Glamping has gone mainstream, according to a recent CNN Money Report and the hot trend in travel has found its way to Northern Arizona. Glamping – or glamorous camping – was born from the “Out of Africa,” Edwardian-style safari where canvas tents were decked out with mahogany writing desks, four-poster beds were adorned in luxurious linens and local chefs created the best cuisine. Nowadays, glamping includes its high-end cousin but also embraces backcountry yurts that furnish the bare necessities and everything in between.
“We are introducing people to camping that have never done it before. The first-timers think this is pretty neat and it is pretty rustic. For experienced campers, they think this is pretty pampered,” explained Wendell Johnson of the Flagstaff Nordic Center, which advertises their Morning Glory Back Country Yurt at https://glampinghub.com. The eco-friendly yurt is a remote, backcountry camping experience. Located at the top of the Nordic Center’s trail system, the 12-foot yurt offers incredible views of the San Francisco Peaks. Guests may hike or bicycle to the accommodations that are much more glam than typical remote campsites.
Glampers do not need to carry a camp stove or camp cooking gadgetry; the Morning Glory’s kitchen is equipped with a coffee machine, toaster, crock pot, cookware and serving sets for a minimum of eight people and a six-burner propane stove. In the winter, more adventurous glampers taking up to three hours to snowshoe or ski in could have their belongs shuttled right to the yurt.
“We move the units around, so in the winter they are on the snow trail system. Transporting belongings is not dissimilar to what is done at Phantom Ranch, where you can hire a mule or backpack it in yourself,” said Johnson, who owns the center with his wife, Jen.
During the summer months, if glampers don’t want to trek or bike into remote yurts, “front country” yurts are positioned so guests can park right at their campsites. “We want to have a place where people can drive from California, Phoenix or Las Vegas in their Prius to a place where everything is provided. You can show up in the woods in a small car without a lot of gear. We’re at 8,000 to 9,000 feet, so the coolness factor is big. We’ve got 30 to 35 miles of trail in the summer for hiking, biking and equestrian. With our bike rentals, the bicycles can be sitting waiting for them at the yurt or cabin. You don’t need a bike rack, and you don’t have to spend two days packing to get ready for the weekend,” said Johnson.
“Glamping will go to a further extreme, with four-poster beds like a British expedition from the 1800s. That is not where we are,” Johnson added.
Grand Canyon Ranch Resort near Meadville offers glampers an experience that is closer to that extreme. Camping in authentic, hand-painted tipis with upscale amenities that include comfortable double beds and cozy bedding. The luxury ranch that caters to Europeans offers helicopter rides over the Grand Canyon, wagon rides, bison safaris and fine dining.
“From park owners’ experiences and the perspective of leading safaris and having had the experiences in Africa, it was something that they desire for patrons here in the United States. It’s been on our radar,” said Out of Africa Public Relations Director Ashton Powell of glamping.
“When you are thinking of camping – this is not camping. We’re looking to provide that in the future. They [Out of Africa founders Dean and Prayeri Harrison] know exactly the types of tent, the manufacturers and all to offer to people who want a high-end experience and for people who want to be around animals.”
Until then, Verde Valley campers can have a bit of a safari encounter with Out of Africa’s Safari Camp experience. Not a glamping adventure, overnight guests bring their own tents and camp furnishing.
“It’s an authentic experience where you hear the sounds of Africa. You set up your tents next to the animal habitats of your choice. You hear all the sounds because the lions and hyenas are sounding off all night long. The spotted hyenas coo, talk and whoop to each other. Lions vocalize to each other, not an aggressive thing, not really roaring, but calling out. They’d call out and then they’d start talking to each other,” Powell said.
The park will offer its third Safari Camp next May. FBN
GlampingHub.com
Grand Canyon Ranch Resort
3750 E. Diamond Bar Ranch Road, Meadview
http://www.grandcanyonranch.com
Flagstaff Nordic Center
928-380-2019
Out of Africa Wildlife Park
928-567-2840
By Stacey Wittig
Flagstaff Business News