Seminars and Retreats

Claymont is a year-round 350-acre retreat center nestled in the Shenandoah Valley of West Virginia. We're located just 50 minutes from Dulles Airport. Our country lanes, fresh water springs, and winding paths create a tranquil setting for study, relaxation and contemplation. We welcome many diverse groups to our mansion and great barn facilities. We hope that your group will join us soon.

Fashioned after a design by George Washington, the Claymont mansion was built by his grand-nephew, Bushrod Washington, in 1820. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The mansion is a picturesque and protected environment for seminars, conferences, workshops, or retreats. Original oak paneling and crystal chandeliers preserve the architectural integrity of the building. Up to thirty participants can be accommodated overnight in the mansion. The simply furnished library, music room, and ballroom provide a variety of meeting rooms, ranging from smaller, intimate spaces to larger rooms suitable for group activities. Large lawns and quiet woods allow informal gatherings with moments of solitude during intensive activities. the mansion can have retreats of up to 40 people.

The Great Barn provides a less formal setting and can accomodate up to 80 people in private and shared rooms. It is situated at the southern end of the estate (click here for a map of the property), The great barn has a large dining hall and an expansive meeting room with maple flooring, as well as several rooms designed for meetings of smaller groups. The 9000 square foot octagonal hall at the east end represents a unique venue for dance, martial arts, meditation, and a meeting space that can accommodate groups of several hundred people.

Taken together, the Mansion and Great Barn can house larger seminars. Several hundred people can be accommodated with overnight camping, or on a daytime basis.

We take great pride in the quality and variety of our cooking. Vegetarian and vegan cuisines are available.

Claymont provides complete catering of meals, with homemade breads, gourmet vegetables and provision for special dietary requirements. We take great pride in the quality and variety of our cooking. Vegetarian, vegan, and non-vegetarian cuisines are all available. Our own organically grown produce will be used in season. Sleeping accommodations include linens and bedding and housekeeping services.

To book the mansion or great barn for your next Retreat, Conference or Seminar please call us at 304-725-4437 or email us at seminars@claymont.org