Frequently Asked Questions

For the Pacific Northwest Massage Therapists Retreat

2024 Edition

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Breitenbush Hot Springs has evolved over the last few years, and our massage therapists retreat is evolving along with it.

Please read this entire FAQ and all emails we send after you register — even if you have visited Breitenbush before.

We’re happy to help clarify or to answer other questions, so if you don’t find what you need here, please email us or call Laurie at 206-250-8087.

What Has Changed

Q. What has changed about the retreat?

A. As you may know, Breitenbush and the surrounding forests and towns were severely damaged in the 2020 wildfires. In addition, Breitenbush was restricted and/or closed by the State of Oregon during the Covid pandemic.

Here is a brief summary of some key changes since our massage therapists retreat in 2019. Please read our entire FAQ and all emails we send you to learn about important changes.

  1. Registration process — Starting in 2024, there are two steps to register. First, you will register for your lodging through Breitenbush Hot Springs Retreat and Conference Center. (Learn how.) After that, come back here to our site to register for continuing education classes.

  2. Lodging prices — After 2019, Breitenbush changed its pricing structure for lodging. Prices rose somewhat to help finance the rebuilding, and additional fees have been levied on "closed camp” retreats such as ours. The first adult is charged the full price for each night. Additional adults who share the same space (room, campsite, tent, etc.) are charged a reduced rate. (And kids get a reduced rate, based on their age.) Lodging includes meals and use of the hydrotherapy facilities.

  3. Event fee line item — As in past years, we’ve rolled your retreat event fee into your lodging cost. New this year, your final invoice emailed from Breitenbush will show the breakdown — lodging, meals, soaking and event fee as separate line items. The event fee is $30 per adult per night. The total per night will be very similar to last year.

  4. Driving directions — In 2024, expect road closures due to construction. The “back way”/alternate driving route (via Estacada) was closed for nearly three years due to wildfire damage. The Forest Service re-opened this route (Hwy 224 and 46) in June 2023. If you plan to go this way, confirm current road conditions in advance (there may be temporary closures or delays due to maintenance). Also, note there are no services and no cell phone service between Estacada and Detroit.

  5. Wildfire damage — Many structures at Breitenbush burned in the wildfires of 2020, including the Sanctuary, Buddha’s playhouse, all guest cabins and the bathroom/shower buildings you are familiar with from previous visits. New options have opened, including some new indoor lodging (the Groves; none with its own bathroom) and a variety of yurt or tenting options. There is also a new bathroom/shower building and new set of outdoor showers.

  6. Hydrotherapy options — The Meadow Pools, Spiral Tubs and sauna/steam hut are open. Some individual soaking tubs were added to increase options while facilitating social distancing. You can also access the river for wading and swimming. The wading area known as Devil’s Hole is closed. Trips to Jump-Off Rock are not permitted.

  7. Roommates — If you are traveling solo, there are several options for single occupancy. We will not assign you a roommate (as we did pre-2020). If you already registered yourself and now want to add a roommate to your lodging, call the Breitenbush Hot Springs office at 503-854-3320 to register them and get the discounted “additional adult” price.

  8. Meals/food — Meals will be served buffet style in the dining room. There is a small dorm-style refrigerator in the lodge lobby where guests may store food, if space allows. Since a bear was visiting the grounds in 2021, no food is allowed in tents, and you’re advised against storing food in your car.

  9. Covid/masks — There are no general Covid-related restrictions in place across the board. For CE classes, surgical masks are either required or optional depending on the policy of the instructor. Otherwise, guests may choose to mask or not at their discretion.

  10. Hiking — The National Forest trails previously accessible from Breitenbush are closed for safety reasons due to the 2020 wildfires. However, there are other walking/hiking opportunities in the area (PDF), accessible on foot or by car.

  11. Activities — We anticipate that we will be able to offer 2 or 3 free yoga classes for guests, and we have a watsu practitioner who will offer sessions on Saturday and Sunday. We are awaiting confirmation of whether our Breath of Light instructor will be able to attend this year and whether we will be able to offer a sweat lodge.

