Dean and his wife Ashley recently signed on to build Ferncrest Chattooga – a new location in Lyerly, Georgia, about 45 minutes west of Rome and a couple hours from Atlanta.
One of the first things I like to do after a franchise agreement is signed is jump on a plane and walk the property with the owner. Sure, tools like Google Earth are helpful… but nothing compares to physically standing on the land, seeing the views, feeling the layout, and walking the terrain yourself.
So, the other week, I took a quick day trip to do just that with Dean…
Fly in. Drive out.
Walk the site. Brainstorm ideas.
Capture content. Fly home.
This is the story of that visit – and how these trips help shape the blueprint for building a glampground like Ferncrest from the ground up.
First, here are some of the basics…
Dean’s land is already in a good place—literally and logistically.
There are two clearings already cut, and a road leading in (overgrown, yes, but a solid foundation).
Zoning is friendly. Permitting should be smooth. And even though it’s rural, it has city water. That’s rare.
So the biggest lift ahead is figuring out septic. But with good soil drainage, we’re in great shape there, too.
What Happens on a Site Visit Like This?
When I walk the land with a new owner, here’s what we do:
- Merge their vision with our experience: What’s realistic for Phase 1? What can the land actually support?
- Sketch out the business model: Where will the dome tents go? How many? What about the bathhouse, camp store, cabins?
- Think in phases: Build what’s necessary to get to cash flow fast, and expand over time.
- Tailor to the owner and region: Dean’s thinking about pickleball courts, which we’re hearing more and more—those local choices matter.
- Capture content: This isn’t just planning—it’s also marketing. We filmed Dean’s story on-site because telling it early is part of what drives excitement, bookings, and even press.
A great example is what we did (and are still doing) with Ferncrest Flint Creek and Ferncrest Acadia—millions of views and counting.
Ferncrest Chattooga is next.
Two Plans, One Goal
Once I got back, our team started sketching the site plan. Right now, we’re working through two layout options for Phase 1—balancing tent placement, view, privacy, and speed-to-build.
Below is an example of what an initial siteplan draft looks like so you can see how this goes from idea to execution.
This site visit is just the first of many steps in helping a new glampground owner bring their vision to life. When done right, laying out the site is one of the most important parts of setting a property up for success – balancing aesthetics, infrastructure, and long-term growth.
As we move deeper into the planning and building of Ferncrest Chattooga, we’ll continue documenting the process and sharing updates so you can follow along – and learn from it, too.
We also filmed the site walk and my conversation with Dean about why he and his wife Ashley are building this glampground. The land may be raw now, but the potential is real – and we’re excited to show you what’s ahead.
→ Watch the video on YouTube
Happy Glamping,
Brian & Joanna Linton
