Our Story
who are we? why are we here?
In the early 1960’s, a group of pioneering individuals purchased the property you know today as Venture Retreat. In those early days, people from the Stanford/Palo Alto alternative lifestyles community set about exploring, through weekend workshops, retreats, and training sessions, these BIG QUESTIONS: "Who are we? Why are we here?" Their driving ethos, bound by curiosity and spirit, has of been coined "The Human Potential Movement."
As the movement grew, the group began a search for central meeting facilities. San Francisco Venture Inc. was founded as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization in 1964 and subsequently purchased a modest building in San Francisco's Haight Ashbury district, heart of the hippie world. They also purchased a 50-acre plot of gorgeous meadow and forest, located one hour south of the city in San Mateo County. Eventually, a portion of the 50-acre plot was sold to pay off the existing mortgage and San Francisco Venture Retreat Center was born. It included the "Venture Lodge" which was the original Rancho Butano foreman's home.
Venture Retreat Center was formed to support affordable extended personal growth retreats in a setting that would bring people closer to nature. A close association with Big Sur’s Esalen Institute played an important role in early development. Willis Harmon, one of Venture's founders later served on the Esalen Board of Directors. All this magic propelled Venture along to become the weekend retreat facility for solo and group practioners working in Gestalt, Sensory Awareness, Body Work, and Encounter Groups.
Throughout the 1960's, 70's and early 80's, thousands of people came to Venture to explore themselves, their relationship with others, and their place in the world. Venture made a seminal contribution in the exploration of peer-led groups, helping to establish a greater sense of equality, irrespective of title and profession.
The Venture community believed that if people learned about themselves and gained skills in communicating more honestly and effectively with each other, it could help society at large. By the late 80’s and 90’s, what had been experimental in human potential modalities became part of mainstream psychology, healthcare, and education. As such, the focus of the Venture community slowly shifted from providing education and facilitation to become a coveted destination where Northern California groups could host their own meetings, programs, workshops and retreats in a bucolic, storied setting.
Today, Venture Retreat is an active participant in a variety of networks dedicated to spiritual, ecological, and community related issues. Both adult and youth organizations are welcome. We are always interested in facilitating community building by supporting the gathering of small groups to explore specific interests or topics.
