Dragonhead Retreat is a LABOR OF LOVE brought to life by husband-and-wife team Jeffrey Lee Basehore, a seasoned architect, and Kathy Holdway, a dedicated community leader and entrepreneur. Married for over 25 years, they combined their professional passions and personal dreams to create a unique, energy-efficient sanctuary nestled in the treetops of East Texas.
“I always wanted to live in a treehouse,” Jeff often says when guests remark how the Retreat feels like it’s floating above the trees.
Jeff brings over 50 years of experience in energy-efficient architectural design, with a portfolio that including homes, churches, and community spaces. His eye for aesthetics and environmental harmony is visible in every corner of Dragonhead Retreat.
Kathy has spent her career empowering communities—offering over 35 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, training, and capacity building. A Circle of Ten, Inc. has 30 years supporting art, housing, technology and housing initiatives. Jeff’s efforts founded and support East Texas veterans programs.
Together, Jeff and Kathy not only built a beautiful retreat—they built a community-centered haven where guests can reconnect with nature, themselves, and each other.
The name Dragonhead is inspired by ancient Chinese lore, where a mountain ridge is viewed as sleeping dragon, and its end is called “the dragon’s head”—a place believed to hold powerful energy.
