When Joanna and I started Ferncrest, we knew there would be challenges, but there are some lessons we could have only learned through experience.
Two years later, we’ve seen what works and what doesn’t, and we want to share some of these hard-earned insights with you—especially if you’re considering starting your own glampground.
Our goal? Help you avoid some of the costly mistakes we made, so your journey is smoother from day one.
Lesson 1: Novelty vs. Durability—Why Quality Matters in Hospitality
When we first opened Ferncrest, we invested over $30,000 in 6 hot tubs. At the time, they seemed like the perfect addition—a luxurious touch to elevate the guest experience. Fast forward two years, and we’re replacing them.
Why?
The quality of the models we bought simply didn’t stand up to the wear and tear of daily use in a hospitality setting.
The reality is, hospitality puts a unique strain on your amenities. Things that work perfectly in a residential setting can quickly break down in a commercial one.
The lesson?
Invest in durability from the start, even if it means paying more upfront. This saves you from the frustration—and financial burden—of replacing things too soon.
That’s why we redesigned our hot tubs completely.
Our new model, with a stainless steel liner and internal wood stove, offers more longevity and less maintenance. It’s a design rooted in solving the problems we faced with our original choice.
Lesson 2: Know When to Replace vs. Reinvent
One of the realities of running a glampground is that some things, like linens, need frequent replacement. You can’t avoid it. But other items—big investments like furniture, appliances, or yes, hot tubs—should last a lot longer. Understanding when to replace versus reinvent is crucial.
For us, hot tubs were a major reinvention. We didn’t just replace them; we rethought how they were designed to better fit a glamping business.
For you, it might be something different—a unique layout, a more practical choice in furnishings, or a smarter utility setup. But the principle is the same: Don’t just throw more money at the problem; fix it at the root.
Lesson 3: Not Everything Has to Be Perfect from Day One
One of the biggest barriers for anyone starting a glampground is the fear of getting everything right from the beginning.
Here’s the truth: You won’t. And that’s okay. We’ve learned more from our mistakes at Ferncrest than from our successes. From equipment choices to guest experiences, the goal is to keep improving.
If you’re waiting for everything to be perfect before you launch, you might never start. What matters more is that you’re willing to learn and adapt along the way. Your guests will appreciate the improvements you make over time, and so will your bottom line.
We Learned These Lessons So You Don’t Have To
The good news? You don’t have to make these same mistakes. That’s exactly why we created the GlampLaunch Accelerator—to give you all the tools, resources, and real-world insights that we wish we’d had when we started.
By learning from our experiences, you’ll be able to launch with confidence, knowing you’re building your glampground the right way from the start. So, if you’ve been on the sidelines, joining us for the Accelerator may be the perfect way to take that next step to start preparing for your life-changing glamping business!
This program will be launching very (very) soon and we can’t wait to share more about it with you! If you want to be the first to get notified, be sure to join the waitlist here.
Happy Glamping!
Brian & Joanna Linton
P.S. If you want to see the full breakdown of our hot tub experience, be sure to check out our latest YouTube video below!
