Location: YMCA of the Rockies
2515 Tunnel Road
Estes Park, CO 80511
The RMFW 2026 Writers Education Retreat is scheduled for Thursday, May 28 to Sunday, May 31 at a NEW LOCATION—the beautiful YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado. Immersed in this inspiring environment, authors are encouraged to write, network with other authors, and gather valuable knowledge from others in the industry. Workshops and meals are included in the price of the retreat. Lodging is additional. Registration is open. Spots sell out fast and reservations are first come, first accepted. Questions can be directed to Sunshine Knight, Retreat Chair, at retreat@rmfw.org.
We are excited to have Jean Alfieri, LMG Swain, V.L. Andromeda, PK Stuart, Andre Gonzalez and Natasha Gonzalez presenting workshops. Kate Jonuska will return for morning yoga sessions.
Book Signing Event:
This year’s retreat will include a limited-capacity book signing featuring up to eight authors. To ensure fairness and transparency, participation will be open to Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Professional Author Alliance (PAA) members, as this designation reflects established, objective publishing criteria. To become a PAA member, you need to be an RMFW member first, then review the criteria here https://rmfw.org/paa/
Four author slots will be reserved for PAA members, and four “reader” slots will be available to non-presenting retreat attendees to read from their novels. Workshop presenters who are PAA members may participate as authors but will not be eligible for reader slots. If interest exceeds available space, all qualified authors will be entered into a lottery, and participants will be selected at random.
How much does it cost to attend the retreat?
RMFW does not aim to make money on the retreat; we aim to break even. We divide the total costs (location rental plus speaker fees) by the target number of attendees to give you the most affordable experience possible.
The costs to attend the 2026 retreat are as follows:
- $275 – Full Retreat Registration (lodging is not included)
Includes access to all six workshops, two meals per day, and eligibility for RMFW PAA members to participate in the book-signing event. - Day Rates (choose one or more days):
- $50 – Thursday or Sunday Day Rate
Covers one day of the retreat, including one workshop and two meals. - $100 – Friday or Saturday Day Rate
Covers one day of the retreat, including two workshops and two meals.
- $50 – Thursday or Sunday Day Rate
- $563 (incl. tax) –Weekend Lodging (Three-Night Stay at Rams Horn Lodge)
Includes a room at Rams Horn Lodge for the full retreat weekend (three nights), with two queen beds. Rams Horn Lodge is one of the central hotel-style lodges at YMCA of the Rockies’ Estes Park Center offering comfortable rooms that include a mini-fridge, a coffee maker, and a full private bath. Find a roommate and share the cost! Other lodging options are available at the YMCA if you prefer. https://www.ymcarockies.org - If you would like to enjoy the YMCA’s beautiful mountain location beyond the dates of our group’s stay, please make your reservation on-line first for the dates of the group’s event by clicking on the link above. Then call Central Reservations at (888) 613-9622 to add the additional nights to your existing reservation. Have your reservation number handy.
What’s included in the cost of registration?
- Two meals per day (Thursday dinner through Sunday breakfast). Dining & Meals (group and optional off-site / alternate on-site):
At Estes Park Center there are several on-site dining options:- The Aspen Dining Room — an all-you-can-eat buffet serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The buffet includes a salad bar, hot and cold entrées, desserts, beverages, and always offers vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free selections to accommodate dietary restrictions.
- For lighter fare, snacks, coffee, or more casual meals, there’s the Rustic Café — offering baked goods, soups, salads, sandwiches, beverages, and quick meals.
- During the summer season (when open), the Pine Room Restaurant serves lodge-style comfort food — burgers, BBQ, sandwiches, and a full menu for lunch or dinner.
- For your retreat, we’ll eat as a group for the following meals in the Aspen Dining Room:
- Thursday Dinner at 6:00pm
- Friday Lunch at 12:00pm and Dinner at 6:00pm
- Saturday Lunch at 12:00pm and Dinner at 6:00pm
- Sunday Breakfast at 8:00am
- For other meals, guests are also welcome to dine off-site or use other on-site dining options (like the Pine Room Restaurant or Rustic Café) depending on preference or schedule.
- Full access to the YMCA of the Rockies grounds and guest amenities, including hiking trails, recreational facilities, and a wide range of on-site activities. Visit their website for the current schedule of offerings: https://www.ymcarockies.org/things-to-do/activities.
- Easy proximity to Estes Park, just minutes away for additional dining, shopping, and exploration.
- Evening programming, including after-dinner author readings, book signing and informal discussion sessions.
- Six craft-focused workshops along with daily yoga sessions to support creativity and well-being.
- Meaningful community time with fellow writers—share ideas, encouragement, and conversation throughout the weekend.
- A peaceful mountain setting designed to help you relax, recharge, and find inspiration in the surrounding beauty.
- Dedicated writing time, giving you the space to focus solely on your craft without outside distractions.
There are currently 44 spots remaining out of 44