The Retreat

*** DO NOT SIGN A LEASE TO LIVE AT THE RETREAT IN SAN MARCOS! YOU WILL BE MAKING A BIG MISTAKE! THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT YOU OR YOUR SAFETY AT ALL! *** My nephew who was a resident at The Retreat in San Marcos was viciously attacked by a large black dog owned by a young female leasing agent at The Retreat. She lives at The Retreat next door to my nephew. She witnessed the attack caused by her not having her dog on a leash, a dog that was clearly over the 35 pound weight limit. This attack happened in February 2016. We have contacted The Retreat and spoken with Josh Postell, an Area Manager for American Campus Communities and Whitney Hightower, a Regional Manager for American Campus Communities. The girl who owns the dog never offered any apologies to my nephew for the unprovoked attack or offer to pay for his medical bills, no incidence report was ever created for her file and no calls were made to my nephew, even after they were notified that Animal Control of San Marcos had come onto their property in order to quarantine the vicious dog. No one at The Retreat has ever asked how my nephew was after the attack and offered any apologies. We have asked repeatedly since February for the animal to be removed from their premises so other residents will not have to endure permanent scars like my nephew has or worse. We have only been given verbal assurances that the dog would be permanently removed, even though we repeatedly asked for written assurances. The dog has been spotted by various witnesses at least six times since, the most recent on May 6^th. Each time we have reported this to the management to no avail. The dog continues to roam the premises. We have opted to have our nephew leave the premises and live elsewhere, even though we will be paying the remainder of the lease until August, because we cannot be assured that he will be safe there. On May 6^th, the young female staffer’s parents were on site, as was her vicious animal and when they saw my nephew, they unleashed a profanity laced tirade, trying to taunt and threaten him, even asking him repeatedly to hit her elderly father. The father told my nephew that they «don’t give a F*** about him», and it appears that the management at The Retreat doesn’t either. Would I ever recommend that anyone live at The Retreat at San Marcos or any of the properties owned by American Campus Communities? Sadly, no. The management here only cares about their staffers, but not their residents. Since this incident, I have heard from many other parents that tell similar stories. This apartment community, beautiful as it may seem, is just not a safe place to let your children live, in my experience. Their cold and uncaring attitude seems to be commonplace, and I can only guess that Bill Bayless, owner of American Campus Communities, is encouraging this attitude. Therefore, I would never recommend to anyone that they live here or at any of his properties.

I have a Friend’s son who was attacked by one of the Leasing Agent’s dogs who attacked him and his dog. Her dog was not on a leash and his was. They have treated him with disrespect and have made threats towards him. They obviously do not care about your Child or anyone’s safety! Do not Lease from these people!

The Retreat is definitely the top 3 best student housing apartments to stay at in San Marcos. Work orders get done in a timely manner, cottages are a good size for the price, amenities are extremely nice, and the front desk is really friendly. I live in a five bedroom and it’s priced fairly for the location and sizing of the cottage. Highly recommend signing here!

Crime rates high. Once saw a truck had driven INTO the pool. Pool parties often shut down… shootings…a murder… you name it. I live in the neighborhood across the street and hate just being near it. Drunk drivers always. Loud frat parties obnoxious flags on balconies. Ew

The worst place I have ever lived in! Management does not help you with anything! Even if someone is breaking the law, flooding the apartment etc they don’t do anything about it. Don’t waste your time or money. Pay a little extra to not live with people like this. I wish I could leave less than a star or none at all they don’t deserve it.

Parents and Students– Run Away from this property and any other property managed by American Campus Communities (The Outpost, Sanctuary Lofts, Bishops Square and The Retreat)! If you sign a guarantor form, your student has the ability to sign a new lease without your knowledge or consent and you are obligated for as long as they choose to live there! My husband & I went in prior to the beginning of the new lease term and were told that our daughter signed a new lease and that we have no way to cancel as a guarantor. I attempted reaching out to the property and to their parent company with no satisfaction. In addition, trying to find someone (anyone) that wants to live here is absolutely impossible!

Awful place to live management couldn’t care less about residents and allowed a vicious dog to attack me and my dog (pics posted) then allowed that dog to stay with a muzzle even with my repeated attempts to get vicious animal removed. Do yourself a favor and and pick a place that is more customer friendly, these people are very nice until you sign a contract then it’s like your dead to them.

Management sucks, they’re untrustworthy and don’t abide by the contract you sign. The houses are small, shitty, and have thin walls. Parking sucks, the only good thing is the pool (when it’s clean) and you don’t even have to live here for the pool.

The buildings are clean and new-​large open first floors. I think the rates are fair the grounds are kept clean. Lots of outdoor green space.

DO NOT MOVE HERE!!!
This is the worst place ever! They have shoebox rooms, the room I got smelled like urine and had to be completely removed and sterilized. The management is useless and will NEVER call you back. They have LOST my RENT. There are police there every weekend. You would be better off making a friend there and visiting for the facilities. Had to speak to a lawyer and was told that they have the sketchiest and WORST LEASE CONTRACT in ALL of San Marcos. Don’t make the mistake of living here, you can do better.