When part-time Aspen residents Shelley and John Bogaert bought a rustic 80-acre camp on San Juan Island, Wash., they didn’t think they would be among the pioneers of the latest trend in outdoor recreation.
But five years later, Lakedale Resort at Three Lakes (http://www.lakedale.com/) is a poster child for “glamorous camping,” a concept which the recreation industry and popular media have shortened into the memorable word “glamping.” The resort has been featured on websites such as Sunset.com and HipTravelMama.com.
“It started as an investment. It became an obsession,” Shelley says. “It’s been a labor of love. We’ve pretty much redone the place since we bought it.”
Glamorous camping means campers don’t have to contend with many of the hardships of pitching a tent, rolling out the sleeping bags on thin foam mattresses, and wondering whether the tent will leak if rain falls during the night. Instead, “glamping” means staying in a sturdy structure, sleeping on a bed, and not having to worry about getting too much dirt under your fingernails.
“It’s really for people who love the camping experience but for whom the idea of pitching a tent and sleeping on an air mattress isn’t that appealing,” Shelley says.
When the Bogaerts bought the property – half of which is lakes – it had a 10-room lodge, six cabins, a lakehouse, and a 120-site campground. They planned to add some yurts – round, tent-like structures elevated on wooden platforms – but as they discussed their plans with yurt makers, they decided to install four-sided tents like those used in hunting camps.
“It was less expensive to put tents in, plus it would be a lot more fun,” Shelley said.
Lakedale Resort now boasts 13 “upscale canvas cabins” built on durable imitation-wood platforms. Shelley, whose background is in interior design, selected the furnishings and highlights that give a feeling of luxury to the canvas cabins. The cabins feature queen-size beds, wrought-iron accessories, futons, tables, and chairs. Each has an outdoor fire ring, a picnic table, and four Adirondack chairs.
Initially, the Bogaerts thought the canvas cabins would attract families with kids who were looking for an easy way to camp. Indeed, the tents were a hit with families, but a big part of the clientele turned out to be upscale residents of nearby Seattle who wanted to visit San Juan Island and indulge in something less formal than a lodge but a step or two above ordinary camping.
The canvas cabins rent for about $149 per night, which makes them affordable for a wide range of customers. In contrast, a room in the lodge can cost between $200 and $300.
“A lot of (guests) have the money to stay in the lodge, but they like giving their kids the camping experience,” Shelley says.
Lakedale Resort also added some vintage Airstream trailers as a lodging option. The silver metal icons of 1960s-70s trailer camping have proven “very, very popular,” Shelley says. “They’re very retro.”
The resort offers an activity tent, where craft projects and other diversions are available for children and adults. The lakes are stocked with bass and trout each year for fishing, and boating is popular activity. There is no cellphone service, and Internet is not available outside of the main lodge.
“It gets everybody off their devices so they can chat and sit around a campfire,” Shelley says.
The Bogaerts, who are clients of May-Investments and split their time between homes in Aspen and Washington state, hired a management company to operate Lakedale, but Shelley says she and John spend a fair amount of time looking after the property.
“We weren’t supposed to be quite so hands-on, but it’s been a lot of fun,” she says.
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