A few months back I shared with you the “Rolling Cabin” based in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Tom Hedges recently contacted me to share with you a new feature they are offering at the Redtail Resort.
Glamping, the new term being used for upscale — or glamorous — camping, is one of the fastest growing trends in the eco-luxe hospitality industry.
Glamour camping offers all of the attractions of camping – sleeping under the stars, sitting around a campfire, falling asleep to the sounds of nature, etc, while taking all of the hassles out of the experience – pitching a tent, lugging gear and food, sleeping on the bumping ground, collecting firewood, etc. It then attaches the comforts of a luxury hotel room – ultra comfortable king size bed, luxury linens, concierge and cleaning services, etc. Collectively, the result is a completely extraordinary experience.
It is our pleasure to introduce Tent City at Redtail Resort – an ultra luxurious wooded glamping community. Your custom-made canvas glamping tent features fine linens, art adorned walls, and, of course, the most comfortable beds west of the Mississippi. All luxury tents have electricity, cooling fans, and heat. Refresh yourself in your Glamping Bathhouse, which hosts 8 private, luxury washrooms, including rain showers, heated floors and indulgent organic spa products.
If you would like to experience this please contact Redtail Resort at 307-690-2495 and get all the information.
This also would be another option for tiny house living.
I’m sorry, but, Kent, why are you giving these people free advertising?
People like this take far more away from the world than they add in innumerable ways (not by any means the only one, but not least: who’s willing to bet they destroyed a valuable wetland for this crap, or for the development that houses all those concierge?) They do not deserve endorsement.
—-Parrot whisperer
Uh, yuppies are people too!
Skip and Buffy need a place to wear all those Ralph Lauren togs (and park their beautifully restored truck).
—more seriously, I hear you. In my last post it was gently pointed out to me that most folks on this site are looking for the most economical way to build a tiny house. On reflection, I think that’s probably true.
Still, its kinda interesting to look at what can be done with a tent on a platform, and the pictures bring up questions about what really is necessary (or not) to be comfortable.
Love the Glamping photos – gives me ideas for guest quarters on our own “mini-farm” in Idaho Falls. It also reminds me about actually living in a ridgepole tent as a child during the Great Depression. In fact, my Dad built a 16-ft. camp trailer and he attached a ridgepole tent to it, and we lived there 1 year while my Dad was going to college in 1943 – my Dad, Mom and me! I thought it was a great adventure, but can you imagine living like that at a college now?
Hi Parrot whisperer
I understand where you are coming from and I appreciate your thoughts on this post. It has been my goal with the Tiny House Blog to show all available types of construction and in doing that I cover both economical and expensive. Yes, it will rub some people wrong and I’m sorry, but at this time I plan to continue to show as much of what is available as I can. -Kent
Yeah, a little grace here on that. I’m good with seeing something like this. I’m good with seeing all the issues, too, though I would not have been aware there are any controversial issues.
People with money want to comfortably camp (glamp); someone is willing to offer the service and charge a decent price for it.
Customers get a relaxing, back-to-nature vacation. Yeah, there is always some kind of footprint. Probably nothing compared to what they (we) do in our day-to-day lives.
Take care of the earth? You bet. Cultivate it so we can enjoy and USE (yes, I said use) its renewable sustenance and pass it to other generations.
Heck, it might even make customers more “nature aware” in a way that gets them thinking about how to conserve better.
Kent,
This is far from a viable tiny living option. This is for the rich only, and I get a bit tired of the free advertising you place on here. I’d appreciate it if you’d stick to ‘just the facts’ and leave the self-serving promotional text out of posts like this.
Why be so judgemental!
“haters gunna hate”
very cool – keep it coming
Actually, the campground offers very affordable options relative to the rest of Jackson Hole’s hotels and vacation rentals. Also, where did the Ralph Lauren sheets come from? We’re using a company called Quivera.
