Michigan Opens Doors it’s First Glamping Site

Michigan will be home to it’s first glamping eco resort.

Bella Solviva, Michigan’s comfy camping eco-resort, is being developed by two entrepreneurs Brad and Sandy Carlson on a 100 acre property in Northern Michigan.

On the Western edge of Jordan River, in Michigan, the glamping destination will feature 100 luxury sites.

The luxury sites will include, fully furnishes safari tents, tree houses, teepees, cabins, restored vintage RV’s and airliners to have access to hot showers and restroom facilities.

Bella Solviva, expects to be in development for two years and expects to have at least 36 sites available to the public this summer.

In addition, the Carlson’s hope to add another 25 sites mid summer with the remaining sites, including six hotel style suites, in 2016.

The properties amenities will include a clubhouse, laundry facilities, swimming pool, tennis as well as multi-purpose courts, ice skating for the winter, playgrounds, a recreation hall.

Also, the property will have trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding and cross country skiing.

This glamping property will be short of nothing as it also will be offering concierge service and on site massages.

Bella Solviva is set to the first glamping resort in Michigan and will set the bar high for other glamping destinations.

For more information on statstics and glamping in the United States check out, “Is Glamping Market Underserved? We Think So.”

Source: www.traverseticker.com

Lotus Bella Glamping Tents

Lotus Bella, an Australian Company, is now offering a new deluxe tent, perfect for glamping accommodations.

They recently launched this new tent known as the Outback Deluxe which is one of the newest range of luxury tents created especially for the new glamping trend.

The Lotus Bella Tent is a circular 16.4 foot tent that has been upgraded in size and quality in comparison to other tents on the market.

The Outback Deluxe is a new version of the company’s original tents and is a single skin tent made from thick canvas.

The tent features mesh screens, large roof vents, increased ventilation, a second door, velcro flaps and a new polyester blend which makes the tent durable with a natural feel.

In addition, the tent is fully wind resistant and features clear window panels so that consumers can appreciate the scenic views no matter the weather.

The tent is now more durable than ever, as the canvas is very dense and takes as little as 45 minutes to set up or 20 minutes if the poles are already assembled.

The Outback deluxe tent is suitable for many different uses but, would be perfect a perfect edition to any glamping trip or glamping destination.

For more information, check out Gizmag’s article: “Lotus Bella Outback Deluxe Tent Delivers Glamping for Under $2,500.”

lotusdeluxe-15-1

lotusdeluxe-13

lotusdeluxe-11

lotusdeluxe-1

Roadside Americana: Tipi Encampment on Route 66

Have you slept in a wigwam lately? – reads the sign at the entrance of Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, Arizona.

It was the first time I had heard of a wigwam – a domed room dwelling formerly used by the Native Americans – the namesake for the property, and more so, for the Wigwam Motels, also known as the Wigwam Villages.

wigwam motel cars

Upon arrival, the tipis were shining brightly in the soft, sunset light. Contrary to any other motel I’ve stayed at, the layout of the village was a remarkable sight in itself. A total of 15 wigwams were displayed on three sides, the reception area closing it into a square. Restored vintage cars, one swankier than the prior, were cleverly placed in front of some of the units, while antique, green metal benches stamped with the words “Wigwam Village #6” were scattered throughout the compound.

The unique concept belongs to Frank Redford, a man whose infatuation with the Native American culture made headlines. Following the rage of the auto camping in the early 1920s, the notion of leisure further developed; cottage camps or the so-called proto motels started to pop up all over the country. Then, in 1933, Redford developed a tipi-shaped building, which would house his impressive collection of artifacts. The following year, he added a group of tipi-shaped cabins to entice visitors to stay the night, which is when the name of Wigwam Village came to existence. As unique as the retro motel concept was at the time, Redford applied for a Design Patent, which he was granted in 1937.

wigwams

As a result, a total of seven Wigwam Villages were built between 1933 and 1949, of which three have survived. The lodgings for each additional village were thus built in the same format – in the shape of tipis – in what was to become a modern interpretation into the lifestyle of the Native Americans. Deemed as historic landmarks under the National Register of Historic Places, two of the three remaining motels are located on the iconic Route 66. Wigwam Village #6, in Holbrook, Arizona, where we had just stopped for the night is one of them. Arizona motel owner Chester Lewis built the village, fascinated by Redford’s original design. He purchased the rights from its rightful owner, by conceding to a novel agreement: the profits of the coin-operated radios installed in the Holbrook village would be sent to Redford as payment. Few decades later, the property is still operating.

inside wigwam

The units itself are fairly small – the size of any average hotel room. But this was no hotel room; it was a modern tipi of sorts, made out of solid materials on the outside, containing the original restored hickory furniture on the inside. Two double beds are included, cable TV and a window-mounted air conditioner. On the side, there is a desk with a mirror. Each unit includes a bathroom with a sink, toilet and shower. In keeping with the retro vibe, there are no telephones or Internet access.

And retro it is. Truly evoking the nostalgia of the 1930s American vacation, located on the historic Route 66, a stay inside the wigwam will take you back in time like few places of its kind will.

As for its surrounding attractions, once you hop back into your automobile to continue on your American West journey, the Petrified Forest National Park is nearby, as well as the monumental Grand Canyon, Arizona’s most celebrated site.

Photos provided by Monica Suma and Wigwam Motel/Credit Beth Lennon