We sure appreciate the publicity!
1/4/08: Welcome to the first entry in the Riverbend Journal, a report on the progress at Riverbend Retreat and Riverbend Farm. Our first guests have told us they had a great time and really enjoyed having their family's Christmas celebration at the retreat.
We've had a couple of families book family reunion weekends. Hurry up and plan a celebration or time to catch up with your friends or relatives and reserve the dates now before we book up!
We have some nice brochures and are in the process of distributing those to the areas visitor centers. If you'd like to be on the mailing list for that or other special promotional offers, please drop us an email.