This I found to be interesting because I am in the process of buying my land and I am building an eco-village for women and there children. But while I am building that would be easy to do and I could use it through spring and summer or I could use it as an office, ect… Sometimes you have to think out of the box. I am sure there is a set of plans how one is built. I have so many different things I can build with, like the storage container. My goal is to have several gardens, plant fruit bearing trees’s and grapes. Plan to sell our organic fruits and vegetables. I was in a Domestic Violence Case many, many years ago and luckily I didn’t have a child but I was taken to a home which was hidden but I felt very uncomfortable with sharing a room, sharing a bathroom and kitchen, I have a germ phobia. If I could have had my own little place and my girlfriend who has children has spent much longer time there then I did so from some of the things she spoke of and privacy is nice and it helps you feel independent and they can fix it up like a home. We will have homeschooling on-site and there are still the local schools in the area. All the women will have designated working days and times. There will be GED classes for the adults and crafting classes and clubs because selling our crafts is a way to bring in income for the women so they can get back on there feet. We will also be selling our fruits and vegetables, eggs from our chicken’s, and as we grow there will be so much more. There will be private counseling, and group counseling to work on why these women are here and rebuild there self esteem without feeling like they are stuck and I want to teach them that they are never ever stuck and get to know them and put them into area’s of work that they are interested in, helping them get into collage. I want to teach them how to be self sustaining and self sufficient. I want to show them about water catchment, solar and the conserving of electricity. How to can and we will be selling these in local stores, farmer’s market’s and on our website all with some other items. Gift Baskets, handmade items ect…. So please continue to provide us with any and all information. Thank You, Sherry Vanderburg
I said what I said poorly, and I apologize for that. Also I don’t mean to criticize you personally. I’m sure most of us here know the feeling of having posted something you probably shouldn’t have, and I hope you won’t hold it against me. I only had a moment to post something and didn’t want to say nothing, because this is very widespread and important problem.
And I think, given the magnitude of the problem, that is thoroughly justified, and we all should.
The wealthiest people waste and consume and pollute far, far more than their share to produce their endless supply of ultra luxury creature comforts, and the environmental and social issues we face because of this sort of waste have become truly severe, and are not things I can politely ignore. The fact that most people in the comments don’t even see it goes to show how entrenched the acceptance of this waste and damage is, and that someone really needs to say something (though preferably better).
All it takes for evil to flourish is for good people to do nothing. So I did something (very small). I thought I might regret it, but this is too important. I hope others will do likewise.
Nice to see these people enjoying their glamping trip. Very nice, the tent looks like an attractive and comfortable way to enjoy the outdoors.
Makes a great seasonal structure.
Lots of points of view. We appreciate the feedback. Just to clarify our goals…this property has operated as a campground since the early 60’s. We’ve given it a facelift by offering a glamping option and a cabin option in addition to improving our traditional tent camping and RV site rentals. It is our opinion that there is an audience that would appreciate a pitched tent at a reasonable rate over an expensive hotel room. Also, we think a tent city is much lower impact than a hotel. We think the improved campground, improved RV park, new Cabin village and the Tent City will combine to produce a very attractive, eco-friendly, innovative lodging opportunity.
Loaded this article on my Facebook page, all my SCA and Ren Fair friends loved it since we all camp using medieval tents when we go to events so it was really cool to see a mundane presprective. For me, your place would be a good place to for reinactors, including the civil war reinactors to break in those family members to the joys of outdoor camping who think we are crazy and “roughing it” when we go camping on the weekends.
Tents are great this is great
uh, Kent…bears?
Hey, if you are going to be eaten by bears, don’t you want it to be whilst lounging on Ralph Lauren sheets?
Seriously, in response to posters above, I don’t think it’s an entirely bad idea. First of all, maybe there are people who are unlikely to camp without all modern conveniences available to them (or at least the appearance of). And, as someone who grew up asthmatic and allergic before the advent of the great meds we have now and who was rarely outdoors or exercising, and has now come to love outdoorsy endeavors, I think it’s fair to speculate that unlikely candidates for camping who may take advantage of posh lodgings may be inclined to find that the woods are awesome in their natural state. Maybe next time, the Ralph Lauren sheets will not be needed.
Give peace a chance …
having spent a great deal of time in the great outdoors, I still have doubts about the critters. Although I’m sure RL sheets are comfy, I prefer cotton. When I lived in the Adirondacks, I had bear walk thru the property several times a week…and although thrilled to see them, was grateful for the logs between us. It’s a beautiful setting, thanks for sharing with us.
How is all that light, not attracting a million bugs?
The tent have screened entry ways, which helps regarding bugs. Also, Jackson Hole is a cool mountain environment. This keeps the bugs to a minimum. That said, bring some bug spray just in case.
