Morally Gray Getaway
where dark romance, dangerous magic & bookish friendships await
OCTOBER 7-10, 2027 | OLYMPIA, WA
Your Darkest Escape Awaits
Step beyond the veil and into a weekend made for readers who like their romance dangerous, their magic wicked, and their characters morally complicated. Set inside a sprawling lakefront castle near Olympia, Washington, this unforgettable retreat will bring dark romantasy to life through atmospheric experiences, cozy reading, themed activities, and plenty of time to connect with fellow book lovers. For three enchanting nights, leave the ordinary world behind—and embrace the darkness waiting in the next chapter.
What's Included:
A Castle
After Dark
Three nights in a sprawling lakefront castle filled with atmospheric spaces, cozy reading corners, enchanting views, and plenty of room to gather with your fellow readers.
Featured Author
Book Club
Receive a featured author’s book before the retreat, then join us for an intimate discussion and author Q&A during the weekend.
Darkly
Delightful
Goodies
Take home exclusive retreat keepsakes, bookish treasures, and thoughtfully chosen surprises inspired by the darker side of romance and fantasy.
Meals &
Wicked Treats
Delicious meals, snacks, and drinks throughout the retreat—including an immersive themed dining experience worthy of your favorite dark fantasy realm.
Immersive
Experiences
Step deeper into the story with atmospheric activities, themed moments, games, and experiences inspired by dangerous magic and morally gray worlds.
A Built-In
Bookish Community
Connect before and after the retreat in a private group chat, then spend the weekend making memories with readers who love complicated characters as much as you do.
Curated Dark
Book Fair
Choose new books to take home from our private retreat book fair, thoughtfully stocked with dark romance, romantasy, fantasy, and other deliciously wicked reads.
Time to Read
& Unwind
Plenty of unhurried time to curl up with a book, relax beside the lake, enjoy the hot tub, explore the castle, or simply spend time with your new bookish friends.
Creative Bookish Crafts
Choose from a selection of dark and magical book-inspired crafts designed for relaxed creativity—no artistic experience or magical abilities required.
Transportation to and from the retreat, alcoholic beverages, and personal purchases made during the retreat are not included.
Your Castle for the Weekend
For three unforgettable nights, this sprawling lakefront castle will become our own private dark romantasy realm. With three stories, grand gathering spaces, hidden-away corners, sweeping lake views, and enchanting details throughout, it feels like a setting pulled straight from the pages of your favorite fantasy.
Curl up with your current read, soak beneath the night sky in the lakeside hot tub, challenge your new friends to a game, or slip away to find your own quiet corner of the castle. There will be plenty of space to explore, unwind, and embrace your morally gray escape.
A Sprawling Lakefront Castle
Stay somewhere that feels like a destination all on its own, with 7,500 square feet of atmospheric rooms, grand spaces, and story-worthy details spread across three floors.
Private Dock & Lakeside Hot Tub
Step outside for sweeping views of Summit Lake, peaceful moments by the water, and evenings spent relaxing in the private nine-person hot tub beneath the stars.
Cozy Corners to Escape Into
Settle into an inviting corner, claim a spot overlooking the lake, or wander through the castle until you find the perfect place to get lost in a dark and dangerous story.
Endless Ways to Gather & Unwind
From spacious dining and living areas to the media room, billiards table, arcade, poker turret, outdoor fireplace, and lakeside gathering spaces, the castle gives us countless ways to spend time together.
Choose Your Quarters
Choose the quarters that will make you feel most at home during your castle escape. Claim a larger bed to enjoy solo, share with a friend to divide the cost, or reserve an individual bed of your own. Every option includes three nights in the castle and the complete Morally Gray Getaway experience.
Availability is limited, and quarters will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.
Guests sharing a bed will reserve their accommodation together.
 Room 1 (Shared): King BedSettle into a comfortable king bed inside a shared bedroom. Reserve the bed for yourself or share it with a friend, while enjoying the community feel of rooming with other book lovers. One king bed in a shared room. Space for one or two guests. |  Room 1 (Shared): Single BedEnjoy your own single bed while sharing a bedroom with one other retreat guest. It's a comfortable option for solo attendees who want their own sleeping space at a more accessible price. One single bed in a shared room. Space for one guest. |  Room 2 (Shared): King BedEnjoy the privacy of your own room with a comfortable king bed. Stretch out and enjoy the space solo, or share the room and bed with a friend for a more affordable stay. One private room. One king bed. Space for one or two guests. |  Room 2 (Shared): Queen BedSettle into a comfortable queen bed inside a shared bedroom. Reserve the bed for yourself or share it with a friend, while enjoying the community feel of rooming with other book lovers. One queen bed in a shared room. Space for one or two guests. | Room 1 (Shared): Single BedEnjoy your own single bed while sharing a bedroom with one other retreat guest. It's a comfortable option for solo attendees who want their own sleeping space at a more accessible price. One single bed in a shared room. Space for one guest. |  Room 3 (Shared): Queen BedSettle into a comfortable queen bed inside a shared bedroom. Reserve the bed for yourself or share it with a friend, while enjoying the community feel of rooming with other book lovers. One queen bed in a shared room. Space for one or two guests. |
