Glamping arrives at Hickory Run State Park as a part of PA pilot • Spotlight PA

KIDDER TOWNSHIP — It’s the peak of summer time at Hickory Run State Park’s household campground, the place cicadas hum, birds sing, and the warmth and humidity persist even within the shade.

But when campers unzip a canvas door and step inside one of many park’s new tents, the gentle thrum of an air conditioner dampens the sounds of nature and luxurious reigns.

Glamping, quick for glamorous tenting, has arrived at Pennsylvania state parks.

Hickory Run in Carbon County is the third state park within the commonwealth to roll out glamping websites thus far this yr. The initiative, a public-private partnership between Pennsylvania and Georgia-based firm Timberline Glamping, goals to encourage extra folks to go to state parks.

“The reality is everybody’s looking for something different when they’re going outdoors and getting that exposure to nature,” stated Jonathan Bastian, who co-owns Timberline Glamping Poconos together with his spouse Janna.

“We feel that this just adds to that accessibility, adds another option to the menu of options that the state park already offers. And, hopefully, we can get a few more people to experience the state park, bring their kids and really welcome the next generation of campers into the state parks.”

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has signed a five-year settlement with Timberline that enables the corporate to assemble and function glamping websites at a number of parks. As a part of the hassle, DCNR invested $400,000 to enhance the campgrounds the place glamping websites had been added, together with upgrading restroom services and new utilities.

Bureau of State Parks Director John Hallas described the glamping program as a pilot, saying officers plan to evaluate it throughout that point to fine-tune the expertise and gauge curiosity for the long run.

Demand has been excessive thus far, officers stated, significantly at Hickory Run and Promised Land, which have weekends almost booked by means of the summer time.

Here’s what PA Local discovered in regards to the new program throughout a tour in mid-July:

Inside the tents

It’s a fast drive from Hickory Run’s entrance and customer middle to the glamping tents, previous the camp retailer and amphitheater. The tents are on the Mink Loop, certainly one of seven tenting areas that department off from the principle drive and are named for native species. Several trails, together with the favored Shades of Death Trail, will be simply accessed from the realm.

Eight glamping tents, which are available in two types, double or deluxe safari, are embedded within the loop alongside websites the place campers have pitched their very own tents. Situated on wood platforms, the intense, off-white canvas tents are adorned with string lights, emitting a heat glow towards the shade forged from bushes.

After pulling again the canvas door, the within of a glamping tent evokes a resort room: There’s a spacious inside, miniaturized facilities, and beds with residential-style mattresses made up with linens and stacks of fluffy pillows. Across from the mini-fridge and occasional maker, there’s even a small seating space, staged with two chairs on high of a rug. Small ornamental touches, like a lamp-topped nightstand and fake potted vegetation, additional elevate the house.

Guests can management the temperature of the tent by way of a mini-split cooling and heating system and ceiling fan, in addition to the scent by means of an important oil diffuser. All run on electrical energy, and there are spare shops for all of your device-charging wants.

In addition to offering an upgraded expertise, the facilities additionally open up the outside to campers who’re new to the exercise, have totally different ranges of capacity, or require medical requirements, officers stated.

“It makes it a lot more accessible to people,” stated Bastian, who lives in Mifflinburg. “Those that are not going to go out and spend the money on a camper or an RV, they can stay in a tent, but still have that air conditioning, which for some with certain medical conditions is maybe a key barrier to them being able to get out camping.”

Hickory Run already has tenting cottages with electrical warmth, however solely the glamping tents have air con, an oft-requested perk, stated Park Manager Stacie Hall.

“Glamping is, you go in, you bring your clothes, and you’re good to go for the weekend,” she stated, including that for brand spanking new campers, glamping could be a technique to gauge curiosity earlier than investing in tools. “You still have all the creature comforts, but you get to be out in the environment and in the state park and get that experience.”

Outside the tents, simply steps from the entrance porch, there’s a fireplace pit, charcoal grill, picnic desk, and bear field — the latter vital for meals storage given black bears additionally name the area dwelling. The solely function the websites don’t have is an ensuite restroom and bathe, however the loop’s shared services are only a quick stroll from every web site.

Tents sleep as much as six and 4 friends, relying on the fashion chosen, and prices range, however run between $149 and $199 per evening earlier than taxes and costs.

So far, suggestions has been “incredibly positive,” Bastian stated.

“Our priorities are providing an incredible experience for our guests, down to the simplest of details of the decorations that go into the tent and how the tent looks when they first pull back the canvas,” he stated. “We want people to be wowed and feel like this is going to be an incredible experience.”

A staggered rollout

While greater than 50 glamping websites had been speculated to open this spring at seven state parks throughout the commonwealth, provide chain points have required a staggered rollout, stated Hallas.

Hickory Run is among the many three parks the place glamping is now accessible, alongside French Creek in Chester County and Promised Land in Pike County.

Other state parks earmarked for glamping embody: Codorus in York County; Hills Creek in Tioga County; Laurel Hill in Somerset County; and Pymatuning in Crawford County.

Asked if all websites will probably be open by the tip of summer time, Hallas stated he “can’t make that promise.”

“We are working hard with our manufacturer and [the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources] on the other locations, but do not have additional information that we can share with you at this time,” Timberline’s hospitality workforce stated in an electronic mail.

While DCNR isn’t straight funding any of the glamping web site preparation or building, parks obtain assured revenue from every web site, along with a share of the adjusted gross receipts. Funds generated, similar to person charges collected throughout all 125 state parks within the system, return into park operations and upkeep, Hallas stated.

To decide the initiative’s success, officers are contemplating suggestions from campers, occupancy, and demand, he stated.

“It’s not just about the people that are using this new overnight amenity, but it’s the reaction to the amenity and the campgrounds with which they exist that other campers are staying at,” Hallas stated.

Back at Hickory Run, the summer time bustle of the campground slows however doesn’t cease because the temperatures attain brutal highs. Visitors loosen up and revel in their camps, spending high quality time with households and pals in nature or setting off to discover all of the park has to supply, it doesn’t matter what form of web site they name their momentary dwelling.

For extra details about glamping in state parks, or to make a reservation, visit the DCNR’s website.