Do they ever get rain or wind?
Squirrels or mice?
+1
Seriously, I’d love to see the city saps as they wake up to the sounds of a raccoon eating the snack the ‘campers’ left at the foot of their bed.
You better pray for good weather, that cotton/canvas will soak nearly instantaneously when it rains.
Nah, those tents are water-proof! I’ve camped in them during downpours, and it’s true they will drip if you rub up against the canvas much – otherwise they’re fine. Might have to loosen the ropes a bit if they get real wet as they tend to shrink up. At least the old ones did – maybe not so much now.
The canvas is stapled to the platforms, which does well to keep critters out. But, yes, there is always the chance a moose or chipmunk might join in on the fun. A risk we hope our guests are willing to take.
comical- love the moniker too…. very nice photo though! An interesting post too….even though the trend is a little ridiculous.
“Camping for wimps”
-Deek
As a former infantryman in the 2nd Ranger Battalion and the 82nd Airborne, I’ve spent quite a few nights “roughing” it – sleeping under a poncho tied to some trees as a makeshift shelter, or often sleeping under nothing at all. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve woken up and instinctively swatted at my face to knock a spider off that was crawling on me (North Carolina has a great spider population, including black widows and brown recluse). I’ve even woken up to find that I couldn’t take a drink of water because my canteens had frozen overnight.
Roughing it, or being uncomfortable camping when you don’t have to be is not profoundly noble; it’s just kind of stupid. You can call me a wimp if you like, but I’d take this camping setup over a sleeping bag and foam pad any day – especially if I’m camping with a significant other.
Amen to that!
“Camping for wimps” – lol. I wonder why they didn’t think of that?
I think this is just ridiculous. People who want to live/sleep like that don’t want to deal with the reality of tent camping.
“Just get a room” as they say.
Many of the state campgrounds have followed the trend set by the RV parks and started offering cabins to wilderness wimps. Often those things are booked solid.
A real structure here would probably boost biz 10 fold.
Hey Deek why are these tent trends so ridiculous?
More interesting than most of your posts.
Yeowch- some touchy folks here I guess…
My “camping for wimps” comment was meant to be a joke- nothing more, I NEVER thought people would take actual offense. Zero true-offense was meant- honestly.
These threads are getting catty here and there. What gives? Full moon? And I did comment on how nice the photos were for the record….AND have bookmarked it to possibly include architecturally/photo-wise in my book.
And “Bob H”? C’mon now…lol….
-Deek
Relaxshacks.com
Sorry to cause an inadvertent, negative stir Kent…
Anything coming out on election day or the day after, well…..you get the idea.
And the point of taking a dig at Deek is … ?
I will never get people. Deek, thanks for all you contribute to the small house movement and your posts here. I like you just fine and have learned a lot from you. (But I do like my dogs better than most people, Bob H. just one case in point.)
Life is short and we are dead a long time. Be nice, children.
Agreed (Irene n’ Drue)- Thanks 🙂
Full moons, Election Day, Tax Day, n’ Black Friday…I’ll be sure not to post anything ’round those- lol.
-Deek
Relaxshacks.com
I may not choose to vacation this way, but I appreciate the aesthetics and find the simplicity of their tent spaces inspiring. (regardless of economics) thanks for the post!
OMG These bad people even have a dog and a pick up truck. Just kidding
I find this disgusting to say the least! People have become such marshmallows that they can’t even stand a little inconvenience and need their every need and want attended.
And as far as a good idea for a small house? How do you get that? It would cost a mint just to heat/cool something like that as a full time living idea, not to mention dangerous if placed in a wildlife area!
Well, we used to backpack and rough it, but very content to be a “marshmallow” now at our age: 77 and 89! That bed looks dang comfortable to us, and I think it would be a great treat to have those sheets!
Not my kind of camping, but why shouldn’t somebody enjoy this if that’s what they want? I too wonder about where the bugs are! No way I’d leave the tent door open without a net! Tiny house politics is an ‘interesting’ area. I’m glad to see that all sorts of options are covered, regardless of whether they address particular economic issues. One good thing about glamping is it’s land use that would be more likely to promote some form of conservation and leaves fewer permanent structures than many other types of resort.
who is to say that this will replace traditional resorts? In the world of the rich, new trends are picked up and discarded quickly. After a few years, all these ‘glamping’ sites will sit idle as cruise lines come back into fashion.
