Ferry Beach Retreat & Conference Center

What Ferry Beach Retreat & Conference Center does

Ferry Beach Retreat & Conference Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization operating a 32-acre oceanfront campus in Saco, Maine. Founded in 1899 (with firmographic sources citing 1901), the organization hosts multi-day retreats, conferences, family programming, and community events along a roughly seven-mile stretch of beach, with on-site lodging, dining facilities including the DeWolfe Dining Hall, and dedicated gathering spaces such as the Dolphin Room.

The organization's core offerings are programmatic: it runs its own seasonal retreats for spiritual seekers, families, and retreat leaders, and rents facilities to outside organizations running their own conferences and gatherings. Supporting infrastructure includes on-campus dining, lodging accommodations, and a small branded merchandise and apparel line. The technology stack is conventional nonprofit SaaS — Salesforce for registration and retreat booking, Constant Contact for email outreach — with no proprietary platform or AI components disclosed.

Revenue is generated from five distinct streams: lodging and retreat fees, conference and group rental income, dining services, membership dues and donations, and merchandise sales. Go-to-market is community-led, relying on direct registration, email marketing, social media, alumni referrals, and an annual Community Dinner to drive engagement and donor stewardship. There is no indication of paid acquisition, programmatic marketing, or external distribution partnerships.

Name

Ferry Beach Retreat & Conference Center

Legal name

Ferry Beach Retreat & Conference Center

Website

https://ferrybeach.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1899

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ferry Beach Retreat & Conference Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a 32-acre oceanfront campus in Saco, Maine, hosting multi-day retreats, conferences, family programs, and community events for spiritual seekers, families, retreat leaders, and outside organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conference and Retreat Hospitality Services

NAICS

Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (72111)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Beachfront & Coastal Full-Service Hotels (THAGAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Coastal & Marine Nature Lodges (THAGAIAH)

Keywords

• Conference center hosting
• Retreat venue services
• Lodging accommodations
• Dining services
• Nonprofit programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Saco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Lodging and Accommodation: Ferry Beach generates revenue from overnight stays in their cottages, halls, and campsites in the Grove on their 32-acre oceanfront campus.
2. Retreat and Conference Fees: Revenue from hosting various conferences, retreats, and events including quilting retreats, choral fests, women's healing retreats, family gatherings, and other programming.
3. Dining Services: The dining hall provides meals including healthy food, good coffee, and lobsters weekly in summer. Community dinners are offered monthly at $25 per person.
4. Merchandise Sales: Online store sells branded merchandise including apparel (t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts), accessories (hats, visors, beanies, stickers), home goods (mugs, blankets, towels), and specialty items like puzzles and gift certificates ranging from $50-$250.
5. Membership Dues: Ferry Beach operates as a membership organization. Gift certificates explicitly state 'YOU MUST BE A CURRENT FERRY BEACH MEMBER TO USE' for redemption.
6. Donations and Charitable Giving: As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Ferry Beach relies on member and supporter donations to sustain and grow facilities and programming. Various giving programs include one-time giving, sustaining gifts, endowment fund, and scholarship programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ferry Beach operates a non-profit retreat and conference center on a 32-acre oceanfront campus in Saco, Maine. It sells overnight lodging in cottages, halls, and campsites; meeting and event venues; on-site dining; and a calendar of hosted retreats, conferences, and community programs spanning arts, spirituality, personal growth, and family themes.

