As Estancia Natura at Spirit Mountain moves from dream to dirt, from concept to reality, I’ve realized just how challenging—sometimes downright impossible—it can be to explain something that is layered with history, depth, and complexity.

Some of you “get us.” You’ve either walked with us since the 90s or you’ve jumped in more recently, asked the right questions, and combed through our blogs, posts, and websites (spiritmountaincoffee.com and estancianatura-rd.com). For you—thank you. You see the vision.

For everyone else—this one’s for you. And please, I beg you, go back and read some of our past blog posts. They’re meant to be quick, lively reads. Hopefully not a chore.

Now, let me attempt the impossible: to boil Estancia Natura down to a few sentences. I’ll spare you some of the noise (though those who know me know how much I love the details). If you’re a detail geek like me, call me—I’ll happily spend hours getting into the weeds of the hows and whys. But for now, let’s keep it big-picture.

Three Foundations: Farm, Residence, Tourism

At its core, Estancia Natura rests on three pillars: the Farm, the Residence, and Tourism.

The Farm — Spirit Mountain has been a coffee farm for more than half a century. We are committed to keeping most of the property in agriculture, continuing our work in sustainable, environmentally focused practices, and honoring one of the DR’s most precious long-term exports: coffee.

Tourism (a.k.a. Hospitality) — To us, hospitality and tourism are interchangeable, two sides of the same coin. For almost 30 years, we’ve hosted friends, family, and strangers-who-became-friends here in the DR. Sometimes it’s giving a writer the quiet space to finish a book. Sometimes it’s hosting a naturalist who needs respite from the digital noise. Sometimes it’s adventure-seekers chasing mountain bike trails, or families eager to share nature with their kids, or couples seeking a romantic escape. Whatever the occasion, the nexus between agriculture and hospitality is what makes Spirit Mountain sing. It’s authentic, never fabricated—shaped by nature and 20+ years of listening, learning, and creative process.

The Residence — This is where Estancia Natura steps in. Many of you have asked for a way to be more permanently part of this community. After two decades of careful, behind-the-scenes dreaming and strategizing, we finally landed on a model that protects the farm, honors what people love about it, and keeps the whole thing financially viable for generations. Legacy is the foundation—our family is not going anywhere.

Estancia Natura’s residential vision comes in three expressions:

1. The Estancia Eco-Lodge A-Frame Club
   Small footprint, big value. For around $150,000 USD, you can own a piece of the Caribbean unlike anything else in the region. Sustainable, design-forward, legacy-rooted—and close to civilization, yet wonderfully removed.
2. The Reserve at Estancia Natura
   25 estate lots (⅔ acre to 2 acres) perched near 5,000 feet above sea level, overlooking the tallest peaks in the Dominican Republic. Year-round cool temps, expansive views, and custom homes designed by our team—this is rare air, literally and figuratively.
3. Hospitality Expansion
   Treehouse Village (a passion project our daughters, Keren and Kate, are taking on with their husbands). A future coffee shop, bistro, and roastery (slated for 2026). A boutique hotel (4–8 rooms) with high-end restaurant, pool, and spa. Plus Camp Spirit Discovery for rustic glamping, and Tri-Mountain Adventure Park for mountain biking, hiking, and birding.

Our Mission

Our mission is to hold all these elements—farm, residence, hospitality—in delicate balance. We want to create a place where people feel connected, seen, loved, and served. A place that honors legacy while embracing adventure.

That’s what we are.
What we are not is contrived, fabricated, or for everyone. And that’s okay. We’re building a community for people who share this vision and want to be part of it. So whether you’ve been with us since day one, or you’re just now pulling up a chair—welcome. You’re invited into this story with us.