Why should it ‘replace’ anything? Big developers will always find a way to set up their version of Xanadu and get rich doing it. Setting up a little glamping spot might help some farmers or other smallholders make it through hard times if they have an appropriate spot. It’s just another B&B option when you get right down to it. There are treehouse, boat and all kinds of ‘oddball’ lodgings out there, this is just another one.
If you live in the West – where this Glamping tent is located – you really don’t have many bugs at night! Might have a few mosquitoes occasionally, but we don’t have the bugs people do in the East and South! I live in Idaho Falls – about 45 minutes from this Glamping spot – and our summer evenings outdoors are great! Incidentally, I think there is a net at the front of this tent, if you look closely – it’s pulled back.
I have to admit I am a bit offended by some of the comments here today. It would appear that there is some sort of litmus test or other criteria that limits ones enjoyment of the outdoors. To exclude a certain style based upon bias or prejudice is simply wrong. How are we to persuade people to embrace a minimalist lifestyle if we immediately dismiss them because they don’t fit the cookie-cutter, granola-eating, patchouli-smelling, shower-needing hippie? How does it feel to be grouped and judged unfairly? I think a space like this looks great and would make a very fair weather yurt-style space in a back yard. Thanks for the pic’s and story…
Bill,
This has nothing to do with minimalist lifestyle. Name-brand bedding? Not having to do ANY work while camping? This is just more playtime for those who can afford it and provides no insight on how to re-think one’s way of living.
So what? Let them contribute to the economy!
I can’t believe the hostile comments towards a simple post that Kent was just making us
aware of… “wetland destroyers”,… “disgusting” … “ridiculous”… (I won’t quote wimp because Deek is cool). Josh makes a very valid point. Some people like to sleep without having their back in traction the next morning and want to smell the fresh air. Let’s get worked up about things that matter instead of a little tent and some Ralph Lauren sheets (they neglected to mention thread count). 🙂
Thanks for the sensible comment! I liked the thread count part too!!
to add it is a staged photo meant to advertise. just like the shiny apples or perfect banana’s in the grocery ad or the fast food burger. i mean really, a cowboy with clean boots drinking red wine out of a long stemmed glass? a young child with no dirt stains on the knees. rover not out chasing a squirrel. looks like a photshop fire to me. and just who’s boots are at the foot of the bed? both adults have theirs on. perhaps it is the photographer. but then again, where will he/she sleep? is this a family bed? enough of picking it apart. i’d hang out there for a day if i could.
I suppose that this is a luxurious way to camp. If I had my way I would bring my bed with me when I camp otherwise I get pretty cranky because my back will not let me sleep otherwise. I can see the allure that this picture gives. Don’t get me wrong, I love tent camping, but sleeping (I mean REALLY sleeping, not dozing) in a real bed with the critters walking around your tent is appealing. All the great things about camping but with a comfy place to sleep so you can enjoy all the parts of nature every day with every part of your body! Nice post Kent!!
I am with the post about all that light bringing bugs, like mosquitos and if this was the northeast, gnats. It is a beautiful picture and I hope the people who are running it found a way to take care of all of nature that is annoying. I don’t see any screens! good luck at least it is not a class A!
Actually this kind of camping has been probably been around for as long as there have been people sleeping away from home base. Safaris and merchant caravans surely had all the latest comforts of the times for the privileged(and heaps of ‘servants’ to do the dirty work) and any sheik worth his salt wouldn’t set up a less than palatial tent. The only difference is that now it’s actually more accessible and at a lower price point. There wasn’t this much kvetching about the fancy wedding tents from India or stories about RV’ers staying overnight in Wal-Mart parking lots. Perhaps some ‘rugged individualists’ are feeling threatened, or think this somehow lessens the validity of roughing it. Relax people, it’s just another option, not a political agenda!
Well said, Alice.
Is this a simple living option as shown? No.
