ABOUT | Blank Canvas Lodge

ABOUT THE BLANK CANVAS LODGE

Blank Canvas Lodge is a beautiful and spacious retreat center.. We are the perfect fit for a quilt retreat, scrapbooking retreat, artist retreat, or a craft retreat. Located just southwest of Wichita KS in the small town of Conway Springs. This is a friendly and quiet small town that we think you'll love.

Blank Canvas Lodge offers a huge work area for your entire group. Large windows help provide great lighting inside the building. Blank Canvas offers sleeping accommodations for up to 14 people in 14 twin beds. The lodge offers a spacious open kitchen which is fully stocked as well as multiple living areas to spread out in. The way the main room is organized allows everyone in your group to be able to work and socialize in the same space while still maintaining a cozy feel.

About the Owners

Jenn is an active member of the community of Conway Springs, KS for more than18 years. Jenn and her husband, Dave have 3 children, 2 daughters and a son. Her husband Dave is the Technology Director for the Conway Springs School District and Jenn is the art teacher at Conway Springs High School.

Jennifer graduated college with an art education degree in 2001. She put her professional career on hold to raise a family. Now that her family is grown she has shifted focus to having an art career. Her passion has always been art and she is driven to make a successful business as a artistic retreat center in Conway Springs. She has hosted craft shows, quarter-manias, had an active craft business, and attends craft and scrapbooking weekend events personally.

Our Building's History

Blank Canvas Lodge started its life as the Church of the Brethren in Conway Springs in 1886 prior to the city being founded. The Brethren church at the time was the largest in the area. In 1915 the building was lifted and rotated 90 degrees to to position it sits in today. At that time they added the porch and the basement.

The church continued but eventually dissolved in 1967. At that time the local masonic group began using the building as their meeting place. Some of the building layout upstairs was changed but mostly remained original. The group continued use of the building until June of 2022.

In July of 2022 Jenn and Dave Potts took ownership of the building. This was the beginning of Blank Canvas Lodge. Many updates happed in the next 11 months! The brickwork outside was repaired and the exterior was repainted. The building had only 1 layer of original paint! The wood floors were repaired and refinished, the layout of the upstairs became that of a large home with a kitchen and main floor bathrooms. The open basement was completely rebuilt into bedrooms and all new plumbing, electrical, and heating and air was installed.

Be sure to check out the photo album of the transformation of the building the next time you are at the lodge!