Artists’ Retreats

Would you and your art students or painting group enjoy an artists’ retreat on Lake Martin? If so, read on.

The Tallapoosa School of Art is located in rural Tallapoosa County, near Dadeville, Alabama. With three acres of woods and gardens and 220 feet of waterfront on beautiful Lake Martin, it is a perfect venue for plein air painters. Our mountain side location offers beautiful views of woods and water, but does require some stair climbing, so please be prepared for that.

Although there are a few restaurants in Dadeville, most of our visiting art groups enjoy planning group meals to enjoy on our spacious dining porch after a day of painting on the grounds and in our studio.  

The main lodging is in the Blue Heron, the rustic lakefront lodge that has been the vacation home of the Littleton family for 50 years. The Blue Heron includes four suites, each with a bedroom, private bath, private porch overlooking the lake, and kitchen or kitchenette. Two of these suites have a living room that serves nicely as a separate sleeping space for a double occupancy while the other suites have queen beds that are comfortable for two.  Each suite is wired with wi-fi and a smart TV. There are also multiple decks, docks, and a boathouse on the waterfront, as well as a three-story screen porch with four built-in bunk beds plus a dining table for twelve. The Blue Heron is where our guests stay during our spring and fall workshops. It is adjacent to the Tallapoosa School of Art’s spacious and well-equipped northern-light studio.

The Studio, located near the Blue Heron, is available to our visiting artists throughout their stay. It contains a loft bedroom, 1½ baths, a kitchenette, and table space and easels for up to twelve artists.

Your hosts, Dorothy and George Littleton, live on the property in the Dove Cottage. We are available to assist your group with moving in and parking your cars upon arrival. If your group would like to enjoy a catered meal from a nearby restaurant, we are happy to assist. We are also available to transport your group on our pontoon boat to a lakefront restaurant. Pontoon boat rentals are also available at a nearby marina.

Please contact Dorothy (334-332-8457/dorothylittleton@gmail.com) to schedule a time for your own retreat with full, 24/7 use of the facilities, studio, waterfront, and grounds. Our price is $450/night for up to ten guests with a 3-night minimum and a one-time cleaning fee ($200). Please let us know if you have more than ten in your group, so that we may discuss your lodging needs and any additional costs for extra guests.

We hope to see you soon!