Holden's Road to Recovery

Preparing to Welcome guests back to the wilderness

Our Current Situation

In mid-December 2025, an atmospheric river brought unusually warm temperatures and heavy rain to the North Cascades, triggering mudslides and severe washouts that damaged roads and infrastructure for our neighbors in Stehekin and in the Railroad Creek Valley. Several slides heavily damaged Forest Service Road 8301—the Village’s only access route. Until the road can be repaired, Holden Village will remain closed to guests. The U.S. Forest Service is overseeing the repair effort and has placed the project on the fastest timeline possible. The exact reopening date remains uncertain. In the meantime, a small caretaker team remains in the Village to maintain the property, while other staff continue operations, communications, and programming remotely downlake. Learn more about what happened here.

Our Strategic Directive for Recovery

Holden Village creates transformative spiritual experiences that make the world more just, sustainable, and compassionate. For 65 years, we have welcomed tens of thousands of individuals and families to faith-rooted programs that renew relationships with God, the earth, and one another. As we navigate this season of recovery, we are preparing to welcome 5,000 Villagers back to the Village within 12 months of reopening and to deepen our commitment to carry Holden’s gifts of community and connection into the wider world.

Our Strategic Priorities for Recovery

  1. Maintain and care for Holden’s current operations, people, and infrastructure. 
  2. Connect with the Holden Village community around the world. 
  3. Improve Holden’s systems and resilience so we can return to a better Village.

How You Can Help

Support the Village financially

Holden Village will weather this storm because of the generosity of our community. There are many ways you can support us financially:

Holden Village
HC 0 Box 2
Chelan, WA 98816

Help us recruit staff

Though we haven’t reopened yet, we’re already preparing to welcome guests back to the Village. Filling open staff positions will be crucial to our ability to successfully reopen. You can help us recruit staff by keeping an eye out for opportunities in our newsletter or on social media and helping us share them far and wide!

Programming Continues

While the Village is closed to guests, Holden remains committed to offering programming and educational opportunities. These might range from virtual sessions offered by previously-scheduled faculty to in-person retreats organized in collaboration with our partners across the country. These offerings will expand in the coming months as we work to build up systems for remote offerings. You can view a calendar of upcoming events on our website and Facebook page.

Be one of the First 5,000!

Want to be one of the first Villagers back at Holden? Sign up here to get important program updates and be the first to know when registration will be open.

Education

Holden Village is a community where your questions are valued and encouraged. Most programs led by visiting teaching faculty occur during the summer months. However, Holden also invites faculty to teach sessions for special events and retreats throughout the rest of the year.
View upcoming summer faculty.