See more about:
Driving directions
Facilities
Toilets/showers
Pricing
Covid policies
Meals

Q. What are the COVID policies?

A. Last updated: 1/30/24. We will update this as conditions change.

For all guests at our retreat, we will be following the policies of Breitenbush Hot Springs at the time of our event. As of this writing, there are no Covid restrictions in place.

For students in CE classes, surgical masks are either required or optional depending on the policy of the instructor. Proof of Covid vaccination or a negative PCR Covid test is no longer required.

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Who Can Attend

Q. I’m a massage therapist. Can I bring friends and family who are not therapists?

A. Yes! We’d love to have them. Continuing education classes are for licensed massage therapists only. All other activities are open to therapists and non-therapists.

Q. Is it OK to bring kids?

A. Yes, we typically have quite a few young guests, ranging from babies to teenagers, and they love it. There’s a nice lawn for playing Frisbee, kicking a soccer ball and such in front of the lodge, with a swingset/playset. Breitenbush requires that children under 12 be accompanied at all times by a responsible adult. There are hazards, like areas where very hot water comes out of the ground. No childcare is provided.

Kids 12 or under get discounted lodging based on their age.

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Prices, Payment & Refunds

Q. How does the pricing work?

A. To attend the retreat, register for lodging (which includes meals and use of hydrotherapy facilities). There is a 2-night minimum for each person. If you wish to take 1 or more continuing education classes, each class has separate tuition on top of your lodging; classes are open to guests who have already registered for lodging.

If you’ve stayed with us before, you’ll notice the pricing structure for lodging changed, effective 2022. This reflects changes that Breitenbush Hot Springs has made.

Bottom line: More adults sharing a space means a lower price per adult.

  • The first adult is charged the full price for each night.

  • Additional adults in the same lodging are charged a reduced rate.

Single occupancy is allowed in many types of lodging. We will not assign you a roommate.

If you and your roommate(s) want to register separately and then equalize the charges, so each of you pays the same amount, you will need work this out between yourselves. We are not able to manage this.

Child lodging is priced differently. There’s a flat rate per night for each child based on their age.

As in past years, we’ve rolled your retreat event fee into your lodging costs. New this year, your final invoice emailed from Breitenbush will show the breakdown — lodging, meals, soaking and event fee as separate line items. The event fee is $30 per adult per night. The total per night will be very similar to last year.

Q. I’m coming on my own. Will I be assigned a roommate?

A. No. You will not be assigned to share with someone else unless you choose to register with them.

Q. What’s included in the price of lodging?

A. Your price of lodging includes:

  • Your individual spot in your accommodation. (You may elect to add more adults and children at additional cost.)

  • Three delicious vegetarian meals a day (starting with dinner on your first day and ending with lunch on your last day).

  • Round-the-clock access to the hydrotherapy facilities:

    • Two sets of soaking pools (the three Meadow Pools and the four Spiral Tubs plus a cold plunge behind the lodge), as well as individual tubs — all fed by natural hot springs

    • Sauna/steam hut

    • Breitenbush River

  • Bonfire on the flood plain on Sunday night

  • Use of other spaces throughout the grounds, such as the labyrinth, lodge and gift shop

  • Yoga classes (typically held once or twice a day)

  • Retreat event fee. As in past years, we’ve rolled your retreat event fee into your lodging cost. When you browse the lodging options and make your choice, you’ll see a total price that covers both. What’s new: Your final invoice emailed from Breitenbush will show the breakdown — lodging, meals, soaking and event fee as separate line items. The event fee is $30 per adult per night. The total per night will be very similar to last year.

What’s not included in the lodging price:

  • Continuing education classes. They are additional and a la carte. Some guests take 1 class, some take all the classes, some take no classes. It’s up to you.

Q. What is the refund policy?

A. For your lodging reservation with Breitenbush Hot Springs Retreat and Conference Center, their refund policy will apply. If you need to withdraw from the retreat, please contact the Breitenbush office at 503-854-3320 for details about how to cancel.

Deposits for classes are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Q. How and when do I pay my balance?

A. If you registered for continuing education, you paid only a deposit to register. Your tuition balance is due at the start of class. Pay the instructor directly by cash, check or money order — instructors do not accept credit cards, PayPal, Venmo, etc., on site.

