What’s in a Name? How We Became Little Creek Lodge

One of the questions we get asked a lot is, “How did you come up with the name Little Creek Lodge?” The truth is, the name was passed down to Andy Pace by his family – even if they didn’t know it.

When Andy was 8 years old, his father painted a picture of a wooded scene with a little creek running through it. (If you ask him, he’ll tell you it’s not a “great” painting, but he loves it all the same.) Twenty-three years ago, Andy’s mother-in-law gave him a massive oil painting of – you guessed it – a nature scene with a little creek running through it. Andy brought that picture with him everywhere, to every counseling service he worked at, for the last two decades.

A few years ago, Andy and Barbara were ready to create their own treatment center. Finding the right place was difficult. They looked at so many buildings and so many properties, and it became overwhelming. They were on the verge of giving up entirely when a real estate agent called them up and said, “I want to show you one more place.” The location was about 10 minutes away from their home, and was so remote there wasn’t even an access road; Andy and Barbara had to park in the adjacent property and walk over to see the land.

That land had a little creek running through it.

Andy and Barbara looked at each other and said, “This feels right.” The agent told them that once all the purchasing paperwork was finished, all they had to do was name it. The rest, as they say, is history.

How a little creek inspired the model of Little Creek Lodge

Long before Andy and Barbara bought the land here in Northeast Pennsylvania, they knew they wanted to do something different with the way they approached addiction recovery and treatment. Maybe it was all those years of looking at paintings of little creeks that caused the spark, but reengaging with nature has been a cornerstone in our program since the start. Our recreation program is designed to test residents’ physical and spiritual boundaries, helping them move past who they were, and into who they want to be.

The Adventure Trek program includes individual and group activities, like hiking, zip lining, kayaking and camping. We also offer equine therapy, where residents can work with horses, and rediscover what it means to be responsible for the wellbeing of something other than themselves.

Ultimately, there are three goals of the Adventure Trek program:

1. Develop new strengths
2. Create a “peak” experience
3. Cultivate teamwork and trust

There is nothing more fulfilling than experiencing everything the world has to offer, and to be able to do so in the company of trusted friends. And to think – it all started with a little creek….

Little Creek Lodge is a family owned and operated drug and alcohol addiction treatment center in Northeast Pennsylvania. If you or your loved one is struggling with addiction, please call 570-630-9354, or fill out our contact form to learn more about who we are, and to see if we are the right fit for you. We are currently accepting applications from around the country.