Furnace Mountain

Furnace Mountain is a Zen meditation center on approximately 850 acres within the Daniel Boone National Forest, with buildings in Korean Buddhist architectural style. The grounds include a main meditation hall, sleeping quarters, and various facilities designed for intensive spiritual retreats.

The center was founded in 1986 by significant Buddhist teachers and developed into a place for serious practitioners. The completion of the main meditation hall in 1990 marked an important milestone in establishing the facility.

The center practices independent Zen Buddhism with regular meditation sessions and teachings led by an experienced master. The Korean-inspired buildings and the way the grounds are arranged reflect spiritual principles that visitors experience daily.

Visitors can stay at the Tea House, which provides sleeping quarters, a kitchen, and dining areas for group retreats. It is advisable to contact ahead, as the center is mainly designed for organized retreat programs.

The location was chosen using geomantic divination methods to ensure optimal harmony with the natural surroundings. This traditional Korean practice of site selection is unusual in the Western world and subtly shapes the feeling of the place.

Inception: 1986

Website: http://furnacemountain.org/fm.html

GPS coordinates: 37.76950,-83.84200

Latest update: December 12, 2025 08:01