Product overview

Ferry Beach Retreat & Conference Center offers a comprehensive portfolio of retreat and conference services centered on its 32-acre oceanfront campus in Saco, Maine. The core offerings include lodging accommodations (cottages, halls, and campsites), diverse gathering spaces (indoor venues like the Gayla Theater and Rowland Meeting Rooms, plus outdoor spaces such as the beach, chapel, and fire pit), and dining services. The organization also operates a retail merchandise store featuring branded products including limited edition 125th Anniversary commemorative items and standard branded apparel and accessories. Additional services include planning resources and community events like monthly dinners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lodging Overnight accommodations on the 32-acre oceanfront campus, including quaint cottages, halls, and campsites in the Grove, available to retreat attendees, families, and visiting groups.
• Gathering Spaces Indoor and outdoor venues for retreats, conferences, and events including Gayla Theater, Rowland Meeting Rooms, Quillen Lobby, Dolphin Room, Dining Center, Cross Conference Room, beach, chapel, fire pit, Rose Pavilion, Screen Room, and porches; rented to organizations and groups hosting multi-day programs.
• Dining Services Healthy, delicious food and coffee served in the DeWolfe Dining Hall for retreat and conference guests, with weekly lobster suppers during summer; includes community dinners priced at $25 per adult.
• Retreat and Conference Programming Scheduled retreats, conferences, and workshops spanning arts and culture, education, spirituality, sustainability, personal growth, and justice and action. Examples include Quilting Retreats, Choral Fest, Women's Healing, Family & Friends Weekend, Beach Yoga, Sacred Circle Dance, Sourdough Bread Class, Heart Circle Retreat, and the 125th Anniversary Weekend.
• Community Dinners Monthly ticketed dinners open to members and the broader public at $25 per person (children 8 and under free with adult), featuring guest speakers on topics aligned with the center's mission.
• Planning Resources and Equipment Rental Resource support for groups planning retreats at Ferry Beach, including rental of A/V equipment (projectors, screens, microphones, speakers, TV/DVD), easels, tables, chairs, and keyboards, plus planning guidance.
• Branded Merchandise Online store selling branded apparel, accessories, home goods, and gift certificates, including T-shirts ($20-$30), hoodies ($37.99-$50), sweatshirts ($35-$40), hats ($25), mugs ($12.99-$20), sherpa blankets ($49.99), water bottles ($29.99), towels ($32.99), stickers ($3.99-$5.50), and gift certificates ($50-$250) redeemable for deposits, lodging, conferences, meal plans, and merchandise by current members.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Omega Institute for Holistic Studies: Non-profit retreat and learning center in Rhinebeck, New York with lodging, dining, and workshops across wellness, arts, and spirituality - matches Ferry Beach's mission-driven, multi-pillar retreat model and 501(c)(3) status.
• Spirit Rock Meditation Center: Non-profit Buddhist retreat center in Marin County, California offering residential retreats, scholarships, and donation-based programming - matches Ferry Beach's mission-driven, donation-supported retreat structure.
• Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health: Non-profit yoga and wellness retreat center in Stockbridge, Massachusetts offering residential programs, lodging, and dining on a dedicated campus - directly comparable mission, structure, and operating model to Ferry Beach.
• 1440 Multiversity: Non-profit learning and retreat campus in Scotts Valley, California offering residential workshops, lodging, and dining - directly comparable as a non-profit conference and retreat center with diverse programming.
• Chautauqua Institution: Non-profit educational and cultural community in Chautauqua, New York with lodging, dining, lectures, and arts programming on a dedicated campus - mirrors Ferry Beach's blend of retreat, learning, and community engagement.
• Point Lookout Resort: Maine-based conference and retreat venue with lodging, dining, and meeting space in a coastal/forest setting - directly comparable conference-center operating model, though for-profit rather than non-profit.

Regional players

• Migis Lodge: Maine lakeside resort and retreat property offering lodging, dining, and group gatherings - comparable New England retreat and group-accommodations operating model in the same regional market.
• Camp Sunshine: Non-profit retreat facility in Casco, Maine offering residential programming for families - matches Ferry Beach's non-profit, Maine-located, retreat-and-programming model, though focused on a specific medical mission.
• Inn by the Sea: Coastal Maine full-service hotel and event venue in Cape Elizabeth offering lodging, dining, and beachfront programming - comparable oceanfront Maine hospitality offering though operates as a for-profit resort rather than a non-profit retreat center.
• Spruce Point Inn Resort & Spa: Coastal Maine resort in Boothbay Harbor offering lodging, dining, and event space - comparable Maine oceanfront hospitality asset and conference/wedding venue, though for-profit with different scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ferrybeach

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ferry Beach Retreat & Conference Center