Q. What if I want to sign up for classes or activities after I arrive?

A. Guests who are already registered for the retreat may sign up for continuing education classes after arrival, if space is available. Bring cash, checks or money orders — instructors do not accept credit cards, PayPal, Venmo, etc., on site.

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Facilities at Breitenbush

Q. What are the grounds and facilities like?

A. Breitenbush Hot Springs Retreat and Conference Center is set in the woods, along the Breitenbush River. It has a main lodge (with large decks, classroom, dining room and gift shop), two sets of soaking pools of differing temperatures and individual soaking tubs fed by natural hot springs, a sauna/steam hut, a variety of lodging, a labyrinth and wading access to the river.

Please note: If you’ve been to Breitenbush before, keep in mind that the River Yurt and Forest Shelter have been converted to lodging; the Sanctuary, Buddha’s Playhouse, all guest cabins and the bathroom/shower buildings were destroyed in the wildfires of 2020. There are now new lodging options, a new bathroom/shower building and new outdoor showers! The National Forest hiking trails are currently closed for safety reasons related to the fire damage.

The entire retreat center is off the grid, generating its own electricity from the river and heating the buildings geothermally with hot-water radiators. There are no cooking facilities for guests. There is no cell phone or Internet service.

Clothing is required everywhere on the grounds except the soaking areas (which include the river) and the sauna/steam hut, where clothing is optional. In these areas, you may choose whichever option is most comfortable for you. 

If you have questions about mobility/accessibility or service animals (pets are not allowed) or if you will need to use or recharge any electrically powered medical equipment (such as a CPAP machine), please contact Breitenbush Hot Springs Retreat and Conference Center at 503-854-3320 before making your reservation to talk about a plan to meet your needs.

Q. What are the toilet and shower options?

A. If you visited Breitenbush before 2020, please note that the bathroom/shower buildings you were familiar with from previous visits were destroyed by the wildfires. So were all the cabins with bathrooms (as well as all other cabins).

The only lodging option with its own bathroom is the River Yurt (toilet, sink, shower). The lodge rooms have close access to the lodge bathrooms (toilets, sinks), which are available for use by all guests (not private).

There’s a new bathhouse close to the Grove buildings and Mushroom Yurts. It has the following:

  • 2 private shower stalls

  • 1 private ADA shower and bathroom

  • 3 private bathrooms

  • 2 outdoor sinks

  • 2 outdoor showers

Additional toilet facilities are:

  • Multiple plumbed toilets/urinals and sinks in the lodge bathrooms. These are all-gender facilities.

  • 1 plumbed toilet and sink in the River Yurt.

  • Port-a-potties with hand sanitizer in several locations around the grounds, including near the Aviary Tent/Bring Your Own Tent areas, near the Platform Tents and near the Spiral Tubs.

Additional shower facilities are:

  • 1 shower in the River Yurt with hot and cold water

  • A set of several outdoor showers with hot and cold water

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What to Bring (or Not)

Q. What should I bring?

A. Please bring these items:

  • Clothing — Make sure it’s appropriate for the expected weather. It’s typically hot (often in the 80s) and dry in early to mid-July, although it is sometimes quite cold at night — bring layers. We could also get rain showers or thunderstorms. Check the forecast before you leave home. Swimsuits are optional in soaking areas (nudity is not permitted anywhere else on the grounds). Most people do not wear swimsuits; do what is comfortable for you.

  • Bedding and pillow — See next question for more detail.

  • Towels — Since most guests spend a good amount of time in and out of the hot springs and the river, we suggest you bring two or three towels (better chance of having one dry towel when you want one). Towels can be rented from the Breitenbush office.

  • Personal toiletries — The bathrooms and showers are stocked with soap (typically Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap). If you would like anything else (shampoo, conditioner, different soap), bring it. Breitenbush requests biodegradable products only.

  • Insect repellent — Mosquitoes and such may come out in the evening. Bugs are not usually a problem during the day.

  • Sunscreen — It may be intensely sunny. (There are many places to relax in the shade if you want.)

  • Low-intensity flashlight or headlamp — There’s very little artificial light outdoors on the grounds at night. The walking paths are dirt/gravel and may be a little uneven in places.

