Transportation Information
The Big House is located in the mountains of Southwestern Virginia, about 90 miles southwest of Roanoke, just 10 miles from I-81.
Driving Directions
Online mapping services and GPS systems are not all that reliable for rural areas -- I recommend you copy and paste the directions below.
Coming from the South on I-81, from Bristol/Abingdon/Marion, take the Rural Retreat exit (exit 60). Turn right at the bottom of the exit ramp. Continue with directions below.
Coming from the North on 1-81, from Staunton/Roanoke/Wytheville, take the Rural Retreat exit (exit 60). Turn left at the bottom of the exit ramp. Continue with directions below.
Take the Rural Retreat exit (exit 60) off I-81. Turn onto Route 90 East (head toward the McDonalds). Continue on Route 90/Black Lick Rd. Cross Route 11/Lee Highway at the traffic light*. Continue straight on this road through the town of Rural Retreat. The road name changes from Black Lick Rd/Rt 90 to Main St/Rt 749, but you will continue to follow the same road through town, across the railroad tracks and up the hill past the orange water towers. As you leave town the road name changes to Cedar Springs Rd/Route 749. Continue to follow Cedar Springs Rd/Rt 749 headed south until you get to the community of Cedar Springs.
BEAR RIGHT in Cedar Springs, onto Route 614/Cedar Springs Rd, toward the town of Sugar Grove. Go 1/2 mile.
*Note: this turn is 6.0 miles from the traffic light at Route 11. Don't be confused by the fact that both roads are named "Cedar Springs"!
TURN RIGHT at the sign for A.R.E. Camp, onto White Rock Furnace Rd/Rt 705. As you continue on this gravel road for another 1/2 mile, you'll be able to see the Big House off to your left and partway up the hill. Continue across the cattle guard and through the farmyard, past the small gray house on the left.
TURN LEFT at the gravel drive between the wooden fences and park in front of the house at the top of the hill.
Arrival/Departure Info For Henry & Janis Reed sessions: Participants should plan to arrive after 4 pm on the Sunday start-date of your program and depart after breakfast on the Saturday end-date of your program. Please let John & Sandy know in advance if you need to be picked up at the bus station or airport.
Arrival/Departure Info For ARE Camp programs: You will receive a packet of info from the A.R.E. after you have registered, including an Arrival/Departure form, so you can notify the A.R.E. if you need to be picked up at the airport or bus station. If your arrival or departure plans change at the last minute, call the Big House to speak to your program leaders.
Mass Transportation
The Big House is accessible by plane or by bus (there is no nearby train station).
Arriving by Bus
The nearest Greyhound bus stations are in Marion, Virginia and Wytheville, Virginia (pronounced "with-ville").
For Henry & Janis Reed sessions: Please contact John and Sandy at the Big House so they can make arrangements to pick you up from the bus station. There is no fee for bus pick-ups and deliveries.
ARE Camp programs: The A.R.E. will make arrangements to pick you up from the bus station. If your arrival/departure plans change at the last minute, call the Big House to speak to your program leaders.
Arriving by Plane
Flight reservations should be made to and from Roanoke Regional Airport in Roanoke, Virginia (airport code ROA). The airport is a two-hour drive from the Big House.
For Henry & Janis Reed sessions: Please contact John and Sandy to make arrangements to pick you up at the airport. There is a $80.00 fee for airport pick-ups and deliveries ($45.00 for one trip).
ARE Camp programs: The A.R.E. will make arrangements to pick you up from the airport. They do charge a fee for airport pick-ups and drop-offs. If plane arrival/departure times change at the last minute, please call the Big House to speak to the program leaders.
The Big House phone number is: 276-686-5878