At Ferncrest, we’re constantly balancing the fine line between rustic charm and glamping luxury.
Our guests come for the nature, but they also expect comfort. And while our existing two bathhouses have served us well for the first couple of seasons, we know it’s time to level up.
Why Add Another Bathhouse?
- Elevating the Guest Experience – Our current bathhouses get the job done, but they lean a little too rustic. As we continue refining the Ferncrest experience, we want to enhance comfort without losing the outdoor feel that makes glamping special.
- Strategic Location for Premium Tents – Right now, our two bathhouses are at the entrance and lower section of the property. That means guests staying in some of our premium dome tents still have to walk a few hundred yards to access facilities. While this hasn’t hurt our reviews, we see an opportunity to make their stay even better by placing a bathhouse closer.
- Extending Our Season with Winter-Ready Infrastructure – Unlike our other bathhouses, this new one will be fully insulated, allowing us to keep a cluster of domes open year-round. Since there’s no plumbing inside the domes themselves, we only need to heat the bathhouse, making winter operations more efficient and profitable.
The Investment Breakdown
- Prefabricated Bathhouse – $50,000
- New Septic System – $30,000
- Site Prep, Utilities, and Installation – $5,000 – $10,000
Total investment: $85,000 – $90,000
The Long-Term Payoff
By keeping a select number of domes open through winter, this investment will generate additional revenue that should cover its cost within a few years. Plus, it strengthens Ferncrest as a premier model for our franchisees, showing what’s possible with smart infrastructure upgrades.
A Model for the Future
We’re not just building this bathhouse for ourselves – this is the same prefabricated model we’re now offering to franchisees and other glampground owners. It’s luxurious but not over-the-top, affordable but not cheap, quick and easy to install. It’s designed to solve a problem that many outdoor hospitality operators face (if you are perhaps interested in one, just shoot me a response to this email).
Fast-Track Timeline
We’re breaking ground on the septic system in the next few weeks (waiting on the frost to thaw) and aiming for a crazy-fast turnaround to have this ready by our April 5th opening date. The prefabricated design helps us move quickly, and we’ll be documenting every step along the way.
Follow along on social media for updates, and stay tuned for more behind-the-scenes insights in upcoming newsletters.
Here’s to smarter investments and better guest experiences!
Happy Glamping
– Brian & Joanna Linton
