HIDDEN GEM: Peek inside this Chatham County getaway where silence and nature are top amenities

From 9 p.m. to 8 a.m. at the Wesley Gardens Retreat on Burnside Island, you won't hear much beyond sounds natural to the coastal South: crickets and frogs in the marsh, cicadas in the summer.

This native white noise is maintained largely because the retreat practices a "Grand Silence" between those hours each day, where everyone on the 130-acre property on Moon River is encouraged to refrain from talking.

The Grand Silence is at the heart of this contemplative getaway ― a retreat where the top amenities are not infinity pools or umbrella drinks, but silence and nature.

Tucked on a peninsula 20 minutes south of Downtown Savannah, Wesley Gardens Retreat is one place where you can truly unplug.

"We are respite. We're just a place of quiet. We're a place of slowness," said Property Manager Micah Sprünger.

The retreat takes its name from current owner, Savannah's Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church. Sprünger said that while the retreat is open about its Christian connection (there are chapels with crosses and the retreat's homepage quotes Jesus Christ), the getaway is open to anyone searching for peace and silence.

The site is open by appointment for individuals and groups up to about 20 people. Those interested in overnight stays can inquire for bookings through the group's website. Day visits are also an option, but potential retreatants should still reach out for appointments.

The entrance to Wesley Gardens gives the feel that visitors are actually getting away. It's a quarter mile of gently winding rock road lined by oak trees and Spanish moss. After passing the quaint white home where the check-in happens, the road opens up to the vastness of the property, and visitors will soon see the coastal waterways that line Wesley Gardens.

Fans of famed songwriter Johnny Mercer even have the opportunity to experience the Moon River, which runs along a portion of the property's banks. There is a dock that reaches out into the now-mythical waterway that is open to retreatants for swimming, kayaking or simply a view to prompt pause and reflection.

The Diamond Causeway to Skidaway Island and the small town of Pin Point are visible from the dock. Wesley Gardens offers kayaks on site for use by visitors, who also are welcome to bring their own.

Another highlight of the 130 acres is a half-mile trail loop suitable for slow walks or meditative runs. Contemplatives will find a few surprises along the way.

First up is the outdoor chapel, where on a recent visit the amenities of silence and nature were on full display. Two white-tailed deer were nestled in some brush just behind the chapel as reporters walked up to the area.

The second key feature of the trail is a prayer labyrinth, a garden type of walking meditation "that uses the entire body," according to the wayfinding marker. The labyrinth is lined with bricks and makes a mazelike path for those to follow as they pray.

In the center is an open circle, which is designed to "bring illumination." According to the marker, "To walk the labyrinth is to make a pilgrimage to discover something about yourself and God."

The trail also offers multiple benches along the way for a pause or a prayer. Many are located right on the marsh, where at high tide visitors are just feet away from the water.

The site's lodging offerings come in three forms. There is a main house, which is rentable for groups and also has seven rooms available to rent individually. Most of those rooms have the capacity to sleep more than one person.

Then there are two cottages: the guest cottage and the white cottage. Both feature a queen-size bed and can sleep up to two people. The white cottage also has a fold-away bed and can sleep up to three.

The white cottage features a window-fronted nook area furnished with a desk. During the recent visit it was easy to imagine the spot for journaling or an early morning read.

There are also on-site "spiritual directors" available for guests. There are opportunities for therapy, enneagram counseling and spiritual direction.

Lastly, it's important to note who and what Wesley Gardens is not for. The retreat does not book conferences or commercial events. It also does not host weddings at its on-site chapels with an exception for members of Wesley Monumental, Sprünger said.

"Those are all wonderful things, but that's not quite what we feel like is most unique about what we have to offer the community."

Evan Lasseter is the city and county reporter for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at ELasseter@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: HIDDEN GEM: Peek inside this Chatham County getaway where silence and nature are top amenities