court. In April 2009, a spokesman announced that two Peace Palaces were nearing completion. In 2009 the GCWP opened the West Virginia Retreat Center in Three Churches, West Virginia, USA. The male-only facility is used for weekend retreats as well as residences for those who want to spend years living a simpler life involving meditation. As of 2012, the center consisted of 10 buildings with 90 male residents plus various staff. Larger plans include the development of the , purchased at a cost of $750,000 into an "environmentally friendly retreat" that will include 150 to 200 rooms for professional and amateur meditators, according to the project director, Raja Bob LoPinto. Peace Palaces In 2008, the Global Country of World Peace undertook the construction of "Peace Palaces" in major US cities, which would teach courses in the Transcendental Meditation technique and offer ayurvedic spa treatments and herbal food supplements. The buildings, being built according to Vedic guidelines, were planned to be two-story, white, buildings of about 10,000 to and are intended to be replacements for rented spaces being used in "more than 200 locations" across the U.S.A. Their appearance has been described as an "Indian temple crossed with a Southern plantation mansion" and is intended to be a "visual brand" for the organization. Peace Palaces have been completed in the U.S. cities of Bethesda, Maryland, Houston and Austin, Texas, Fairfield, Iowa, St. Paul, Minnesota and Lexington, Kentucky. Three of the existing Peace Palaces were built by private individuals. Land has been purchased in 52 locations around the US and others are being built around the world. According to officials of the organization, zoning and related issues have slowed their progress in building in at least 18 other cities where land has been purchased. In 2007 the "Maharishi’s organization" took legal action against the city of Mayfield Heights, Ohio, because the city refused a setback variance for a proposed Peace Palace. Although "admired for its finances" some critics call the project a way for the "Maharishi's followers" to create funds for more land for the group's treasury. Other facilities In 2005, the Global Country bought an 800-plus acres farm in Goshen, New York, USA for $4 million in cash, with plans to create an organic farm training site, as well as a Peace Palace. According to broker Steve Perfit, the were put up for sale in April 2009. Also in 2005, Global