  • Non-glass water bottle (not bottled water) — The water from all the bathroom faucets is potable. There’s also a drinking fountain in the lodge, and there are spigots on the lodge deck (by the front door) and at the Meadow Pools, Spiral Tubs, sauna/steam hut and parking lot.

  • Walking shoes — Something suitable for dirt/gravel paths. Many people like to have flip-flops or Crocs-type clogs for soaking areas and showers.

  • Snacks, if you want for between meals — However, due to bear activity in 2021, no food in tents, and you’re advised against storing food in your car. (A bear broke into a guest’s car for a candy bar left on the seat.) There is a small dorm-style refrigerator in the lodge where guests can store food items, if space allows.

  • Clock, if you want one — There are none in your accommodations.

  • Musical instruments — To play at the bonfire, if you want.

  • Cash and/or checks — If you have CE balances due or you might want to sign up for classes or activities on site. Instructors do not accept credit cards, PayPal, Venmo, etc., on site.

About caffeinated beverages — Now available! There’s on-demand hot water in the dining room, along with some basic complimentary teas. In addition, Breitenbush now sells pour-over coffee, chai and more teas. They have complimentary oatmilk creamer.

Q. Do I need to bring bedding?

A. Yes. If you are in lodging that has a bed, a bottom sheet is provided. If you are in a platform tent, 2 foam pads are provided (1 for each person for sleeping on the floor). Bring any other bedding you need, including sheets, blankets (it can get quite cool at night, even in July) or a sleeping bag. Bring a pillow and pillowcase.

If you are in a Bring Your Own Tent campsite, you bring your own tent as well as whatever bedding you like.

Bedsets can be rented from Breitenbush. Availability is limited. Call the Breitenbush office at 503-854-3320 if you need a bedset and did not reserve it when you registered for lodging.

  • An individual bedset includes: 1 top sheet, 1 pillow with case, 2 blankets and 2 towels.

  • A couples bedset includes: 1 top sheet, 2 pillows with cases, 2 blankets and 4 towels.

Rented bedsets are delivered to your lodging by 6 p.m. on the day you arrive.

Q. Is there anything I should NOT bring?

A. Please do not bring:

  • Pets.

  • Alcohol or recreational drugs.

  • Candles, incense, camp stoves or other burnables or fire sources. (Smoking, including e-cigarettes, is allowed only in designated areas.)

  • Electric appliances (hair dryers, curling irons, coffee makers, etc.) or generators.

  • Glass containers.

  • Valuables (lodgings have no locks).

  • Perfume or other scented items.

  • Firearms.

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Meals & Food

Q. What meals are included?

A. The price of lodging includes three plentiful, mostly organic, vegetarian meals a day — starting with dinner on your first day and ending with lunch on your last day.

Q. How are meals served?

A. Meals are served from a buffet table in the dining room in the lodge.

Q. When are meals?

A. The day at Breitenbush flows around the three meals. Bells signal the time of the next meal. The first bell sounds 15 minutes before the meal (a half-hour before breakfast for those who sleep in). The second bell rings at the beginning of the meal.

  • Breakfast is 8-9 a.m.

  • Lunch is 1-2 p.m.

  • Dinner is 6-7 p.m.

Your first meal is dinner on your first day. Your last meal is lunch on your last day.

Q. What’s the food like?

A. The food is always vegetarian, mostly organic, plentiful and filling. The Breitenbush staff knows that our group tends to favor protein-rich choices.

  • Breakfast is simple: yogurt, granola, hard boiled eggs, fruit, etc. 

  • Lunch and dinner may include salad bar along with a main dish, such as lasagna or hearty soup with bread.

  • Herbal tea (usually hot options and a cold option) as well as water are available to drink. Hot water is also available for you to make your own drinks. And Breitenbush now sells pour-over coffee, chai and more teas. They have complimentary oatmilk creamer.

  • No snacks are served between meals, although some treats are available for sale in the gift shop.

Due to bear activity in 2021, no food in tents, and you’re advised against storing food in your car. (A bear broke into a guest’s car for a candy bar left on the seat.)

There is a small dorm-style refrigerator in the lodge where guests can store food items, if space allows.

