Special Guest
Keith Thibodeaux,
Opie’s pal Johnny Paul Jason and
“Little Ricky” on I Love Lucy
Featuring an interview of Keith
by Mayberry author Randy Turner
and audio/visual presentations, including
an extended tribute to
Dennis Rush,
Opie’s pal, Howie Pruitt, on The Andy Griffith Show
Musical entertainment by recording artist
Mitch Barrett
May 6-8, 2027
Sauder Heritage Inn
Archbold, Ohio
This event was originally scheduled for May 2026. Unfortunately, our special guest, the wonderful Dennis Rush, fell ill, and his doctors prohibited travel during the originally scheduled dates. Dennis passed away shortly thereafter. Keith Thibodeaux has generously agreed to be our guest, both to share his story with attendees and to honor our friend, Dennis.
The retreat is an intimate gathering for discerning fans of The Andy Griffith Show who will enjoy activities centered solely on The Andy Griffith Show and entertainment in keeping with the spirit of the series. Think of it as all-Mayberry, all-the-time.
The retreat will begin Thursday afternoon and conclude late morning on Saturday. Registration includes lodging Thursday and Friday nights, all meals including taxes and gratuities, and much more.
Attendees will enjoy:
• An interview of Keith Thibodeaux, the actor who played Opie’s pal, Johnny Paul Jason on The Andy Griffith Show and “Little Ricky” on I Love Lucy. The interview will include an audio/visual component with clips of Keith’s many appearances.
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see and spend time with this treasured member of the Mayberry community.
• An extended audio/visual presentation on our friend and child actor Dennis Rush, the actor who played Opie’s pal, Howie Pruitt, on The Andy Griffith Show. Dennis had a fascinating career as a child actor, having been discovered by James Cagney and appearing in many TV series and films.
• The audio-visual presentations will be given by Mayberry author and historian Randy Turner. The entertaining and detailed presentations will examine Keith and Dennis’s careers. Guests will also receive a new Mayberry book by Randy.
• Musical entertainment will be provided the first night by recording artist Mitch Barrett. The Kentucky-based singer-songwriter and storyteller has recorded on his own and as part of the group Zoe Speaks,
• Mayberry and retreat-related mementos, including a t-shirt.
The Mayberry Retreat will be held in the beautiful Sauder Heritage Inn. This country lodge in Northwest Ohio is within a day’s drive from much of the country. The lobby features natural wood timbers and hand-forged lamps and railings. The inn includes several atriums in which to relax in comfortable furniture. “The Great Oak Tree,” an impressive and beautiful sculpture, anchors the breakfast area near an enclosed pool and hot tub.
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:
• Specific bed requests (king or two queen beds) will be filled first come, first served. If room is double occupancy but shared with a friend, the room will contain two queen beds.
A brochure for the 2027 retreat is available for download. The brochure includes a registration form to sign up through the link below. Please note that the number of attendees will be quite limited by design.
Value of The Mayberry Retreat
When fans attend Mayberry Days this fall, the wonderful festival centered around The Andy Griffith Show in Mount Airy, North Carolina, every September, a room at local hotels with tax can easily be over $300 per night. That $600+ for two nights does not include any concerts, presentations, or souvenirs such as books.
That alone is one reason that The Mayberry Retreat is actually a great value. But that’s not the main benefit, in my view.
To me, the biggest plus in attending such an intimate gathering is the opportunity to have true fellowship with a smaller group of true fans and the retreat guests.
My goal is for everyone who attends to leave feeling pampered for a few days. This will assuredly be a relaxing, all-Mayberry, all-the-time unique experience for the devoted Mayberry fan that is not to be missed.
The Sauder Heritage Inn
I have used the Sauder Heritage Inn before for different types of retreats, including The Mayberry Retreat in the past. The facility is perfect for our group.
Before I used it again several years ago, it had been a number of years since I had held an event there, so I visited to make sure it was as nice as I remembered. (Spoiler alert: It is!)
As I drove up from southern Ohio, I left the highway at Lima and followed backroads through Ohio farmland to reach the inn. I knew something felt right when I passed a sign saying the town of Gomer was three miles away!
As I toured the hotel, I noted the many prints of artwork that adorned the walls, such as Amish prints by P. Buckley Moss. But the last print in one of the halls held a special meaning.
It was The Angelus, the painting that hung over the fireplace in the Taylor home through most of the series.
Come join us for this truly unique Mayberry event!