The Pines Retreat

Pros

• The staff at Pine Lake Retreat were great hostesses who took many pains to make guests comfortable.
• The chalet was clean, cozy, and furnished with brand-new furnishings.
• The retreat center is beautiful and peaceful, with excellent facilities and first-class meals prepared by the staff.
• The restaurant offered delicious vegetarian meals.
• The staff are kind, accommodating, and readily available to assist.
• It is a great place for team and family gatherings at a reasonable price.
• Guests enjoyed fresh fruits and warm meals.
• The venue is highly recommended for yoga groups, seminars, and life coaching.
• The experience created lasting memories for families and groups.

Cons

• The retreat is described as filthy, with dirty floors and poor maintenance.
• The reviewer lists dirty mattresses, ants in the beds, mildew smells, widespread water damage, lights that don't work, HVAC failure, the cabin hitting 80?, no water pressure, huge roaches, burn marks in the kitchen, and door locks that don't work.
• There was no hot water for showers at Pavillon or Lodge B, suggesting the water heaters were removed by the new owners.
• The reviewer accuses management of deception and labor abuse, stating a manager deceived them and took advantage of their architectural skills.
• An Airbnb chalet is described as shabby, damp, dusty, with no soap, no toothpaste or toothbrush, and very uncomfortable beds.
• The pricing is slammed as overpriced for the quality, described as a rip-off for a rough stay.
• The property is said to require renovation and thorough cleaning, with questionable stains and a dusty smell, including trash such as tampon wrappers under a window.
• Water is reported to turn red/brown and there is no hand soap.
• The back door wouldn't latch until WD-40 was applied, indicating maintenance neglect.
• Top bunks reportedly lacked sheets because staff were unavailable on Saturdays, leaving guests without bedding.

Review

These reviews paint a picture of a retreat complex that runs the emotional gamut for its guests. Some visitors describe it as a welcoming, peaceful escape with renovated spaces, lush grounds, and staff who go out of their way to help. Others arrive with a very different impression: dirty rooms, malfunctioning amenities, pests, and maintenance issues that make a stay feel more like a disappointment than a retreat. Taken together, the collection suggests a property with strong potential and consistently high points when conditions meet expectations, but with serious inconsistencies in cleanliness, upkeep, and basic amenities that can derail a visit.

On the negative end, a number of staying guests report unacceptable cleanliness and maintenance problems. Floors and mattresses are described as dirty, with ants in beds and a persistent mildew smell. Water damage appears in multiple units, and rooms suffer from lights that don't work and HVAC systems that fail, leaving cabins uncomfortably hot - one review notes the space hitting 80 degrees. Water pressure is often nonexistent, and some units report a complete lack of hot water during showers. Roaches are mentioned as a major concern in at least one lodging, and there are damage marks - burns in the kitchen and broken or dysfunctional door locks - that undermine guests' sense of safety and comfort. Taken together, these complaints suggest that several cabins and common spaces are not consistently maintained to meet guest expectations.

A significant thread among the most troubling accounts is the assertion that water heating systems have been removed by new owners, leaving guests stranded without hot water in certain buildings such as Pavillon or Lodge B. The expectation of reliable hot showers appears to be unmet in several cases, turning what should be a simple, relaxing amenity into a prominent grievance. The broader implication is that infrastructure upgrades or replacements have not been uniformly completed across the retreat, leaving guests to contend with inconsistent service and uncomfortable conditions in some parts of the property.

Despite the rough quality in some units, other reviews highlight a very different reality. In some accommodations - such as Chateau number 1 - the property is described as newly renovated, with modern gray interiors and a new fridge, suggesting a refreshed aesthetic and improved comfort. The space is said to be suitable for families or groups that need to sleep multiple people, like a group of five, and the overall impression is one of recent investment and thoughtful design. This contrast - between renovated spaces and older, under-maintained ones - helps explain why guests can walk away with entirely opposing impressions of the same retreat.

The staff and programming side of experiences tends to skew positive in many reports. Several reviews commend friendly, responsive staff and note special gratitude toward individuals like Prakhar Aggarwal, who is praised for being available when help is needed and for providing a helpful facility tour. Catering is another bright spot: multiple guests highlight delicious, vegetarian meals and dependable kitchen teams that even prepared to-go dinner boxes for return journeys. The site's scale and layout also receive praise: large auditoriums and expansive fields, robust A/V capabilities, and the ability to host big groups - up to 250 or more - make it appealing for prayer circles, meditation groups, family reunions, and corporate retreats. Hiking trails, paved walking and bike paths, campfires, and access to a kitchen for customized meals are repeatedly cited as part of the appeal, reinforcing the sense that the property can be a strong hub for group activities and meaningful experiences.

A substantial portion of the positive sentiment centers on the setting and the sense of retreat. Reviewers repeatedly call the place beautiful and peaceful, with some describing it as an ideal escape from city life while still being within a reasonable drive from major Florida hubs like Orlando. The overall vibe - especially for those seeking a "glamping" experience - gets several affirmations: newly renovated spaces, clean and cozy chalets, and a general atmosphere of hospitality that makes guests feel cared for. For many, this balance of tranquil surroundings, comfortable accommodations, and attentive staff makes it an excellent venue for retreats, yoga workshops, seminars, and other small-to-mid sized gatherings.