Q. How do I arrange gluten-free/egg-free/dairy-free/other special meals?

A. When you register for lodging, you will be asked whether you would like the "special diet" option. "Special diet" is low/no-gluten, egg-free and dairy-free but may contain trace amounts of gluten. Breitenbush is not able to accommodate any other special dietary needs.    

Q. Can I bring my own food?

A. You may bring food; however:

  • Due to bear activity in 2021, do not bring food into any tent, and you’re advised against storing food in your car. (A bear broke into a guest’s car for a candy bar left on the seat.)

  • There is a small dorm-style refrigerator in the lodge where guests can store food items, if space allows.

Q. Can I cook my own food? Can I use a camp stove or build a cooking fire?

A. No. There are no facilities for guests to do their own cooking. Do not bring a camp stove or any other cooking device. Fires are not allowed anywhere on the grounds (except for our scheduled bonfire).

Fire danger is significant in the Breitenbush area all summer, and fire prevention is essential. Do not bring burnables of any kind. (Smoking, including e-cigarettes, is allowed only in designated areas.)

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Check-in & Check-out

Q. What’s the earliest time I can arrive?

A. You can arrive at or after the official check-in time on your first day.

  • Check-in on Friday is at 3 p.m. or later. Lodging will be ready for move-in at 4 p.m. (Do not move in sooner; the staff will be completing their cleaning rounds.)

  • Check-in on Saturday is at 2 p.m. or later. Lodging will be ready for move-in at 2 p.m.

Do not arrive before check-in time on your first day. If there is an extraordinary or emergency circumstance, email us or call Laurie at 206-250-8087 to talk about your particular circumstances — in advance of the retreat. (Do not simply show up early. If you do, you may be turned back at the gate.)

  • To attend a Saturday-morning CE class that starts at 9 a.m., you must register for Friday lodging. (New guests may not arrive on site on Saturday morning in order to attend a morning class.) 

  • To attend a Saturday-afternoon CE class that starts at 2 p.m., your first night can be either Friday or Saturday. If it’s Saturday, you must pre-arrange with us to arrive on site shortly before 2 p.m. (The first meal included with your lodging is dinner that night, not lunch.) 

Q. How do I check in?

A. Drive to the parking lot, park and walk over to the gatehouse (the building on your right as you enter the parking lot). A member of the Breitenbush staff will check you in, confirm your lodging assignment and give you a map of the grounds. The gatehouse is open until 6 p.m.

No vehicles are allowed beyond the parking lot. Get a cart from the cart house, load the cart with your belongings, head to your lodging, unload, return the cart immediately for other guests to use, and begin enjoying your retreat!

Late arrivals: If you arrive after 6 p.m. on either Friday or Saturday, stop at the gatehouse. You will find a grounds map on the porch with your name on it. Please use the map and the written lodging assignment to orient yourself. If you need further assistance, there is a callbox at the gatehouse.

Q. What’s the latest time I can leave?

A. It depends on which day you are leaving.

  • If you are leaving on Sunday, leave before dinner. Dinner on your last day is not included. If you want to stay for dinner, you can arrange this through Breitenbush for an extra meal charge. This must be arranged in advance of the retreat, not once you are on site.

  • If you are leaving on Monday, by 1 p.m. your belongings must be out of your cabin, platform tent or meadow tent site. (This means before you go to lunch — or before you go to class if you are taking a Monday-morning class.) Breitenbush needs to get ready for their next set of guests, so they charge extra for guests who have not vacated their lodging by 1 p.m. You can stay on the grounds until 3 p.m. (Do not stay later.)

Q. How do I check out?

A. You do not need to let anyone know when you’re leaving. (However, if you must leave early for some reason, we appreciate you letting Brian or Laurie know.  We’ll both be at the retreat all weekend, and you can always find one or both of us at the lodge at mealtimes.) 

Get a cart from the cart house, load the cart with your belongings, take your belongings to your vehicle, and return the cart immediately for other guests to use. (Do not leave your cart parked somewhere, stacked with your belongings.)

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Contact, Directions & Rideshare

Q. Who can I contact with questions about the retreat?

A. Before the retreat, email Brian and Laurie or call Laurie at 206-250-8087. (For questions unrelated to the retreat, use our main contact form.)

