The famous Triple Bar
Juices, smoothies & banana nice cream, all day
America’s Largest Vegan Wellness Retreat
Five unforgettable days of plant-based food, fitness, adventure, and a community that feels like family — on hundreds of private acres. This is not your typical retreat.
All-inclusive tickets as low as $118/mo (from $945 all-in) · rooms as low as $68/mo (from $545) · 0% interest, no credit check
Two 2027 destinations
Same legendary VWR experience, two unforgettable settings. Both expecting 500+ guests — and private rooms are already selling out.
LoneHollow Ranch · Utopia, TX
Timber Wolf Lake · Lake City, MI
Who you’ll learn from
World-renowned doctors, elite plant-based athletes, and bestselling authors — the kind of teachers people travel across the country to learn from, all in one place. And we’re just getting started.
Chuck Carroll, “The Weight Loss Champion,” hosts The Exam Room™ — the flagship podcast of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. He’ll record a live episode right on stage at the 2027 Texas retreat.
Every week, Chuck sits down with Dr. Neal Barnard and the world’s leading plant-based physicians to break down the science of food and healing — reaching hundreds of thousands of health-seekers around the globe. A former CBS and NBC News Radio broadcaster who lost 265 pounds himself, he tells the story of transformation like no one else can.
Ratings & chart data via Apple Podcasts. If you’ve ever doubted that real, lasting change is possible, this is the room where it happens.
We've partnered with Casa de Luz East — one of Austin's most beloved organic, whole-food, plant-based, oil-free kitchens, an institution people drive across Texas for. This isn't catering. We're bringing their kitchen, their chefs, and their standards to the retreat — cooking for every guest, at every meal.
Our head chef, Mario Fabbri, leads the kitchen — with Gabby Martinez, owner of Casa de Luz East, as his sous chef — together cooking five unforgettable days of food for every guest.
Every meal, every day — included with your ticket. Organic, oil-free, 100% whole-food plant-based. Come hungry.
Owner of Casa de Luz East, joining our kitchens at both 2027 retreats as sous chef to head chef Mario Fabbri — cooking for every guest, every day.
And leading the kitchen is our head chef — meet Mario Fabbri ↓
Head chef · Texas & Michigan 2027
"I cook vegan food for non-vegans."
Running the VWR kitchen at both 2027 retreats is Mario Fabbri — Los Angeles vegan private chef, TEDx speaker, and host of Trying Vegan with Mario, one of the first all-vegan cooking shows to air on cable and Roku.
The son of a Chicago Italian-sausage maker, Mario went fully plant-based after watching a friend transform their health — and never looked back. With 750K+ followers across platforms, he's known for turning everyday vegetables into theatrical, umami-rich dishes that win over even the skeptics. Expect live food demos, big flavors, and every meal feeling like an event.
Meet Sal, the Fruit Hunter — the South Florida farmer behind Fruit Hunters and its fruit-obsessed community of 500K+, who spends his life tracking down the rarest tropical fruit on earth. He's the official tropical fruit provider for all 2027 Vegan Wellness Retreats, hand-delivering thousands of pounds of just-picked exotic fruit to each retreat — Texas and Michigan.
Dragon fruit, sapote, jaboticaba, sugar-apple, rare mango varieties — the kind of fruit most people have only ever seen online, picked ripe and shared together at the table. It's the kind of thing almost no other retreat can offer.
Included with every 2027 ticket — no extra charge. Every guest, both retreats. It's already part of your experience.
Our most legendary tradition is coming back to both the Texas and Michigan 2027 retreats. Over 40 competitors went head-to-head at the 2026 Vegan Olympics — and with two locations in 2027, we're expecting the biggest turnout yet.
Pull-ups, feats of strength, and all-out friendly competition — the Vegan Olympics is the moment the whole retreat gathers to cheer each other on. Whether you're chasing the podium or just here for the roar of the crowd, everyone's welcome to throw down.
Pre-registration is required to compete — and it's open to registered 2027 retreat guests only. Book your ticket first, then lock your division spot; spots are limited.
Open bracket for the guys ready to test their plant-powered strength.
🏆 $50 Visa® eGiftThe ladies' bracket — grit, power, and a whole lot of cheering.
🏆 $50 Visa® eGiftProof that plant-strong has no age limit — a division all its own.
🏆 $50 Visa® eGiftDeadlift & bench press are scored by weight-to-bodyweight ratio — so every body competes on a level playing field.
The male and female winner in each division — Men's, Women's, and 55 & Over — takes home a $50 Visa® eGift card. Bragging rights included.
Everyone belongs here
VWR is built for real people at every stage of life and every point on the health journey — not just the already-converted.
We genuinely welcome guests of every generation. Families with newborns, teens, grandparents in their 90s — our retreats are multigenerational by design, and the mix is part of what makes VWR special.
Curious but not committed? Still eating meat? Every starting point is welcome here. And fair warning — the food is so flavorful and satisfying that even the most devoted meat-eaters leave raving about it. Many guests arrive skeptical and leave with a whole new relationship with food.
Whether you're feeling your best or ready for a complete reset, VWR doesn't require you to be "healthy enough" to attend. Five days with this community has a way of meeting people exactly where they need it most.
"Not plant-based yet, or brand new to the lifestyle? You don't want to miss this. Five days surrounded by this community — the food, the speakers, the connection — has a way of changing everything."
— The VWR TeamBring the whole family
Come as a family and actually get your reset. While you're in a workshop or out on the water, your kids are making friends with other plant-based families' kids. More than 30 children joined the Kids Club in both 2025 and 2026 — and 2027 is shaping up to be even bigger. Every Kids Club volunteer is background-checked, so you can drop your kids off and truly switch off.
