ABOUT US
Located in Newbury Park, California, Woodworkers Retreat is a membership-based woodshop and creative space for woodworkers. We welcome beginners, experienced craftsmen and everyone in between that are either funds-challenged or space-challenged and need a place to work at their hobby or profession.
Woodworkers Retreat is an 8,000 square foot facility that is equipped with all of the hand and power tools that any woodworker would require.
The Shop is the perfect place for the beginner to learn to make their first cutting board or for the experienced craftsman to build his or her next generation coffee table or wine rack.
Looking for date night ideas in Thousand Oaks? Our woodworking classes are open to the public!
Monthly memberships include unlimited access to the Shop floor during normal business hours, as well as special discounts on materials and classes. All members are required to take our safety course.
In addition to our classes, Woodworkers Retreat sells popular materials and small tools. We even take millwork orders from people that do not have the time, interest, or talent to complete a project for themselves.
Our Founder
Woodworkers Retreat is the vision of commercial pilot and life-long woodworking hobbyist, John VanderHooven. He has made a commitment to see that individuals with a talent and passion for woodworking have access to a safe, well-equipped, professional woodworking facility.
Mr. VanderHooven was born in Toledo, Ohio, and received a bachelor’s degree in aviation, along with a commercial pilot certificate, from the Ohio State University. Following graduation, he moved to Seattle where he worked in the aviation field until 1990 when he moved to Los Angeles, earned his MBA and began a long career as a corporate restructuring consultant. During his 24+ years as a consultant, he worked on some of the largest Chapter 11 corporate bankruptcies in US history.
In 2012, Mr. VanderHooven returned to the aviation industry, specializing in health, safety and environmental compliance at private aircraft facilities located in Washington, Alaska, Montana and California.
During the Covid pandemic, he was a key member of a startup firm that provided on-site Covid testing to college sports players, coaches, and referees. Additionally, his company was a contracted test provider to major film studios, helping the entertainment industry safely return to business.
