Lake Norman, North Carolina

The Lake House
Sessions

A Spiritual Retreat on Lake Norman, NC — Just Outside Charlotte

Small, intimate, and intentional resets on Lake Norman with Greg Atkinson. For leaders and creatives who are ready to slow down, go quiet, and come back to themselves. All-inclusive three-night/four-day retreat. Just get to Charlotte, and Greg takes care of the rest. Small, intimate, and intentional resets on Lake Norman with Greg Atkinson. Three nights, four days. All-inclusive.

Small groups — 10 guests max
Offered six times a year
Lake Norman, NC

The Largest Manmade Lake in North Carolina. Just Outside Charlotte.

Lake Norman is North Carolina's inland sea — 520 miles of shoreline, still mornings on the water, and air that slows your breath before you even decide to slow down.

This is Greg Atkinson's home. Not a resort. Not a conference center. A real place of peace, opened with intention for people who need it most.

Imagine mornings by the water, afternoons in conversation or silence, and evenings around the fire — all designed to help you pause, breathe, and come back to center.

Lakeside deck with Adirondack chairs overlooking Lake Norman, NC — The Lake House Sessions retreat setting
520 miles of shoreline
30 min from Charlotte
per year
Small group of retreat guests sitting around a fire pit at dusk on Lake Norman — The Lake House Sessions

“Evenings around the fire, with nothing left to prove.”

Greg Atkinson — host of The Lake House Sessions, spiritual retreat on Lake Norman near Charlotte NC
30+ years in leadership & ministry
1000s of leaders guided
Bestselling author & international speaker

Meet Greg Atkinson.

Your spiritual guide and leadership mentor.

With over thirty years of experience in leadership, ministry, and soul care, Greg Atkinson has guided thousands to clarity, purpose, and renewed passion.

As the bestselling author of The Secret Power of Kindness, international speaker, and founder of EntreChurch and EntreBrand, Greg has spent his life empowering others. A licensed and ordained minister, member of the Forbes Coaching Council, and the American Association of Christian Counselors, he brings rare depth to every conversation. Now, he invites you to Lake Norman — his home — to slow down, reflect, and rediscover what truly matters.

Greg's unique blend of wisdom, empathy, and spiritual depth creates a rare kind of space: one where you can be fully honest, fully held, and fully challenged to step into your next season.

"This isn't a conference. There's no agenda. Just the lake, honest conversation, and space to breathe. Come as you are." — Greg Atkinson

Small. Intimate.
Intentional.

The Lake House Sessions are a focused, unhurried gathering for people who are ready to stop managing their exhaustion and start addressing it — spiritually, emotionally, and practically.

Soul Care

Guided spiritual practices, contemplative prayer, and honest conversation that meets you where you are — not where you think you should be.

Deep Rest

Unhurried rhythms. No agenda beyond what your soul needs. Silence, beauty, and permission to stop performing — even for a weekend.

One-on-One Coaching

Personal time with Greg for spiritual direction and leadership coaching — tailored entirely to what you are carrying and where you are headed.

This Retreat Is For You If…

You're a leader running on fumes who can't remember the last time you truly exhaled.
You feel spiritually dry — not faithless, just depleted — and you want more than a Sunday service can offer.
You're at a crossroads and need clarity, not more information.
You're a creative, pastor, executive, or entrepreneur who has been giving out more than you've been taking in.
You want to slow down in a community of like-minded people without having to explain yourself.
You sense there is more — more peace, more purpose, more presence — and you're ready to go find it.

The Full Experience.

Every detail is held so that your only job is to arrive — and be present.

  • Personalized coaching & spiritual direction

    One-on-one time with Greg, tailored to what you're carrying.

  • Thoughtful accommodations with lakeside views

    Comfortable, quiet, and carefully prepared for rest.

  • Delicious meals and guided experiences

    Nourishment for the body alongside the soul.

  • Times of silence, reflection, and meaningful connection

    Space to hear yourself — and each other — again.

  • Practical tools to carry the experience home

    Books, workbooks, and resources curated by Greg for your next season.

  • A welcome video from Greg

    A personal video from Greg to help you prepare your heart and mind before you arrive.

Retreat group sharing a meal together around a long table

This is what it looks like.

Retreat Schedule

Day 1 — Arrive
4:00 pmWelcome, settling in, lakeside orientation
EveningDinner together, opening reflection with Greg
NightFree time — rest, the water, the quiet
Day 2 — Go Deeper
MorningContemplative prayer & guided reflection
MiddayOne-on-one coaching sessions with Greg
AfternoonFree time — kayak, walk, read, sit in silence
EveningGroup conversation around the fire
Day 3 — Rest & Renew
MorningContemplative prayer & guided reflection
MiddayOne-on-one coaching sessions with Greg
AfternoonFree time — kayak, walk, read, sit in silence
EveningGroup conversation around the fire
Day 4 — Return Renewed
MorningClosing session — intention setting for home
11:00 amFarewell & departure
Retreat group gathered around a dinner table
Fire pit glowing at dusk overlooking Lake Norman
Men gathered around a table with journals in focused reflection
Large group of retreat guests sharing a meal around a long dinner table
Four men in deep conversation at a retreat
Small group gathered around a table in conversation

What Past Guests Are Saying.

The weekend with Greg was exactly what my team needed. It gave us a chance to sit down with Greg and his team to talk through current processes and dream. It quickly revealed some gaps in our ministry and gave us a fresh and clearer direction. We grew in our time together and walked away with clear goals for the next year. I cannot recommend this enough!

