In 2007, The New York Times featured our property in the article “For Sleep-Away Camps, More Endless Summers.” At the time, the piece noted a quiet but important shift: traditional summer camps were beginning to open their doors year-round to private groups.
Nearly two decades later, that recognition still matters — not because of the anniversary, but because the core idea the article highlighted has remained our defining practice.
Orange Springs Retreat Center is the continuation of a family story that began in 1971.
The Beginning: Camp Shalom (1971)
In 1971, Shelley and David “Big D” Sokol founded Camp Shalom on more than 100 acres bordering the Ocala National Forest. For more than four decades, the property welcomed thousands of children each summer. Lifelong friendships were formed. Confidence was built. Memories were made that still endure.
Shelley became known as the camp’s “camp mom,” offering the kind of personal care that made the place feel like a second home. David provided the steady vision that kept the property growing and thriving.
The Transformation: Orange Springs Retreat Center (2002)
As the needs of organizations evolved, so did the property.
In 2002, their son Mike Sokol reimagined the family camp as Orange Springs Retreat Center — a year-round, exclusive-use retreat venue designed specifically for schools, churches, youth groups, corporations, and private organizations.
The campus was thoughtfully upgraded with climate-controlled lodging, enhanced waterfront facilities, meeting spaces, and a high-element ropes course with zip lines. The peaceful character and natural beauty of the original camp were carefully preserved.
One principle was set from the beginning and has never changed:
One group at a time. Always.
No shared spaces. No outside guests. No competing schedules.
Recognition by The New York Times (2007)
Five years after the transition, The New York Times included Orange Springs in its coverage of camps that successfully adapted to serve private groups year-round. The article recognized the growing demand for dedicated, distraction-free environments where organizations could gather with full focus.
You can read the original article here:
“For Sleep-Away Camps, More Endless Summers” – The New York Times, October 11, 2007
A fuller account of that feature and its lasting relevance is available on our dedicated page:
Orange Springs Retreat Center in The New York Times
What Has Remained Constant
More than fifty years after Camp Shalom first opened its gates, and nearly two decades after the New York Times recognition, the heart of the property is the same:
- A private 100+ acre lakefront campus
- Exclusive use for one group at a time
- Comfortable lodging, chef-prepared meals, and flexible meeting spaces
- A spring-fed lake, white-sand beach, sports facilities, and outdoor activities
- A family-owned commitment to hospitality
Today the campus continues to serve church retreats, high school leadership weekends, youth groups, corporate teams, and other private organizations that value true exclusivity. Learn more about our story on the About Us page.
Looking Ahead
2026 is fully booked. We are now welcoming groups for 2027.
If you are planning a private group retreat and want the entire campus to yourselves, we would be honored to welcome you.
What separates us from other retreat venues is true exclusivity:“One Group At a Time Always- No Shared Spaces, No Outside Guests”Orange Springs Retreat Center | Florida’s Exclusive-Use Retreat Venue for Private Groups, Schools & Churches (60–200 Guests)• Contact Mike Sokol at (561) 221-7773 or campshalomfl@gmail.com for a quote.Website: orangespringsretreat.comLet’s build something meaningful together.