Facilities & Amenities

Lodging

Enjoy the comfort and charm of our country lodging. Nine lodges, each with its own unique character, house well-appointed climate-controlled rooms which accommodate up to 160 guests.

Some buildings have rooms with private baths; others offer shared bathrooms for two or three rooms. Handicap-accessible rooms are available upon request.

Private Bathroom

The most spacious of our lodging, 30 rooms each with a private bathroom. Most have both a queen bed and one twin, a few rooms have either just a queen or two twins. Each standard room has a mini-fridge. Buildings: Weinberg, Scheuer, May, and Pine

Shared Bathroom

A total of 14 total rooms, each pair share a hallway bathroom. Rooms have either one queen bed, two twin beds, or both a queen and a twin bed. Some rooms have mini-fridges or access to shared refrigerator space. Buildings: Cedar, Blue Heron, and Maple

Dormitory Style

These 18 rooms have either two twins or a bunkbed and a twin, with access to a shared bathroom in the interior hallway. Dorm rooms have access to shared refrigerator space. Buildings: Elm and Kaufman

Dining

Innovative chefs create farm-to-table magic with ingredients that reflect our values in the larger world. Organic, local, and fair-trade products are purchased to promote environmental stewardship, vibrant local economies, good working conditions, and animal welfare.

Much of the produce is grown on campus where we practice season-extending methods such as greenhouse and hoop-house growing, pickling, freezing, canning, drying, and root cellar-ing, bringing farm food to our table year-round.

The lakeside dining room accommodates up to 118 guests. Larger gatherings for up to 200 can opt for an outdoor meal with an additional fee for tent rentals. We serve buffet or family style meals with vegetarian options for every meal and gluten-free available upon prior request.

Our kitchen and dining room are glatt kosher under supervision of the Hartford Kashrut Commission.

Program Spaces

A variety of spaces designed for small or large gatherings can accommodate up to 150 people indoors and up to 200 people in outside on our scenic grounds.

Retreat Center indoor program spaces include:

• Glass-walled synagogue with inspiring views of the lake and mountains (available for non-prayer use as well) suitable up to 100 people
• 2,000 ft² multi-function lounge suitable for up to 85 people
• Large theater/recreation room suitable for up to 130 people
• Dining hall with cathedral ceiling suitable for up to 120 people
• Two 700 ft² yurts suitable for up to 30 people in each
• Large screened-in gazebo suitable for up to 20 people

Virtual Tour

Grounds

Explore 400 acres with four miles of marked trails through dense forest and a half mile climb to a stunning overlook of the surrounding Berkshire Hills.

The lake is available for seasonal boating and swimming (note – no lifeguard on duty) and a charming swimming pool open June-August (lifeguard required).

Arrange a complimentary tour of our organic farm and explore 20 acres with green houses, row crops, berry bushes, beehives, composting center with hens, and goat barns or a pickling workshop with our Adamah educators (see additional programming options in the Adamah programming tab).

Plan a campfire around the firepit with singing and s’mores.

Ample guest parking is near the main entrance and near the goat barn.

Transportation

Isabella Freedman is located at 116 Johnson Road, Falls Village, CT, 06031. 

We are located in the Connecticut Berkshires, approximately two hours by car from New York City and three hours from Boston in the Connecticut Berkshires. There is free parking on site. 

By train from New York City, guests can take MetroNorth’s Harlem line to the Wassaic train station (a 2 hour trip). Shuttles or taxis can be arranged in advance for the 30 minute ride from the train station to our campus.

For those flying into the region, the closest airport is Bradley International Airport in Hartford, CT, about 50 miles away. Rental cars are available, and taxis can be arranged in advance (about $200 each way).

Adamah Programming

Isabella Freedman is home to world class Jewish environmental educators and naturalists. Let us enhance your retreat experience with one or  more programs that will connect your group to the rhythms of the farm or the forest, and the ways in which both infuse Jewish tradition.

New in 2024 and 2025: Every rental group receives one free Adamah program, on us! Ask your Retreat Coordinator for more information. 

• Hike to the Overlook: Come see the Housatonic Valley from above! We’ll hike up about a steep mile through the sugar maples and oaks, ferns and fungae ending at a gorgeous view. This hike will take longer than one hour and will go outside the eruv.
• Farm Tour (spring): Join us for a tour of the highly diversified Adamah Farm. What is regenerative farming? organic? Jewish farming? How do we feed the soil to feed the plants that feed us, cultivate food security, and connect Jews to the land. We’ll be going on uneven ground and outside the eruv.
• Goat Tour: Take a walk to the farm up Beebe Hill Road and meet the sheep and goats. Learn about the animals, intensive rotational shepherding, shofars, and klaf making and how taking care of animals is woven throughout Judaism.
• Tree Walk: Chestnuts and the Messiah: Take a short walk up Beebe Hill Road to the western edge of our farm to see our new Chestnut Orchard. Learn about trees, chestnuts, agroforestry (tree crops) ancient and modern, and how they fit into our heritage as Jews and farmers.

Pricing Model and Planning Your Stay

Isabella Freedman offers an all inclusive pricing model based on a per person, per night rate. Standard retreat fees include 3 meals per day, snacks, coffee, tea and whole fruit, lodging in our guest buildings and programming space. Upgraded meals and snacks can be added for an additional fee.

Included in your stay is a dedicated Retreat Coordinator who will help you with planning all of your logistics and set up needs on site and seeing through your event to completion. We offer a comprehensive set of planning documents including a housing chart and schedule template to help you organize your time here.

A typical weekend at Isabella Freedman:

Friday: 

• Check in and welcome snack
• Kabbalat shabbat
• Shabbat dinner 
• Oneg

Saturday:

• Morning Meditation
• Breakfast
• Shabbat services
• Lunch
• Guided Hike to the Overlook
• Ultimate Frisbee
• Shabbat rest time
• Dinner
• Havdalah campfire with s’mores
• Song circle

Sunday:

• Morning Yoga
• Breakfast
• Closing Activity
• Departure

Sustainability

Inspired by our core Jewish value to Tiukkun Olam – healing the world – environmental sustainability is ingrained in all aspects of our operation through greening our facilities and energy consumption, promoting animal welfare and food justice, and contributing to healthy ecosystems.

Beyond our commitment to sustainable facilities management, we engage visitors and partner organizations with experiences and tools to embrace environmental responsibility within our grounds and beyond.