Crane Meadow—a new retreat center for a changing world.
A sanctuary for the next generation of meditators
For 50 years, IMS has been a refuge for those seeking wisdom and compassion. Together, we have nurtured a community where silence, mindfulness, and deep practice can transform lives.
Now we’re taking the next step: creating Crane Meadow, a third retreat center on our campus to welcome a new generation of teachers and practitioners. This is an invitation to join us—heart to heart—in bringing this vision to life.
Why a new center?
The call could not be clearer:
- For more than a decade, IMS waitlists have steadily grown, with thousands left waiting each year.
- A recent IMS survey found that 91% of yogis have been unable to get into retreats—and 82% said they would attend more if space were available.
- Limited space makes it harder to welcome newer practitioners and underrepresented communities—many of whom may not know how quickly retreats fill.
- Even IMS-trained teachers are often unable to teach here due to limited calendar space.
This new retreat center is how we meet that need—opening the gates wider, creating space for all who seek refuge, and carrying the Dharma forward to a new generation.
Why Crane Meadow?
The name for the third center, Crane Meadow, grew out of a moment on the land.
In late summer 2025, two sandhill cranes appeared in the open fields where the new center will be built and remained there for several weeks—an uncommon sight here, and one that stayed with those who saw it.
Across cultures, cranes have often been associated with qualities such as resilience, continuity, and renewal.
Joseph Goldstein on IMS’s Third Center
“As the Dharma unfolds in the West and we continue to train new teachers, it’s essential that they have opportunities to teach. Because of the limitations of IMS’s programming schedule, only a certain number of teachers can fit into our retreat calendar each year. A third center will really open up this possibility for new cohorts of teachers to get the teaching opportunities, encouragement, and support they need.”
—Joseph Goldstein
A vision grounded in practice
The new retreat center will:
- Welcome thousands more practitioners each year
- Shorten waitlists, with special care for newer and diverse practitioners
- Offer state-of-the-art accessibility and options for hybrid participation
- Provide space for emerging teachers to deepen their practice
- Honor both financial and environmental sustainability
This is not growth for its own sake. It is an offering of service—creating a quiet, beautiful refuge where thousands more can turn toward wisdom and compassion, and carry the fruits of practice back into the world.
Our goal
To bring this vision to fruition, we have launched a major $40 million capital campaign. This goal reflects the full investment needed to bring the new center to life with care and integrity.
Thanks to our community’s generosity, $36 million has already been committed.
