Each time Mike Taylor has a group come to his Eagles’ Wings River Retreat, he can count on at least one participant telling him, “I want to live here.”

Located in the historic River Bend neighborhood, the tastefully decorated 1930s paving brick paver house is situated on a wooded bluff overlooking the Des Moines River. The peaceful surroundings are suited for groups of 12 to 15 people seeking a place for a brainstorming session, a client meeting or small social gathering.

Taylor, owner of In the Bag Corporate Cuisine, launched the retreat this summer as a perk for his customers.

“To have a space like this five minutes from downtown Des Moines where people can escape to is unprecedented,” he said. “Once people see it, they come up with all kinds of ideas about how they can use it.”

The remodeled house offers several rooms suitable for small-group meetings, from an informal living room upstairs to a downstairs dining room equipped with a carved oak fireplace and a river view. In the spirit of stress relief, one room is even equipped with a massage table.

Taylor came across the house 2 1/2 years ago, and agreed to buy it the same day he looked at it. “I text-ed my wife, who was out of town, and said, ‘I bought a house – call me,’” he recalled.

Among the Greater Des Moines companies that have booked Eagles’ Wings for executive get-togethers are Wells Fargo & Co., CDS Global Inc. and Beacon of Life.

Taylor, who founded In the Bag in 1993 while he was still working for Hallmark Cards Inc., said Eagles’ Wings provides another dimension of service for his catering business. In the Bag, which now employs 25 people and keeps 15 delivery vehicles busy, offers a menu with more than 200 items. His newest venture, In the Bag Expressions, specializes in customized gift bags that companies can provide as a thank-you to employees or a targeted marketing tool for clients.

Though he might book organizations that aren’t In the Bag customers, Taylor said his clients get first priority. He currently charges just $50 for a half day or $100 for a full day. Of course, In the Bag’s full catering menu is available.