Policies & Fees
Lahti Retreat Center is a camping and retreat facility owned by Zion
Lutheran Church in Hancock, Michigan. This property was donated by Alfred
and Estelle Lahti to be used to the glory of God, especially as a place
where young people would have the opportunity to hear the Gospel of our Lord
Jesus Christ. Thousands of hours of donated labor have made the facility
what it is today. Volunteers have constructed seven new buildings and
maintained the existing buildings and property.
The fees that we charge go into the LRC maintenance or building funds to improve and maintain the property.
This center is open to use, first, by Zion Lutheran Church in Hancock,
Michigan, then by congregations of the Apostolic Lutheran Church of America,
by members of these congregations, and by other Christian groups subject to
Zion Board approval. It is the hope and prayer of the Zion Lutheran
Congregation that your time at Lahti Retreat Center will be a blessing.
The Board or Pastor or activity director will decide the applicable charges
for all activities and events organized by Zion Lutheran Church at LRC. The
Zion Board will decide the applicable fees for all activities and events
organized and sponsored by congregations of the Apostolic Lutheran Church of
America and by other Christian groups.
No group larger than 150 persons will be permitted to use LRC for day use.
No group larger than 80 persons will use LRC for the night.
Anyone wishing to obtain a variance from the stated policies and/or fees of
the Lahti Retreat Center must contact Zion at least two months prior to an
“Exclusive Use” event with their request. Requests for a variance by a
family or small group must be submitted at least two weeks in advance of a
planned event. All requests for a variance will be considered and decided by
the Zion Board.
Members of congregations of the Apostolic Lutheran Church of America
(including members of Zion) who use LRC for reunions, weddings,
anniversaries, or other group events will be charged according to the
following schedule:
ALL EVENTS - including day use and overnight
(These two fees must be paid to Zion before your event):
Caretaker fee $ 50.00 (to pay for a person to inspect LRC after your departure)
Cleaning/Damage deposit
Group of over 80 people $1,000.00
Group of 80 people or less $ 500.00
Your damage deposit will be refunded if there is no damage and
no cleaning is needed. Any necessary cleaning will be charged at
the rate of $25 per hour. An automatic fee will be collected for the
following violations:
Coffee pot left on $200
Heat left on $100
Garbage not completely removed $100
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DAYTIME ONLY EVENTS - exclusive use of LRC:
Per Day (maximum 12 hours)
Group of 60 people or less $300.00
Group of 61 to 100 people $400.00
Group of 101 to 150 people $500.00
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OVERNIGHT EVENTS - exclusive use of LRC where some or all
of your participants stay overnight at LRC:
Per Person Lodging Charge:
$20 per night per adult
$10 per night per child age 5-17
$50 per night per family unit (including up to 4 children)
The nightly lodging charge also includes day use of LRC. However there
will be an additional charge of $5.00 per person per day for any
guests who join your group during the day.
A minimum charge of $300.00 per day will apply to your event..
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VERY SMALL GROUPS - above lodging charges will apply except as noted below:
$100.00 damage/cleaning deposit paid before using LRC
$ 40.00 per family each night in Camp Jacob. Maximum 2 parents &
6 children. Use of chapel/kitchen and sauna is included
$ 40.00 per group each night in each dorm (Maximum 16 people) Use of sauna is included.
Use of any other building is an extra charge.
$100.00 per group each night in farmhouse (Maximum 20 people) Use of sauna is included.
$ 50.00 per night use of chapel/kitchen (in addition to lodging fee)
$300.00 minimum daily charge for use of Rautiola Staff House
ALL RESERVATIONS FOR EVENTS AT LRC GO INTO EFFECT FOUR MONTHS PRIOR TO
THE DATE OF THE EVENT WITH A NON-REFUNDABLE $100 DEPOSIT TO ZION LUTHERAN
CHURCH TO RESERVE THE DATE. CONSIDERATION WILL BE GIVEN TO LARGE REUNIONS OR
WEDDINGS THAT MAY NEED RESERVATIONS A YEAR IN ADVANCE.
1. All groups using Lahti Retreat Center (LRC) for overnight stays must have one person designated to be responsible for compliance with these rules and for payment of applicable fees to Zion Lutheran Church. This person is responsible for completing the Guest Registration Forms and the Camp Clean-up forms.
2. Use Lahti Retreat Center at your own risk. Stay off the old dock. Do not enter the barn or storage buildings. Respect Lake Superior.
3. Anyone using LRC, even for an afternoon outing, must sign in with the Zion Lutheran Church office at (906) 482-1945. If the office is closed, sign in with Pastor Gerry Southerton at (906) 370-0331.
4. Keys for the gates and buildings can be picked up from the Zion church office. Keys must be returned promptly.
5. No alcohol or illegal drugs are allowed on the premises. Smoking is not permitted in the buildings.
6. Animals are not allowed indoors except for guide dogs. Board all other animals in the yard and clean up after them.
7. Everyone using LRC must bring your own bedding, and personal supplies for your stay. Bring your food, plastic ware, foam cups, plates, paper toweling and coffee. In an emergency you may use our church supplies, but SOMEONE FROM YOUR GROUP MUST REPLACE the borrowed items within TWO days of your group’s departure.
8. Please leave LRC better than when you arrived. Take all food that you brought, take all garbage, unplug and wash coffee pots, mop bathroom floors, close fireplace doors, vacuum carpets, and pick up debris on the grounds. Remember, there is no garbage pick up.
9. No long distance phone calls are allowed unless you use a personal calling card.
10. Do not move the bunk beds in the dorms.
Emergency Contact Information
Zion Lutheran Church 906-482-1945
or
Contact the church secretary to obtain the emergency contact numbers for the
dates of your stay.