  • The last time Brian will be available for questions is on Wednesday evening before the retreat.

  • The last time Laurie will be available for questions is on Thursday evening before the retreat.

After that, we’ll be on the road to Breitenbush and out of phone/email contact.

Brian and Laurie will be at the retreat from Friday afternoon through Monday afternoon. A reliable place and time to track us down is at the lodge at mealtimes.

Q. How can someone reach me (or vice versa) while I’m at the retreat?

A. They can’t, unless it is an emergency. There is no cell phone reception and no Internet service at Breitenbush. There is no public phone. Phones are available for emergencies only. If someone needs to reach you due to an emergency, they can call the Breitenbush office at 503-854-3320; the office is open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. If you need to be in contact by cell phone, you can most likely get reception in Detroit, Oregon, about 10 miles away.

Q. How do I drive to Breitenbush? (print PDF version)

A. In 2024, expect road closures due to construction.

Driving directions:

Do NOT use Mapquest, Google Maps or GPS directions! They will not direct you all the way to the retreat center. You may get lost in a dangerous area without cell phone service. It’s OK to use GPS to get as far as Detroit, Oregon, if you are coming from the direction of Salem (not if you are coming via Estacada).

Check current road conditions online before you set out in case your route is affected by construction, potential wildfires or other factors.

Main route from Western Washington, Oregon and California:

  1. Take I-5 to Salem.

  2. Take exit 253, and head east toward Detroit Lake and Bend on Hwy 22.

  3. In Detroit, after crossing the Detroit bridge, turn left onto Forest Service Road 46 (FS46), and head north.

  4. Drive about 9.1 miles on FS46. Just past Cleator Bend Campground, take a right onto the single-lane Cleator Bend Bridge.

  5. The road is gravel after the bridge and has three forks in its 1.5 miles. Take a left at every fork to reach the parking lot. There will be signs to guide you.

  6. If you need gas, there is a gas station in Detroit with a self-service option. Prior to Detroit, the last best place to get gas is Mill City on Hwy 22 about 20 miles before Detroit. (There is a gas station further along in Gates, but we’re told the hours are unreliable.)

The “back way”/alternate driving route (via Estacada) was closed for nearly three years due to wildfire damage. The Forest Service re-opened this route (Hwy 224 and 46) in June 2023. If you plan to go this way, confirm current road conditions in advance (there may be temporary closures or delays due to maintenance). Also, note there are no services and no cell phone service between Estacada and Detroit.

Alternate route (the “back way”) from Washington: 

  1. Take I-5 toward Portland. 

  2. Before you reach the Washington/Oregon border, take exit 7, and head south on I-205. 

  3. After entering Oregon, take exit 12A toward Damascus, via east SR-212 & SR-224, and follow signs to Estacada. Stay in the right lane. 

  4. In about 3 miles, when SR-212 and SR-224 separate, take east SR-224 to Carver/Estacada, and head to Estacada. (If you need gas, fill up in Estacada. There are no services and no cell phone reception from Estacada to Detroit.) 

  5. Continue on SR-224 for about 59 miles, following signs toward Detroit. (SR-224 is also known as Forest Service Road #26 and #46.) 

  6. Pass the sign for Breitenbush Campground, and continue for about 0.7 miles. 

  7. Coming up quickly around a turn, take a sharp left onto the Cleator Bend Bridge. 

  8. The road is gravel after the bridge and has three forks in its 1.5 miles. Take a left at every fork to reach the parking lot. There will be signs to guide you.

Print a PDF version of these directions & map.

Q. How can I arrange a rideshare?

A. Breitenbush offers a rideshare option at https://breitenbush.com/rideshare.

Q. How do I fly in from another state?

A. The closest major airport is Portland, about 2.5 hours away by car. The Salem airport is closer, about 1 hour away, but it may be less convenient to get flights in and out of there. To get from the airport to Breitenbush, you will need to rent a car — or you will need to arrange your own rideshare in advance with someone who is traveling from (or through) Portland or Salem. Breitenbush does not provide a shuttle or other transportation to or from the grounds. Taxis and rideshare services like Uber and Lyft will not come out to Breitenbush.

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