Retreat yourself!
Retreats at The Benninghofen House are magical and memorable. The serene spaces and lush backyard, against the backdrop of a vibrant city, make this the perfect getaway location to restore and renew.
Join us for our 3 night, all-inclusive Women’s Art Retreat, or reach out through our contact page to discuss private retreat options for your group. Corporate retreats, book clubs, bible study groups, family reunions, and friend groups welcome! We can sleep up to 10 in our boutique hotel apartments and can help you customize your retreat in any way with meeting/work spaces, workshops, yoga, massages, local excursions, day trips, and more.
Women’s Art Retreat - Plein Air Watercolor Painting 3 Night All-Inclusive Experience The Benninghofen House and Rocky Hollow Hamilton, Ohio September 3-6, 2026
A Restorative Escape for Creativity, Connection, and Self-Care
Slow down, breathe deeply, and immerse yourself in a weekend of creativity and renewal. This three-night women’s watercolor retreat is based at The Benninghofen House, a historic Queen Anne Victorian boutique hotel in Hamilton, Ohio, with two full days spent painting en plein air at Rocky Hollow, a private wooded homestead featuring trails, a creek, and a waterfall.
Guests will enjoy the comfort and charm of The Benninghofen House each evening, while spending daylight hours surrounded by nature, capturing the beauty of Rocky Hollow through watercolor.
What’s Included:
Three-Night Stay – Unwind in the elegant and inviting surroundings of The Benninghofen House, where historic charm meets modern comfort. Stay in a private room in our boutique hotel apartments.
Delicious, Nourishing Meals – Enjoy wholesome meals crafted with fresh, seasonal ingredients. Our menu is designed to nourish both body and soul. From hearty breakfasts to comforting dinners including pizza made in the backyard pizza oven, each meal is a celebration of good food and good company.
Watercolor Workshop with Elizabeth Rohrbaugh
This multi-session watercolor workshop is designed for artists with a basic understanding of the medium who are ready to explore plein air painting. Under the guidance of professional artist and instructor Elizabeth Rohrbaugh, you’ll focus on:
Simplifying the landscape and creating strong compositions
Capturing light, values, and atmosphere outdoors
Painting primarily on location at Rocky Hollow
Brief group demonstrations with ample one-on-one instruction
Group check-ins to discuss progress, challenges, and adjustments
Extended, uninterrupted painting time to create multiple original works
A small group setting for personalized guidance
A plein air painting kit is included. You’re welcome to bring a few favorite supplies—less is more when painting outdoors. A smartphone is encouraged for reference photos.
A Weekend of Wellness & Connect
This retreat is about more than painting—it’s about restoration. In addition to the workshop, you’ll enjoy:
Optional gentle morning yoga to stretch the body and inspire creativity
Cozy evenings at The Benninghofen House with tea, wine, and conversation
Free time for journaling, resting, exploring Hamilton, or simply enjoying the house and grounds
Join Us for a Weekend of Inspiration & Renewal
Come as you are and leave feeling refreshed, creatively inspired, and deeply restored. Whether you’re looking to grow your watercolor practice, reconnect with yourself, or enjoy time with like-minded women in beautiful surroundings, this retreat offers space to do just that.
Space is limited. Reserve your spot and join us for a truly nourishing creative weekend—staying at The Benninghofen House and painting in the natural beauty of Rocky Hollow.
Meet our art instructor:
Artist, Instructor, Creative Collaborator
Elizabeth Rohrbaugh is an artist, instructor and creative collaborator from our hometown of Hamilton, Ohio. In addition to being a successful independent artist, she is also the Founder and President of the Women's Art Club of Hamilton (WACH), and leads the 100 member club in monthly art events and annual dual-venue art shows. While she is predominantly a watercolorist and oil painter, she is interested in many other forms of art making and living creatively is a daily goal.
Elizabeth recently returned from a multi-disciplinary artist residency in France, where she focused on exploring new watercolor paintings and mixed media work. Above that she has a renewed and stronger belief in collaborative artistic community and the creative effects others can have on our work.
Elizabeth is a self taught, multi-disciplinary artist with work in private and commercial collections across the United States. When she is not painting or managing the art club, she enjoys traveling, spending time with her growing family and walking her dog, Josie. She is devoted to living a creative life and sharing the gifts God gave her with others so that they too may experience the richness of creative living.
Accomodations
Retreat guests stay in our 5-star rated, unique boutique-hotel apartments at The Benninghofen House. Each guest will have a private bedroom and share a bathroom and kitchen with another person.
Investment (payment plan available)
3 Night Art Retreat $950 per person Includes - private overnight accommodations for 3 nights (private bedroom, bathroom shared with 1 person), 4 watercolor painting workshop sessions, plein air watercolor painting kit, 7 meals and snacks, optional yoga, hot tub, sauna, recipes from the retreat
Commuter Option - No overnight accommodations (limited availability) $650 per person Includes - 4 watercolor painting workshop sessions, plein air watercolor painting kit, 7 meals and snacks, optional yoga, hot tub, sauna, recipes from the retreat
Additional information
*Repeat Retreat Guests - We offer a 15% discount for guests who have retreated with us at The Benninghofen House in the past. Welcome back! Reach out to Bekki to set up your discounted retreat. 513-291-0117
*Extended Retreat - Additional nights can be added before and after the retreat for an additional fee.
*Payment plan available - A $250, nonrefundable deposit is due to book into a retreat with the remainder due 30 days prior to the retreat. Choose the payment plan option at checkout to pay your deposit, and an invoice will be emailed to pay the remainder by 30 days before the retreat. You can pay on the invoice anytime.
*Cancelling a retreat - No refunds unless canceled at least 30 days prior to the retreat. You may transfer your booking to another person (no fee) or to a future retreat if you are within the 30 day period for a rebooking fee. If you are doing a payment plan and cancel your retreat, the $250 deposit is nonrefundable, but the deposit can be used toward a future retreat. Cancelled retreat credits must be used within 1 year of the cancelled retreat.
Photos from past retreats at The Benninghofen House