The Charlotte Getaway was truly a game-changing weekend. We've begun to implement staff and volunteer changes since then and the morale and momentum have never been higher.

The ideas, encouragement, and friendships formed this weekend were so much greater than anything I could have expected going into it. Already, within 24 hours of being home, I am seeing changes happening that will make my team even stronger. If you are looking for a great weekend with like-minded people who will give you support and a time to be refueled, this is the weekend for you!

The First Impression Conference was super energizing, inspiring, encouraging and a confidence builder. I loved being around people from different parts of the country. Much to my surprise, it was relational and team-building time. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to meet strangers on Friday morning and leaving friends Sunday afternoon. Thank you.

Greg and his team are remarkable, high-energy leaders. Their love for the Lord inspires them to set high personal goals — and they inspired me to do the same. They beautifully modeled the hospitality we are to show guests at our churches, making everything we did inviting, fun, and so valuable.

What It Costs to Come.

One price. Everything included. No surprises.

$ 5,000 per person

Four days at the lake with Greg Atkinson. This is the most accessible version of what Greg offers — his consulting rate is $5,000 per day.

What’s Included

  • 3 nights lodging at the lake house
  • All meals, snacks, and beverages
  • One-on-one coaching session with Greg
  • Guided soul care & contemplative sessions
  • Group conversations with 9 other vetted leaders
  • Full access to Lake Norman — kayaks, dock, fire pit
  • Curated welcome gifts

Sessions are offered 6 times per year with a maximum of 10 guests. Space is limited and fills by invitation. Travel to Lake Norman is not included.

Request an Invitation

Common Questions

What is The Lake House Sessions?

The Lake House Sessions is a small, intimate spiritual rest retreat hosted by Greg Atkinson on Lake Norman, North Carolina. It's designed for leaders, pastors, creatives, and anyone in a demanding season who needs to slow down, rest deeply, and reconnect with what matters most. Sessions include soul care, deep rest, one-on-one coaching with Greg, and lakeside community — with no more than 10 guests per session.

Where exactly is it located?

The retreat takes place at Greg's home on Lake Norman, NC — the largest manmade lake in North Carolina, approximately 30 minutes north of Charlotte. The setting is private, peaceful, and off the grid from the demands of everyday life.

How long is the retreat?

The Lake House Sessions runs Day 1 at 4:00 PM through Day 4 at 11:00 AM — a 3-night, 4-day experience. The schedule is intentionally unhurried, with space to breathe between every element.

Who should come?

This retreat is for leaders, pastors, ministry workers, executives, creatives, and anyone who has been running hard and needs to stop. If you're spiritually depleted, emotionally tired, or simply can't remember the last time you truly rested — this is for you.

How do I apply?

The investment is $5,000 per person, which includes 3 nights lodging, all meals, one-on-one coaching with Greg, guided sessions, and full access to the lake house. Scroll down to the Request an Invitation form, or email Greg at greg@gregatkinson.com.

How many people attend each session?

A maximum of 10 guests per session — intentionally small so that every person receives real presence and attention. Sessions are offered 6 times per year.

On Soul Care & Rest

Reflections for leaders who are ready to slow down.

Burnout

When High Performers Hit the Wall: What Burnout Is Actually Telling You

What burnout is actually telling high-capacity leaders — and why a long weekend won\'t fix it.

Read Article →
Renewal

The Leader’s Return: Why Renewal Is Not a Reward — It’s a Responsibility

Why renewal isn\'t a reward for good work — it\'s the preparation for what\'s still to come.

Read Article →
Contemplative Rest

Christian Meditation for Leaders: How Contemplative Prayer Can Restore What Busyness Takes

Reclaiming one of Christianity\'s most powerful practices — for leaders who are too busy to stop.

Read Article →
Soul Care

Soul Care for Leaders: Why Your Inner Life Is the Most Important Thing You’re Neglecting

The one thing most high-capacity leaders are neglecting — and why it\'s costing them more than they know.

Read Article →
Deep Rest

The Difference Between a Vacation and a Retreat

A vacation changes your location. A retreat changes your orientation. Here\'s why that difference matters.

Read Article →
Spiritual Formation

What the Lake Teaches You That the Boardroom Never Will

The most important conversations of Greg\'s leadership career didn\'t happen in a boardroom. They happened on a dock.

Read Article →

How to Make the Most of a Spiritual Retreat

A practical guide for leaders and creatives — what to do before, during, and after a retreat so the time you invest actually changes something. Written by Greg Atkinson. Yours free.

  • How to arrive without an agenda (and why that matters)
  • 5 practices for while you're there
  • How to protect what you carry home
How to Make the Most of
a Spiritual Retreat
Greg Atkinson

No spam. Just the guide, and an occasional word from Greg.

Come to the Lake.
Reset Your Intent.
Leave Different.

Sessions are small by design — never more than ten guests. Before Greg reaches out, he'd love to know a little about where you are. Take your time with this. There are no wrong answers.

What's the weight you're carrying? Be as honest as you'd like.

Rest, clarity, direction, healing, connection with God, all of the above — whatever comes to mind.

Dry? Depleted? At a crossroads? Grieving? Rebuilding? There's no wrong answer here.

Time, cost, uncertainty about whether it's right for you — name it. It helps Greg serve you well.