Cultivating analog intelligence.

  • Baker Road offers aspire to natural rhythms, not algorithms. As we better cultivate this practice ourselves, we hope to model it for others, encouraging them to connect with the wisdom they already possess. We believe restorative spaces and experiences improve access to this intelligence, allowing guests the satisfaction and pride of connecting to their own power and purpose, carrying both forward in their lives when they depart.

Baker Road offers aspire to natural rhythms, not algorithms. As we better cultivate this practice ourselves, we hope to model it for others, encouraging them to connect with the wisdom they already possess. We believe restorative spaces and experiences improve access to this intelligence, allowing guests the satisfaction and pride of connecting to their own power and purpose, carrying both forward in their lives when they depart.

About Baker Road

We design and host off-site retreats, professional gatherings, and wellness experiences grounded in nature. Our work's informed by years in hospitality, along with firsthand experience as participants in retreats and professional off-sites across our own careers. Too often, we found those experiences efficient but uninspiring. Windowless rooms and rigid agendas begged for output without offering anything energizing or restorative. Baker Road exists as an alternative.

We believe meaningful work and personal growth require space. Space to slow down, space to reflect honestly, and space to reconnect with what matters. Nature offers this space in abundance. And especially when it’s paired with attentive hospitality and disciplined guidance, the experience becomes a powerful setting for clarity and connection.

Encouraging wildness.

  • Thoreau reminds us, we all “need the tonic of wildness” - a reminder easy-to-ignore alongside daily routines in this modern, always-on world. Through planned uncertainty in guests’ itineraries, beautiful spaces, and yielding to the elements, Baker Road cultivates wild, wonder-filled moments on retreat. The dissonance between these moments and guests’ lives outside retreat can be deeply provocative, opening up new perspectives that lead to more contented experiences when they return.

Thoreau reminds us, we all “need the tonic of wildness” - a reminder easy-to-ignore alongside daily routines in this modern, always-on world. Through planned uncertainty in guests’ itineraries, beautiful spaces, and yielding to the elements, Baker Road cultivates wild, wonder-filled moments on retreat. The dissonance between these moments and guests’ lives outside retreat can be deeply provocative, opening up new perspectives that lead to more contented experiences when they return.

Our Story

The Baker Road story began years ago when our founder, Joe, and his family moved from a historic, dense neighborhood in Columbus, Ohio to an expansive, open space in the privacy of Knox County. Just months after the move, an inquiry came in that led to the sale of his last, and largest, social impact venture, a restaurant chain called Hot Chicken Takeover (rip).

With time and space on his side, Joe adventured more and more, both considering his next professional venture and making a series of impulsive real estate decisions. All this coupled with an invitation to craft a rite of passage experience for a close friend’s son — the basis of our now ongoing Men’s Cohorts — and you’ve got the origin of Baker Road.

Our vision was solidified when operating partner, Craig, joined with discipline and passion to navigate Baker Road’s organizational growth and expanded services.

Guides, not gurus.

  • Ram Dass said it best, “we’re all just walking each other home.” We believe it’s a privilege to serve others. Being able to witness guests' personal explorations and reflections encourages us to continue growing ourselves. It’s a reminder we, like many others, need regularly. We know personal and professional expansion take time and patience, too. Baker Road won’t promise quick fixes and immediate answers to discomfort, but we’ll build a compassionate space for guests to retreat and hopefully find clarifying relief and perspective. While engaged, we offer our experience, not advice, as support. In any instances we’re called to offer specific encouragement, we seek permission and consent to support first.

Ram Dass said it best, “we’re all just walking each other home.” We believe it’s a privilege to serve others. Being able to witness guests' personal explorations and reflections encourages us to continue growing ourselves. It’s a reminder we, like many others, need regularly. We know personal and professional expansion take time and patience, too. Baker Road won’t promise quick fixes and immediate answers to discomfort, but we’ll build a compassionate space for guests to retreat and hopefully find clarifying relief and perspective. While engaged, we offer our experience, not advice, as support. In any instances we’re called to offer specific encouragement, we seek permission and consent to support first.

Our Team

JOE DELOSS

Baker Road’s founder and dirtbag concierge, Joe, leads with creativity and compassion. On trail, you’ll find him guiding conversation, skill development, and troubleshooting guests’ needs. Off trail, he’s visioning Baker Road’s community growth and imagining new ways to serve. Joe’s professional experience is a broad portfolio of entrepreneurship, investments, organizational design, and executive support. He likes being out past his edge of comfort in most everything he pursues.

CRAIG MORIN

Craig’s the steady force behind Baker Road’s operating strategy, execution, and safety plans. On trail, he’s a NOLS-certified guide and safety coordinator. Off trail, he’s laying the plans to seamlessly execute our programming, shouldering the infrastructure and logistics so our guests stay fully present. His prior work spans service as an infantry officer in the US Army and business leadership in manufacturing, government tech, and along with Joe, time at Hot Chicken Takeover.

BAILEY HANLEY

Bailey is a recurring contributor, practitioner, and guide at Baker Road. She’s got a remarkable stack of credentials in coaching, nutrition, yoga, breathwork, and meditation. On trail, this makes Bailey the equivalent of a massive Swiss Army Knife, particularly as she leads Baker Road’s Women’s Cohorts. Off trail, she leverages her tools to offer diverse programming and 1:1 support to clients across the country, supporting them as they thread the needle of personal clarity and professional achievement.

BRANDON MORGAN

Brandon is a recurring contributor, practitioner, and guide at Baker Road, leveraging an abundant set of experiences and credentials that enable him to meaningfully support our guests. From a high-impact, high cost life in finance to yoga teacher training and becoming a clinical independent social worker, Brandon meets people on trail compassionately and gently. Off trail, he manages his own clinical therapy practice while cultivating his gifts through the practice of music, movement, and nature.

  • "Being caught up in the movement of work and life can get so loud sometimes. So loud that it can become a drain and distraction from your "Why".  The curated adventure with Joe was exactly what I needed. To be able to pause, embrace the world around me, and get back in touch with my adventurous inner child gave me life instead of draining it.  Highly recommended for a reset as the inner work begins."

    Yogi T.

  • "Because of the physical challenge, social/emotional walls came down quickly. As a result, the group was incredibly open to each other and transformation took place."

    Justin N.

  • "Life changing. I gained a whole new perspective about community, my physical abilities, and what being around a group of men could be when everyone comes into it with intention. If someone wants to work on their own vulnerability, mindfulness, and introspection, this experience is a must.”

    Carlin G.