Dappled Light Adventures, a glamping and retreat destination in Red River Gorge, Kentucky, is expanding its operations with the addition of a new community facility designed to host group retreats.
The company, founded in 2021 by father-son team Kevin and Izaac Rains, will officially open “The Rookery” in September 2025.
The 50-acre property, located adjacent to Daniel Boone National Forest in Beattyville, was originally a private family retreat before being transformed into a glamping business.
The property currently features nine glamping tents and one cabin, accommodating individuals, couples, and families. Over the past several years, the company has increasingly hosted group events, which have shaped its strategic direction.
“I think for both of us,” Kevin Rains said, referring to his son, “we just realized that running retreats was a more efficient way to use that property.”
The Rookery is a 1,500-square-foot building designed specifically for gatherings such as business retreats, faith-based groups, youth programs, and wellness events.
The space includes a kitchen, dining area, living area, fireplace, and a deck with views of the surrounding cliffs and valleys.
“We worked with engineers and architects to get the space as close as we safely could to a cliff edge,” Izaac Rains told Courier Journal. “So, you walk out onto the deck, and there’s a huge view of this valley that’s like 250 feet down, cliff edges in the distance, and tons of trees. It’s really serene and it faces the sunset, as well.”
The facility hosted its first unofficial retreat in early August, with participants highlighting the balance of amenities and privacy. John Herman, a friend of the Rains family who attended the event, said the “beautiful facility” would be a “game changer” for the company.
For the outdoor hospitality industry, Dappled Light’s transition highlights the growing demand for multi-purpose spaces that can host not only leisure travelers but also corporate and group events.
For operators, this type of diversification may present an opportunity to extend the season, increase occupancy, and capture new revenue streams beyond traditional family stays.
As the business shifts focus toward group retreats, the team emphasized that individual and family bookings will remain part of its offerings.
“We’re always going to love hosting families and individual folks for solo getaways and retreats,” said Izaac Rains. “But we decided it was time to pick our main focus, and retreats just felt like a really natural, good focus for us.”