A full 15 hours a day. Drop off and pick up whenever suits you — from early-morning movement to the late-night silent disco, your kids are covered.
No add-on, no daily fee, no extra cost to parents. Like everything at VWR, the Kids Club is part of the all-inclusive experience.
An on-site playground at both 2027 retreat locations, plus a dedicated indoor Kids Club space at each — rain or shine.
Single & plant-based? · A VWR tradition since 2024
Every Vegan Wellness Retreat since 2024 has featured our plant-based Speed Dating night — and it's quietly become one of the most-loved evenings on the whole calendar. More than 50 singles took part in both 2025 and 2026, and with 2027 shaping up to be our biggest turnout yet, this could be the year you meet someone who already shares your values. Why wait to find a health-minded partner who eats the way you do, moves the way you do, and lives the way you do?
Speed Dating has been part of every single VWR — three years running. It's not a gimmick; it's genuinely how our community connects.
More than 50 people joined in both 2025 and 2026. With 2027 on track to be our largest retreat yet, expect the biggest room we've ever had.
Speed Dating is pre-registration only — you must sign up here on the site in advance to take part. Spots are limited and fill fast, so don't wait.
Heads up: pre-registration is required to join Speed Dating — you can only take part if you sign up in advance here on the site.
Pre-register for Speed Dating →A full-spectrum experience
From sunrise movement to silent discos under the stars — every day is built to energize, connect, and transform you. Do as much or as little as you want.
500+ people, one 20,000 sq ft dining hall
Gourmet vegan meals by Chef Mario
Juices, smoothies & banana nice cream, all day
Kayak, swim, zip line
Yoga, breathwork, fitness, meditation
Evenings you won't forget
Massage, sauna, cold plunge
Field games, socials & friendly competition
Everything's included
Most retreats nickel-and-dime you for every class and experience. At VWR, it's all in — from the lake to the silent disco.
Oil-free, whole-food plant-based
Fresh juices, smoothies & banana nice cream
Group workouts, dance fitness, Tai Chi, meditation
Lectures, cooking demos, nutrition education
Full access to the zip lines, water inflatables & lake
Field games, evening socials & the silent disco
Every guest sleeps indoors in a real bed — from shared bunks to private suites with their own bath, all on the property. Fresh linens, bedding, and pillows are included in every room; just bring your bag.
Every room can go on a 0% payment plan — no interest, no application, no credit check. Dozens of on-site room options across both ranches — the best-value rooms sell out first.
Real guests · real transformation
"This was one of the most welcoming communities I've ever been a part of. Every meal exceeded my expectations, the speakers were incredibly inspiring, and I left with lifelong friends. I already booked for 2027!"
"I came to the retreat hoping to improve my health, but I left with so much more. The speakers were world-class, the food was absolutely incredible, and the sense of community was unlike anything I've ever experienced. I already can't wait for next year!"
"I've attended wellness events before, but nothing compares to this. Every detail was thoughtfully planned—from the movement classes and workshops to the delicious meals and family-friendly atmosphere. It truly felt like a vacation with purpose."
"What stood out most to me was the people. Everyone was welcoming, encouraging, and genuinely excited to be there. I made friendships that I know will last for years, and it reminded me how powerful a community can be."
"Between the inspiring presentations, fun activities, beautiful setting, and incredible food, this retreat exceeded every expectation I had. I came home feeling healthier, more motivated, and excited to continue my plant-based journey. I booked my spot for 2027 before I even left!"
"I've never been surrounded by so many positive, health-minded people in one place. From sunrise workouts to evening conversations, every moment left me feeling inspired. This retreat has become something I'll look forward to every year."
"The speakers were phenomenal. I walked away with practical information that I could immediately apply to my health and my family's lifestyle. Every presentation was engaging, evidence-based, and incredibly motivating."
"I was amazed at how much was included. Delicious meals, fitness classes, cooking demonstrations, outdoor activities, incredible lectures, and plenty of time to relax and connect with others. It was worth every penny."
60 → 240 → 350 attendees in three years — and in 2027 we're opening two new homes, with room for 500+ in both Texas and Michigan.
A day at VWR
From morning movement to sunset dinners — five days of food, community, and transformation.
Texas 2027 · The itinerary
We've planned the full day-by-day at LoneHollow Ranch — every keynote, workout, meal, and late-night. Here's a taste; the full schedule has it hour by hour. (Michigan's is coming soon.)
500+ guests at each retreat — and the best-value rooms sell out first. 0% interest payment plans: no application, no credit check.
Moments from the retreat
Food, friendship, movement, and the kind of days you don't forget. Tap any photo to explore.
Get retreat updates, behind-the-scenes content, and wellness inspiration — and connect with hundreds of fellow plant-based enthusiasts between retreats.
The people behind VWR
Founders · Vegan Wellness Retreats
We're a real family — Sarah and Chase, and our two girls — and we built VWR to be the gathering we always wished existed: plant-based, welcoming, and genuinely fun for every age. There's no faceless company behind it. It's just us.
And it's grown fast. What started as one small retreat now welcomes more than 1,000 guests a year across our Texas and Michigan editions — and every single one is still hosted, in person, by our family.
When you email or call, you're reaching us directly — not a call center. Have a question before you register? info@veganwellnessretreats.com · (231) 409-0002
Seats are going fast
VWR 2026 sold out a month early — and 2027 is moving the same way, with 150+ guests already registered for each retreat. Join more than 1,100 guests across our two 2027 retreats — 500+ at each location. Private rooms are already selling out — and we never expand capacity once tickets are gone.
Lodging as low as ~$68/mo ($545 total) — lowest-priced options sell out first · 0% interest monthly payment plans (no application, no credit check) for a limited time|Questions? Call or text (231) 409-0002
