More than five years after the Shenandoah County Board of Supervisors first approved a special use permit for Simply Shenandoah, the resort’s founder returned Thursday county leaders with a sweeping update and a renewed vision for what he described as a national model for regenerative tourism.

“We didn’t come this far just to come this far,” said Mike Marburg, to a joint meeting of the Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission. “We’re going to get it done, and we’re going to get it done in a way that you all will be proud of.”

From an abstract dream to a 640-acre retreat nestled in the wooded ridges of Star Tannery, Simply Shenandoah has evolved over six years into what its creators now call a model for “regenerative hospitality.” The wellness resort blends personal renewal with ecological restoration, economic investment and a deep commitment to place.

“Most of our problems can be solved if we look at how Mother Nature solves things,” Marburg said in an interview with the Daily before the government meeting. “We want to reconnect people to that wisdom.”

Marburg, who first brought the project to the Planning Commission in 2019, now hopes to open the space in 2027. The delay, he said, stemmed from his commitment to building the project the right way — financially, environmentally and culturally — even in the face of COVID-19, economic headwinds, years of design changes and now rising tariffs.

“I’ve lost a lot of money so far,” Marburg told commissioners and supervisors during the joint meeting. “But it’s because I care. My family’s going to be here, my whole extended family will be in this area. So even though I’m not from right here, I still consider this part of my home.”

The resort will sit next to Devil’s Backbone State Forest, with no cars allowed beyond the initial check-in area. Guests will walk across what Marburg calls a “bridge of intention” to reach a central village surrounded by miles of hiking trails, forest restoration zones and several retreat-style buildings designed for yoga, massage, fitness and farm-to-table dining.

The bridge, described as a symbolic threshold, will mark the start of each guest’s personal journey, inviting them to pause, reflect and set their intentions before entering the retreat space.

Marburg described the facility as a place for “transformational travel,” where guests take time to reflect, reconnect and recover from life’s major transitions, including grief, divorce or career changes. Offerings will range from meditation and massage to survival skills, mountain biking and cooking classes.

“It’s a place that’s fun. It’s a place that’s a vacation. But it’s a place where you can work on yourself,” he said.

Full construction documents are scheduled to be completed by Aug. 1, followed by a two-month subcontractor bidding window. Marburg said he plans to solicit more than 400 bids.

Rather than approaching development in the traditional sense, the team behind Simply Shenandoah says it has tried to treat the land not as an asset to control, but as a partner to listen to.

In a recent blog post on his website, thenatureretreat.com, Marburg noted that his first hires weren’t architects or engineers, but a landscape architecture firm and a regenerative development consultancy, chosen to help design not just around the land, but with it. He described a sustainability plan that includes geothermal heating and cooling, an all-electric kitchen, zero single-use plastics and food sourcing within a 150-mile radius. Rooms will forgo televisions, with beds oriented toward the mountains.

The resort also plans to reintroduce the American chestnut, a once-dominant species nearly wiped out by blight in the early 1900s. Guests will have the opportunity to plant and adopt chestnut trees and return over the years to witness their growth.

“We have a concept we call land as a partner,” he said. “Land is not an asset. We’re not here to own the land. We’re here to partner with it.”

Simply Shenandoah also draws heavily from Native American perspectives on land and healing. Roads on the property will bear names derived from Indigenous languages, chosen through consultation with tribal advisors. A planned commons area will feature space for guests to participate in symbolic rituals or quiet moments of intention-setting.

Marburg said the aim is to invite guests into a more reciprocal relationship with nature, one informed by the insights of those who have lived in balance with the land for generations.

“When you step back from the complexity of life, what matters is simple: family, nature, community,” Marburg said in an interview before the meeting. “That’s what we’re trying to help people remember.”

Financial backers include Momentis, a family office supporting wellness-focused real estate around the world, and Wellmore Partners, the conscious-capitalist group Marburg co-founded.

But for Marburg, the drive remains personal. His extended family plans to live nearby. He hopes the resort will not only attract guests, but cultivate neighbors, stewards and returners.

Over its first decade, the project is expected to generate $200 million in local economic activity, with $50 million in annual revenue and 225 full- and part-time jobs. Marburg said the resort will work with local artisans, farmers, and businesses to embed the operation within Shenandoah County’s culture and economy. He also pledged to establish endowed scholarships for first responders and veterans seeking emotional or physical healing.

“This is a place that’s meant to stimulate people to think about themselves and their deeper purpose,” Marburg said.

See the original article on the The Northern Virginia Daily