You make decisions all day for everyone else. Once or twice a year, you need a few days where the only person you answer to is you.
At a glance
- Built for
- One person: a CEO, founder, or executive who needs to think
- From Dallas
- About 35 minutes; Love Field about 45, DFW about an hour
- Privacy
- Self check-in, no front desk, the whole tiny home to yourself
- Reset nearby
- Walking trails, yoga, Pilates, and massage, about 10 minutes away
Why a solo retreat
No one needs you here
It's extremely quiet: no lobby, no hallway, no neighbors through the wall, no one knocking with a question.
Room to think
A covered porch with rocking chairs facing open farmland. The big decisions get easier when the horizon is far away.
Sleep like it matters
A premium mattress on the main-floor queen. Most leaders are running on less sleep than they admit.
Come and go unseen
Self check-in with a lockbox and parking at the door. No check-in desk, no small talk.
A 3-day think week
Day 1: land
- AfternoonArrive and unplugCheck in, set the phone rules, and take a long walk.
- SunsetWrite the questionOn the porch: what's the one decision you came here to make?
- NightSleep earlyNo screens. Look at the stars instead.
Day 2: go deep
- EarlyMove firstA 5 a.m. Pilates class or a trail walk before the coffee.
- MorningRead and thinkThree uninterrupted hours with the reading pile you never get to.
- AfternoonResetA massage, then a walk with no podcast.
- EveningDinner for oneA good meal downtown, and a notebook on the table.
Day 3: decide
- MorningWrite it downThe decision, why, and the first three moves.
- NoonHead homeTurn the phone back on in the driveway, not before.
Your digital detox rules
- Set an out-of-office before you leave, with one emergency contact who isn't you.
- Put the phone in a drawer. Check it twice a day, at set times, for 15 minutes.
- Bring paper: a notebook, a pen, and the books you keep meaning to read.
- No laptop on the porch. The porch is for thinking.
Reset your body
Waxahachie Creek Hike & Bike Trail
Lions, Getzendaner, and Brown-Singleton parks
About 4 paved, shady miles along the creek. The best thinking you'll do all week happens out here.
Healing Touch Massage Studio
1001 Legacy Ranch Rd., Suite 104
Rated 4.9 stars and open every day, until 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday.
Hourglass Pilates
791 N. Hwy 77
Reformer classes, with the studio open from 5 a.m. on weekdays. Rated 4.9 stars.
Half Moon Yoga
111 Youngblood Rd.
A small, calm studio rated 4.9 stars. Check the class schedule before you go.
G.O. Fit
1010 Technology Way
A 4.9-star gym listed as open around the clock.
Lake Waxahachie
Boat Dock Park, 91 Lakeshore Dr.
A quiet place by the water at sunset. Open until 10 p.m.
Eating well alone
- Cook: the full kitchen has stainless appliances and a farmhouse sink. H-E-B is about 8 minutes away, open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Order in: UberEats and DoorDash deliver to the house.
- Dinner for one, downtown: John's Place in the historic Rogers Hotel for scratch Italian and a good cocktail (Wednesday to Saturday), or Prime 115 for a steak at the bar (open daily).
- Coffee with a notebook: Bloom & Pour on the square (weekdays from 7 a.m.) or White Rhino Coffee (daily, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.).
More in our where to eat guide.
When work can't wait
- Fast WiFi at the house for the one call you can't move.
- A real meeting room: Growth Alliance Center, about 9 minutes away, has a conference room, a $30 day pass, and fast internet, weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- The quietest seat in town: Nicholas P. Sims Library, 515 W. Main St., Tuesday to Saturday.
Bringing a small leadership team instead? See our small corporate retreat guide.
Getting here
- Driving: about 35 minutes south of downtown Dallas on I-35E.
- Flying in: Dallas Love Field is about 45 minutes away and DFW International about an hour. Rent a car; you'll want it for the trails.
- Booking: send your dates through our booking form or book on VRBO or Airbnb. Quiet hours are 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., which won't be a problem.
Questions we get
What is a think week?
A few days alone, away from meetings and messages, to read, think, and make the big decisions. Bill Gates made the idea famous by taking think weeks at a cabin. Ours is a tiny home on open farmland about 35 minutes from Dallas.
Is this a good place for a solo retreat near Dallas?
Yes. It's a private, extremely quiet tiny home with self check-in, a covered porch facing open farmland, and walking trails, yoga, and massage about 10 minutes away.
Is there anywhere for a silent or digital detox retreat near Dallas?
This is a good one. There's no front desk, no lobby, and no neighbors through the wall. Put the phone in a drawer, take a notebook to the porch, and let the quiet do its work.
Will anyone know I'm there?
Not unless you tell them. Check-in is self-serve with a lockbox, and while we live on the property, we leave guests to themselves.
Is the WiFi good enough for a call if I need one?
We have fast WiFi. If you need a proper room with a whiteboard, the Growth Alliance Center about 9 minutes away has a conference room and a $30 day pass, weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
How far is it from the Dallas airports?
About 45 minutes from Dallas Love Field and about an hour from DFW International Airport, without traffic.
Can I get a massage or a workout nearby?
Yes. Healing Touch Massage Studio is about 10 minutes away and open every day, Hourglass Pilates opens at 5 a.m. on weekdays, and G.O. Fit is open 24 hours.
Can my assistant book it for me?
Yes. Send the dates through our booking form or book on VRBO or Airbnb, and tell us who's staying.