Deer Creek Retreat & ME!
I’m Justin—a husband, father, former Army chaplain, and the grateful steward of Deer Creek Retreat and La Sal Lookout, our family’s secluded vacation rentals in the La Sal Mountains near Moab, Utah. After years of walking with people through some of life’s hardest moments, I wanted to create a quiet place where travelers could rest, reset, and breathe again—a remote cabin near Moab and a tiny home under the stars in Old La Sal, surrounded by wildlife, dark skies, and mountain silence. But my connection to this land goes deeper than a purchase—I inherited it from my older brother.
If you’d like to know how my brother Todd and his dream shaped this land, you can read the full story below.
Deer Creek the Full Story
Years ago, these five acres in Old La Sal belonged to my older brother, Todd. He was a quiet, towering presence—6’4”, a lifelong employee at Moab’s City Market, where his few words and steady presence made him something of a legend. By most accounts, he was a hermit. He never married, had no children, and loved his secluded lifestyle in Moab and the shadow of the La Sal Mountains. Long before there was a main house or a tiny home, Todd dug the water well, parked an old RV in the middle of the property, and ran pipes throughout the land to grow trees. I can only assume he hoped that one day he’d turn his corner of the world into a lush paradise. He saw something in this place that I am still coming to know.
We had already buried both of our parents—our mom back in the 1970s and our dad about a decade before Todd died. For many years, it was just my big brother and me. When Todd passed away from a heart attack at 47, I suddenly found myself with a hole in my heart. Grief has a way of exposing the darkness, yet somehow the cracks allow light to break through. For my wife, our children, and me, this land became a crack of light—a blessing Todd left behind stretching from my hometown of Moab, Utah, to remote Old La Sal.
Today, Deer Creek Retreat and La Sal Lookout stand where Todd’s quiet dream once sat untouched. The water well he drilled is the only thing left of the original property, a fingerprint of what he left behind. The main cabin of this mountain retreat offers a spacious, comfortable place to rest on soft beds, a rainfall shower in the master bath, and a front porch guests routinely rave about as the perfect place to take in the mountainside and the Milky Way. The tiny home’s loft skylights make it feel like you are sleeping under a blanket of stars, with a picture window facing the mountain and a cozy seating area to enjoy the evening air. What began as my brother’s hidden refuge has become a place for guests to unplug, breathe, and find a much‑needed reset.
My personal journey has been shaped by my military service, academic work, and walking with people through some of life’s darkest moments. Sixteen years ago, I entered the U.S. Army and served as a chaplain in both the Reserve and Active‑Duty components, leaving the military as a Captain in 2025. I was ordained as a pastor nearly two decades ago and have been engaged in ministry in one form or another for more than twenty‑six years. Along the way, I earned multiple undergraduate and graduate degrees in theology and ministry, a master’s in English and Creative Writing, and a Ph.D. in Education: Curriculum and Instruction.
Underneath all the titles and letters behind my name is a simple principle: I care deeply about people finding space to heal, ponder life, and take an honest look at the world. Deer Creek Retreat is one way to offer that space. The land is rugged and raw, yet strangely gentle. Wildlife is abundant, you can hear the wind brushing the trees, the crisp air is ever present, the larger‑than‑life La Sal Mountains hold your attention, and the vast starry skies touch the soul in a way no screen and no schedule can.
Although I own the property, the day‑to‑day hosting is in the capable hands of our manager, Jeff, who runs the retreat with excellence. My primary role is to honor the story, care for the land, and make sure that when you visit, you feel welcome—not just as a guest, but as someone whose time, rest, and story matter, as if you were a member of the family.
If you decide to stay at Deer Creek Retreat or La Sal Lookout, you’re not just booking a bed, stove, or refrigerator. You’re stepping into a sacred place shaped by family, loss, perseverance, and grace—a place where solitude is real, the stars feel close enough to touch, and hope has a way of making it through the cracks.
I’d love to share this corner of the La Sal Mountains near Moab, Utah, with you. Book today—either the main cabin or the tiny home—via the provided Airbnb link below or in the header.
Cheers!
Justin
