OUR STORY
Our mission is for Tanglewood to be a place for people to gather, away from the noise and distractions of daily life in order to experience a refreshing encounter with our God in the midst of his creation. Simply put...GATHER. UNPLUG. ENCOUNTER. We exist to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by stewarding our facilities well and cultivating a community environment in which his gospel may be heard.
With a beautiful facility, outfitted to host a number of group sizes, we offer options to fit your next event. Check out more information about what we offer at Tanglewood Retreat.
The Tanglewood Story
Tracing its heritage back to the the early 1840s, Tanglewood passed through the hands of a number of owners. Operating as a plantation, the property was used as farmland with its own cotton gin and lumber mill and until 1997 was home to one of the few remaining antebellum homes in Newton County.
Fast forward to the early 2000s , the Shoemaker family obtained ownership of a small plot of property affectionately called "the camp" adjacent to the east end. After converting an old barn to a bunk house, this piece of acreage was used as a family getaway to host everything from hunting to gatherings for friends and family. In 2005, the first weekend youth retreat was held, giving the property an informal ministry presence.
No one ever expected that not even a decade later, the Shoemakers' little piece of land would grow so abundantly. The year 2013 marked the purchase of the historical land known as "Tanglewood Plantation" just next door, and soon after the construction of a fishing lake was underway. With a conviction to steward this land well and use it for significant purpose, plans were made to build a communal space that would serve many, churches and individuals alike. By 2015, a lodge was completed with room to house large groups, as a place to enjoy God's creation but ultimately to build upon the ministry that was started a decade prior.
For a more detailed timeline and history of the property, visit our history page.
Our History
With what began in 1841 when John Scott obtained a patent from President John Tyler & Frank Pierce, Tanglewood has returned to its roots of timber farming. Scott selected a plateau near the center of his acreage where he would make his home. Tanglewood's fertile blackland prairie soil has provided a means for many families to "live off the land" for over 175 years. The best trees were taken to build a large two story house, which was completed by hand. The logs were hewn to create the first six beams that were 12 inches square. Over the next 150 years and by the hands of various owners, Tanglewood has been used to grow cotton, corn, and soybeans, as well as housed its own cotton gin, grist mill and saw mill. At one time the property was also home to its own store and post office.
Drawing from its historical roots, Tanglewood is currently continuing its role as a tree farm, while also being used year round for soybean, and corn farming, hunting operations, and as a venue for camps and retreats.