This week we posted a new YouTube video that takes you on the first site planning trip for Ferncrest Chambers Creek in Grandview, Texas.
In this newsletter I want to use that trip to show how we actually assess land for a Ferncrest level glampground, then invite you to watch the full walkthrough.
1. Location First, Magic Second
Chambers Creek is not Yosemite or Jackson Hole. It is about an hour from Dallas Fort Worth, which means a huge drive market and real revenue potential.
That is the first question we ask on any project:
Can this land deliver a meaningful nature escape within a reasonable drive of a large population center?
If yes, then it is worth doing the deeper work.
2. Topography and Buildability
The land is beautiful. Rolling hills, water, trees, open fields. It also drops about 70 feet from top to bottom.
In the video you see us walking the property with flags, testing routes and tent placements while asking:
- Where do guests park, then walk first?
- How steep is the path to the bathhouse at night?
- Which views are worth a slightly longer walk, and which are not?
A lot of independent operators get hurt here. A layout that looks great on a drone shot can be a nightmare to operate and miserable for guests.
3. Utilities and Hard Reality
This property is raw. It has an old steel bridge from the 1800s, remnants of past use, and even a surprise active water line we discovered on camera.
To turn it into a Ferncrest, we need:
- Septic, water distribution, and power to each site
- Graded roads and guest paths
- Parking that actually works in high season
- Drainage that respects the topography
A glampground is, at its core, a utilities and access project wrapped in an experience. If you get utilities and circulation wrong, everything else gets more expensive and more frustrating.
4. Guest Flow and Experience Layering
Once the basics work, we start layering in the experience.
At Chambers Creek that means:
- A looped walkway around the pond serving multiple domes
- A creekfront relaxation zone
- A bridge platform with sauna and cold plunge
- Communal fire areas and potentially a zen garden
We want every Ferncrest to feel like it unfolds as you walk. The site plan is not just a map. It is the script for how a guest discovers the property.
5. The 3 Month Push
The Chambers Creek team wants to open in about three months. It is possible, but only if:
- Site work, utilities, and platforms move fast
- Materials show up on time
- We ramp marketing and training in parallel
Our job as franchisor is to keep pace, support aggressively, and avoid the trap of racing to open without being ready for guests.
If you are serious about building a glampground, this episode is one of the clearest looks at what the early stage actually looks like. Watch it here now.
Seeing the early layout come together on this land has created real momentum in the community around it, and you can already feel the excitement building for when the doors finally open.
Evidence of this is the fact that our Ferncrest Chambers Creek Founders Pass has already grown to nearly 400 members. This is our prelaunch marketing efforts that are going to play a huge role in launching this property when it’s ready to accept bookings.
If you want to learn more about what a “Founder Pass” is, or simply follow the journey more closely, check out the Founder Pass page here (make sure you put your email in to see the next page that follows).
Happy Glamping,
Brian
