What was once an individual family's treetop getaway in Red River Gorge has since become a popular travel destination and family business. Now, they are taking it to the next level.

Dappled Light Adventures, founded in 2021 by father-son duo Kevin and Izaac Rains, manages a 50-acre property adjacent to the gorge in Daniel Boone National Forest, east of Lexington. Originally transformed into a spot for short term rentals with nine "glampsites" ― which offer a glamorous alternative to traditional camping ― and one cabin, the team now wants to increase its ability to host large groups.

In September, the Rains will officially open the "Rookery," a large community space meant for business retreats, faith-based groups, youth groups and even yoga retreats, Kevin Rains told the Courier Journal.

"I think for both of us," Kevin Rains said, referring to his son, "we just realized that running retreats was a more efficient way to use that property."

Here is what to know about Dappled Light Adventures:

What is Dappled Light Adventures?

For almost 20 years, the Rains family used the 50-acre property for weekend camping getaways and as an escape from the noise of daily life.

Then, about five years ago, Izaac Rains, 28, approached his dad, Kevin Rains and suggested they develop the property at 1132 Derrick Ridge Road in Beattyville into a glamping rental business to share their property, and passion for the outdoors, with the world.

"The benefit, in my opinion, of glamping is you can just show up, unpack a couple things, and then you're immediately right into the experience," Izaac Rains told the Courier Journal.

When they first started, the Rains rented out their Cliffside Cabin. As time went on, they built five glamping tents across the 50-acre property, which can sleep anywhere from one to six people.

Front view of The Blue Jay's Nest, a luxury glamping site run by Dappled Light Adventures at Daniel Boone National Forest in Kentucky.

In 2022, they brought in a third owner, Mike Rader, with whom they built four more tents and fully leaned into the short term rental business, providing glamping experiences for individuals and families, as well as a handful of retreats, something with which Kevin Rains has plenty of experience.

He is a business coach with EOS, and started a round table group, called Legacy Roundtables, that brings together groups of leaders for personal and business development.

"Over the last year or so, after hosting a few retreats, we realized the experience of having a large group of people occupying the whole property all at once ... being together and communing together, was super special," Izaac Rains said.

It was that realization that inspired the Dappled Light team to build the "Rookery," which will officially open to the public in September 2025 and serve as a "a dedicated community space for groups to gather, make meals together, hang out, play games, do yoga, whatever they want to do," Izaac Rains said.

What is the 'Rookery' at Dappled Light Adventures?

A glimpse inside the kitchen area of Dappled Light's Rookery. The family business had its first unofficial retreat using the new building the weekend of August 9.

The new community space at Dappled Light Adventures in Red River Gorge, called the Rookery, is a 1,500-square-foot cliffside building with a kitchen, living area, dining area, deck and a large fireplace to keep visitors warm during the colder months, Izaac Rains said.

The back wall of the shared space is comprised of glass doors, which open up onto the deck.

"We worked with engineers and architects to get the space as close as we safely could to a cliff edge," Izaac Rains explained. "So, you walk out onto the deck, and there's a huge view of this valley that's like 250 feet down, cliff edges in the distance, and tons of trees. It's really serene and it faces the sunset, as well."

The entire space was designed with large groups in mind. Izaac Rains said Dappled Light can also cater meals for retreats but it's not a requirement.

The main sitting area inside the Rookery. The room is lined with windows, providing easy access to the deck.

John Herman, a friend of the Rains family, has attended multiple retreats on the property. Most recently, he was part of the first unofficial retreat at the Rookery the weekend of Aug. 9 and said the "beautiful facility," would be a "game changer" for the Rains.

"We've stayed at a lot of other Airbnbs and things around the country in various spots, and I think ... the fact that this is truly a family business, and you get a real feel that one of their family values is hospitality," Herman said, meant that "we felt really served well."

Herman added that the new build, which provide top-notch amenities, does not sacrifice privacy.

"It's tucked away on its own, and so it feels really private in the way that it's laid out," Herman said.

The view from the Rookery's deck, overlooking the scenery of Red River Gorge. The newly-constructed space will be available for public use in September 2025.

As Dappled Light moves toward hosting more full-scale retreats, Izaac Rains said the company hopes to redefine what it means to go on a retreat.

"Something that's really important to us is to fight the idea that a retreat has to be two days with your team, trapped in a boring fluorescent conference room, or spending your evenings alone in the hotel bar," Izaac Rains said. "We're trying to really give people fresh perspective on how meaningful retreats can be, rather than just checking a box."

Outdoor retreats can give people new perspectives, Izaac Rains said, adding he's witnessed people leave Dappled Light with a newfound appreciation for the planet.

"The thing that excites me most is just the ability to create experiences for people ... that are transformational ..." Izaac said. "I love getting to watch people come out and have these experiences that took them a little bit out of their comfort zone."

But even with a new emphasis on retreats, Dappled Light will not be abandoning its roots of small group hospitality.

"We're always going to love hosting families and individual folks for solo getaways and retreats," Izaac Rains said. "But we decided it was time to pick our main focus, and retreats just felt like a really natural, good focus for us."

How can I book a stay at Dappled Light Adventures?

Bookings at Dappled Light for its glamping tents and cabin are open year-round, subject to availability. The Rookery will be open for use starting in September.

This story has been updated to reflect the size of The Rookery space.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Dappled Light Adventures in Red River Gorge opens new group retreat space. What to know