However, not all experiences align with those glowing notes. A few reviews describe expensive stays that fail to deliver value, with one Airbnb rental cited as overpriced for a shabby, damp chalet that lacked basic essentials like soap, toothpaste, or even sheets for top bunks. Another harsh assessment calls the property an "ugliest place," pointing to stains, dust, a dusty smell, and even discarded tampon wrappers under a window pane, alongside issues with red/brown water and a general sense that the unit was overdue for thorough cleaning and renovation. These accounts underscore how quickly a negative perception can take hold when expectations - especially price versus quality - are not met.

More specifically, one detailed critique focuses on the Bambi cabin, a doublewide trailer-style unit that embodies several of the recurring maintenance concerns: an aging carpet, a refrigerator door handle coming off, a bathroom sink with no cold water, visible water damage on the floor, a leaning toilet, and a shower curtain that's too short, causing water to spill onto the floor. The report also notes practical annoyances - an inconvenient back door latch that required WD-40 to fix and a clogged air filter that compromised cooling. Compounding these problems, the reviewer points out limited staff availability on Saturdays, when activities are scarce, and even gaps in basic bedding provisions, such as missing top-bunk sheets. Taken together, these specifics illustrate how a single unit can sour an otherwise pleasant retreat experience.

In the end, the collection of reviews presents a nuanced picture of a retreat facility with clear strengths and notable weaknesses. The property clearly has the potential to deliver memorable, meaningful experiences for groups and families, thanks to ample space, strong communal amenities, and a capable, caring staff in several instances. Yet the same property also shows signs of uneven quality across units and times: units that feel newly renovated and well-kept sit alongside others that are overdue for a thorough cleaning, maintenance, and perhaps an upgrade in essential systems like heating, plumbing, and pest control. For prospective guests, the takeaway is to approach with informed expectations - confirm the status of hot water and heating in the specific unit you'll occupy, inquire about recent renovations, and consider choosing carefully which lodging within the retreat you book. If you land in a well-maintained, guest-focused corner of the property, you may find an outstanding, restorative experience; if you encounter a unit with maintenance gaps, the stay can quickly become a sequence of letdowns that overshadow the location's natural beauty and the potential warmth of its staff.

Located in Beverly Hills, Florida, this area offers a variety of amenities for seniors looking for a comfortable and convenient living environment. With multiple dining options such as Subs-N-Such and Dan's Clam Stand, residents can enjoy a variety of cuisines close to home. Nearby parks like Citronelle Park and Hunter Springs Park provide opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. For medical needs, there are several physicians' offices including the Citrus Neuroscience Institute and pharmacies like Don's Pharmacy and CVS Pharmacy within a short distance. In addition, there are places of worship such as Iglesia Pan De Vida and First Presbyterian Church for spiritual support. Overall, this part of Beverly Hills provides a mix of convenience, healthcare options, recreational activities, and community resources for seniors looking to settle down in a welcoming neighborhood.

Restaurants

• Subs-N-Such (2.5 miles)
• Dan's Clam Stand (3.7 miles)
• New China Chinese Restaurant (3.9 miles)
• Hong Kong Restaurant (4 miles)
• Bangkok Thai (4.1 miles)
• McDonald's (4.4 miles)
• Taverna Manos (4.4 miles)

Parks

• Citronelle Park (3.3 miles)
• Hunter Springs Park (5.2 miles)
• King's Bay Park (5.2 miles)
• Rockwood Park (6.2 miles)
• Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins (6.5 miles)

Physicians

• Citrus Neuroscience Institute - Sonal Parikh MD (3.6 miles)
• Citrus Nephrology Associates (3.7 miles)
• Dr Reddy (3.8 miles)
• 21st Century Oncology (3.8 miles)
• Bhadresh K Patel (3.9 miles)
• Tri-County Hearing Aid (4 miles)
• Citrusdiabetes Treatment Center (4 miles)

Hospitals

• Pet Services of Florida (3.8 miles)
• Laboratory Corporation of America (5.1 miles)
• Bayfront Health Seven Rivers - Wound Care Center (5.3 miles)
• Seven Rivers Community Hospital (5.9 miles)
• Seven Rivers Regional Medical Center (5.9 miles)

Pharmacies

• Don's Pharmacy (3.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.8 miles)
• Walgreens (4 miles)
• Winn-Dixie (4 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (4.4 miles)
• Drug Dealer's (4.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4.7 miles)

Cafes

• New England Pastry & Cafe (3.9 miles)
• Cattle Dog Coffee Roasters (5 miles)
• Cattle Dog Coffee Roasters (6 miles)

Places of Worship

• Iglesia Pan De Vida (4.1 miles)
• North Oak Baptist Church (4.6 miles)
• Southern Baptist Convention (4.9 miles)
• First Church of God (5.2 miles)
• First Presbyterian Church (5.3 miles)
• Crystal River Church of God (5.4 miles)
• St Timothy Lutheran Church (5.6 miles)