Is it a tweeked version of every logging camp or hunting camp of yester-year? Yes. Add a wood stove and a real canvas tent (not that glorified mosquito netting) and it is easily livable, has been for centuries…
Granted a tad laughable in a wetland setting… that bedding…
No extra charge for mildew and black mold I assume? ;p
This Glamping spot is in Wyoming – not much mold there as it is extremely dry – same reason there aren’t many bugs. On the other hand, there are a few grizzly bears around!
Thought this site was about tiny houses. A tent is a tent.
Some people in ancient, and even modern times have lived in tents as houses. Bedouins, Monguls, Native Americans….SETTLERS on the plains and in mining towns.
And then, of course, people have lived in cars, and some even in their GI issue ponchos (miserable).
I remain interested in the post and amazed that it touched a nerve for so many people.
Kent serves up a great free buffet on this site, and not everyone wants to try the escargot. That’s fair. But I think it would’ve been gracious for people to move on to the parts of the buffet they do like.
Tony, please free yourself from the western notion that all ‘houses’ must be hard-sided…
Wow, this certainly was a post that brought out opinions and points of view. Why live in a square tent, when living in a round Yurt carry so many advantages (heat, wind resistance, room, light). Modern Yurt manufactures have found ways to blend tradition with convenience.
Also bug zappers, Mosquito Magnets, and other bug repellents/killing devices work quite well, or you could burn logs that have been dipped in citronella, the sky is the limit when money is involved…..
I’d like to see an interior shot of the “Glamping Bathhouse.”
To each his (or her) own. I’ve been in advertising for a number of years, and photos like this are meant to be attractive, but not realistic. It’s just posing with ideal lighting, a pretty location and well-chosen props. Most likely the tent is not even located in that specific spot.
Someone who regularly camps in a backpacker tent would think this is glamping, but someone used to a 30 foot RV would think this is roughing it. By some people, I’m considered a “glamper” when I camp in my 5×8 teardrop trailer! My bed is off the ground, but I have to walk to the restroom in the middle of the night. However, even for just a week or a weekend…this pretty tent is someone’s tiny house.
Thanks for your thoughts. Actually, the tent will remain right where it was shot. The Tetons shadow the property from the west, which is not shown in the photos. It is a beautiful wooded property in the heart of Jackson Hole, Wy. The tents will all host the furnishings and “props” shown in the photos. Come check one out next summer. If we don’t prove ourselves, the lodging is on us.
I found this discussion very interesting. I think SOME of the elements of glamping will get people who normally wouldn’t consider camping out into nature. And that’s what we want isn’t it? We have a farm campground (www.farmhouselife.com)in Iowa and Kent has been nice enough to feature us in the past. All the structures, tent platforms, etc. were recycled from old farm buildings and our goal is to be sustainable in everything we do. We have a simple gravity feed shower and a pool in an old grain bin (heated with a solar panel). There is no electricity but everything you need to camp is provided and set up for you. Guess you might call it “glamping lite”. Our desire is to expose people to the sustainability message by reducing the hassle factor most people associate with a weekend in the outdoors.
Kevin,
These look awesome. I spent years living in “Wall Tents” in Yosemite and loved every minute of it.
Your clients get a good education in how little we need to be happy and the importance of wilderness.
Don’t listen to the quacks, it sounds like they don’t get out enough. You know what they say about opinions…
Nice job, Brook
Actually this looks like SCA (Society for Creative Anachromism) campint at a high end mundane prespective. I think the owners may have gone to a renfair (different from the SCA!) or scadian encampment and gotten the ideas from some of the viking, norse or persian reinactment groups. The only difference is the modern electricity. These groups sometimes live like this in tents for up to two months for different events. The sheets used are neither Ralph Lauren or gunny sacks but for authenticity loom woven linen or wool which is even more luxiourious in price since it would have been made by artisans within the reinactment community and done using medieval looms and tools. I posted the article on my facebook page, my Scadian and Ren Friends thought it was a cool article and nice to see people thinking outsided the popup, nylon tent box. As to the bedding, I actually have one of those huge custom break down beds with four posters to hang curtains for privacy in my medieval viking tent. That’s the Anachromism in SCA….
During a typical glamping trip, the tents are often designed with bright designer colors and materials, not the olive drab canvas tents of yesteryear.
I think this is a great idea! Does anyone know where to buy a tent like this?
Hi Lisa, Colorado Yurt Company sells these types of tents their website is http://www.coloradoyurt.com/tents/