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 Room 3 (Shared): Bunk BedClaim a bunk bed inside this shared bedroom for a cozy, budget-friendly stay. Book it for yourself or share the bunks with a friend while enjoying a room filled with fellow readers. One bunk bed in a shared room. Space for one guest per bunk. |  Room 4 (Private): King BedEnjoy the privacy of your own room with a comfortable king bed. Stretch out and enjoy the space solo, or share the room and bed with a friend for a more affordable stay. One private room. One king bed. Space for one or two guests. |  Room 5 (Shared): Queen Bed 1Settle into a comfortable queen bed inside a shared bedroom. Reserve the bed for yourself or share it with a friend, while enjoying the community feel of rooming with other book lovers. One queen bed in a shared room. Space for one or two guests. | Room 5 (Shared): Queen Bed 2Settle into a comfortable queen bed inside a shared bedroom. Reserve the bed for yourself or share it with a friend, while enjoying the community feel of rooming with other book lovers. One queen bed in a shared room. Space for one or two guests. |  Room 6 (Private): Queen BedEnjoy the privacy of your own room with a comfortable queen bed. Stretch out and enjoy the space solo, or share the room and bed with a friend for a more affordable stay. One private room. One queen bed. Space for one or two guests. |  Room 7 (Shared): Single Bed 1Enjoy your own single bed while sharing a bedroom with one other retreat guest. It's a comfortable option for solo attendees who want their own sleeping space at a more accessible price. One single bed in a shared room. Space for one guest. |
Room 7 (Shared): Single Bed 2Enjoy your own single bed while sharing a bedroom with one other retreat guest. It's a comfortable option for solo attendees who want their own sleeping space at a more accessible price. One single bed in a shared room. Space for one guest. |
Activities & Experiences
This retreat is about more than finding time to read—it’s an invitation to leave the ordinary world behind. From immersive themed gatherings and darkly creative activities to quiet moments overlooking the lake, each experience is designed to pull you deeper into the story while creating unforgettable memories with fellow book lovers.
 A Wicked Welcome NightBegin the retreat with a relaxed welcome gathering designed to help everyone settle in and connect. Enjoy dinner, a lighthearted icebreaker, and the excitement of exploring the castle before spending the evening reading, playing games, or getting to know your new bookish friends. |  A Night at the Dark CourtDress up and step into an immersive evening inspired by forbidden romance, dangerous magic, and decadent fantasy realms. Expect enchanting details, delicious food, and plenty of photo-worthy moments as the castle transforms into our very own dark court. |  Curated Dark Book FairBrowse our private retreat book fair and choose new stories to take home. Your books are included with your retreat, so you can experience the thrill of book shopping without reaching for your wallet. |  Featured Author Book ClubReceive a featured author's book before the retreat, giving you plenty of time to read it before joining us for an intimate group discussion and author Q&A at the castle. |  Entertainment After DarkWind down together with a cozy movie, games, music, or late-night conversations. Explore the castle's media room, arcade, billiards area, and poker turret - or simply relax and enjoy the company of your fellow readers. |  Explore the Castle GroundsWander the lakefront property, enjoy a peaceful moment on the private dock, gather around the fire, or soak beneath the night sky in the lakeside hot tub. You’ll have free time to explore the castle and enjoy its surroundings at your own pace. |
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 Darkly Creative CraftsChoose from a selection of relaxed, book-inspired crafts influenced by dark romance, fantasy, and dangerous magic. No artistic experience is required—just come ready to create, chat, and have fun. |  Reading & RelaxationClaim a cozy castle corner, settle in beside the lake, or retreat to your quarters for uninterrupted reading time. The weekend will include plenty of room to rest, recharge, and get completely lost in your current read. |
A Glimpse at the Weekend
Our full itinerary will be revealed closer to the retreat, but here’s a tempting little preview of the morally gray moments awaiting you.
Thursday – Enter the Shadows
Arrive at our secluded retreat, claim your quarters, and meet the readers joining you for the weekend. We’ll gather for dinner, break the ice, and ease into our first evening of books, conversation, and delightfully questionable decisions.
Friday – Choose Your Allegiance
Settle into retreat life with a slow morning before diving into a day of immersive activities, creative experiences, and plenty of time to read and connect. As darkness falls, expect an evening worthy of your favorite morally gray characters.
Saturday – Embrace Your Dark Side
Our final full day will bring even more bookish experiences, memorable surprises, and opportunities to indulge in the darker stories we love. Between activities, you’ll have time to relax, explore, and enjoy the company of your fellow readers.
Sunday – The Final Betrayal
Savor one last morning together with breakfast, reading, and time to revisit your favorite moments from the weekend. We’ll close our chapter before saying goodbye—with new books, new friendships, and perhaps a few secrets best left at the getaway.
Activities and timing are tentative and may shift as we thoughtfully plan the weekend.
Meet Your Retreat Crew
The getaway begins long before we disappear into the shadows. After booking, you’ll receive access to a private retreat chat where you can meet your fellow readers, trade dangerously good book recommendations, ask questions, and begin counting down to our morally gray weekend together.
We’ll also use this private space to share important retreat updates, coordinate details, discuss our featured book club read, and help everyone feel comfortable and connected before arriving at the estate.
Private chat access and joining instructions will be sent to registered attendees before the retreat.
Important Details / FAQs
Where will the retreat take place?
The Morally Gray Getaway will unfold at the private retreat home featured throughout this page in Olympia, WA. The exact address and arrival instructions will be shared only with registered guests closer to the retreat.
Book Your Retreat
Your morally gray weekend is waiting! Choose the accommodation that feels right for you and reserve your place at our moody castle.
Each booking includes three nights of accommodations, meals and treats, thoughtfully planned activities, bookish goodies, and the full retreat experience. Availability is limited, and rooms will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.
We can’t wait to welcome you into the story ✨
