Why does Siloam Valley Exist?
My late father bought the property for Siloam Valley in the late 80's and early 90's. My dad bought it so our family would have a place to "getaway" together and that's what it was. We affectionately called "Dogwalk" (after the original name of the road it was on) and it was the place we would meet for family gatherings. For decades the Ison family spent hours gathered here for meals and fellowship. At Christmas we exchanged white elephant gifts. At Thanksgiving we met and feasted. In summers we met to cook out at the lake. We swam in the lake. We celebrated weddings and had receptions. We held the new babies who were born into the family. We updated each other on life moments. We celebrated 50 years of marriage. Sometimes family members even lived here in the old school house that was once where the Gopher Wood Getaway stands.
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I was one of those who lived in the old white farm house. I was freshly graduated from college and had no idea what I was going to do with my life. So I spent had a year long retreat seeking the Lord for my future. During that time, I would ride around the farm with my dad, Tom Ison, and hear him talk about his vision for the farm. "Look right there, Dacian", he'd say. "That would be a great place for a little amphitheater. Can you hear the music?" Or "Hey.. wouldn't a prayer chapel be really cool in that spot there under the trees?" His voice still echoes in my mind and so does his vision.
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Tom was a man totally and completely in love with the Lord. You couldn't sit next to him for 5 minutes before he would be learning your life story and telling you about his best friend Jesus and how Jesus was the answer to every problem or issue in your life. How God loved you with an everlasting and unconditional love. He carried little Love Letter tracts with him everywhere and handed them out to everyone he saw. He led many people to the Lord. Those people would usually end up being baptized at the lake on this property. ​
My dad carried a vision for the property we all called "Dogwalk." He called it "Siloam Valley." A vision for a place where Believers could come. Receive respite. Just like me that year I lived there, a place to be still and know. Time to hear from the Lord on future and purpose. A place where Holy Spirit would meet you where you are, when you are and how you are to fulfull God's plan for His Kingdom here on earth.
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Siloam refers to the pool Jesus told the blind man to go wash the mud off his eyes in John 9:1-12. there was a man, blind since birth, who had the privilege of having Jesus' saliva filled dirt rubbed in his eyes. Can you just imagine? Then was told to go wash in the "Pool of Siloam." Hum.. yes. As much as I relish the touch of Jesus, can I please wash the dirty spit off me? When he did his sight was restored. He was healed.
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And this healing touch that Tom wanted people to experience at Siloam Valley.
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So, that is why we exist. When my father passed away in March 2021, that vision he carried transferred to Duane and me. We picked up that mantle and calling to turn the property into a place of spiritual retreat. When you stay with us, you aren't just booking another AirBnB. You are joining our family. You are joining our prayer list. We pray over our calendar. We pray for our families. We consider every guest who stays in one of our cabins or uses the land for retreat to be a member or our spiritual family. You are a brother. You are a sister. In Christ we are one.
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The Ison family has grown up. Cousins are now getting married and having their own babies. We don't get to gather as much as we did decades ago due to busy life and schedules. But, the purpose of the farm still exists. To be a place of refuge and retreat and gathering.
Every hour our family and those who support our ministry spend mowing, cleaning, folding laudnry, weed eating, & maintaining the property is spent in an attitude of service to our guests. We do it all unto the Lord with the main goal being to provide a place where Believers can getaway, unplug and re-connect with Father. It was my earthly father's vision. It is my heavenly Father's calling.
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Welcome to Siloam Valley. A place designed with your spiritual well-being in mind. A place created for YOU. For your family. A place intended to draw you in the arms of the Lord. May the Holy Spirit saturate your stay with us! And may the Lord continue to bless you and keep you.
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Love - Dacian (Ison) Keaton
ABOUT US:
Meet the Siloam Valley Family:
Dacian and Duane Keaton - We own the Charis Cabin and manage the property. We carry the vision to provide a place of retreat for guests who stay with us. ​Duane is a retired art and STEAM educator and Kentucky Crafted Artist in the medium of LEGO bricks. Dacian teaches piano from her home music studio. Together they run the Brick Mobile. A LEGO™ brick focused education and event company. Learn more here.
Our two amazing kids, Alex and Kendall are growing up too fast. Alex is getting ready to graduate High school and intends to pursue Graphic Design in college. Kendall is getting ready to start high school and is home schooled.
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We are people of faith and our belief in Jesus as the Christ is our foremost passion. We consider our farm a ministry to families. We love giving families a safe and comfortable place where they can get together, stay together and create life long memories as they go.
Barbara is the matriarch. We call her momma and granny and great granny. She's a caregiver and an amazing woman. As a mother of 4 grown children, 11 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren, she spends her time taking care of the farm, enjoying her hobby with pneumatics (coin collecting) and blessing her family with her acts of service.
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Barbara owns the Gopher Wood Getaway and the main part of the farm around it.
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She is a retired business owner and bookkeeper. She lost her husband of 54 years in March of 2021.
Jessi G - Cabin Cleaner and Support
Sarah H. - Cabin cleaner and support