This week my team and I spent a few days at Ferncrest Flint Creek in Oklahoma, hosting a Discovery Day for people interested in franchising Ferncrest.
But this newsletter isn’t about Discovery Day. It’s about Sean and Chris Delano, the father-and-son duo who built this remarkable property — and what their story can teach anyone thinking about starting a glampground.
The Land Most People Would Have Skipped
Flint Creek is just seven acres – and a road cuts straight through it.
Most people would have taken one look and said, “There’s no way this will work.”
But Sean and Chris saw something different. On one edge of the property runs a quiet creek… this is the same creek where Chris spent his childhood summers swimming and fishing.
When the land came up for sale, they didn’t see a problem.
They saw possibility… and a chance to bring a family story full circle.
They bought it without knowing what it would become. Maybe it would just be a place to camp. Maybe an RV park. But when another RV park opened nearby, they pivoted – and found Ferncrest.
Turning Limitations into Beauty
The “creek side” of their land is bordered by a steep rock bluff. Below it floods regularly and above it is just a narrow strip of usable ground between the bluff and the road.
For most developers, that would be a dealbreaker. But dome tents changed everything.
They were light, modular, and could sit safely on elevated platforms overlooking the water. The perfect solution.
Soon they added five domes by the creek – and then turned their attention to the other side of the road. That side was nothing but a horse field with a few trees, some drainage runoff, and piles of old trash. Today, that same area is home to seven domes, a wellness center, playground, bathhouse, and a camp store.
What was once unusable is now unforgettable.
The Real Lesson
Here’s what I took away:
You do need some natural beauty – but beauty comes in many forms.
A road, a bluff, or a patch of swampy ground might seem like a dealbreaker. But with imagination and grit, those constraints can become your creative framework.
That’s the heart of entrepreneurship.
Not waiting for perfect conditions – but creating something special with what you have.
As I said during my recent talk at the Glamping Show in Colorado:
“People won’t remember your perfection. They’ll remember how you made them feel.”
Sean and Chris’s story is proof of that.
So if you’ve been sitting on the sidelines waiting for perfect land, stop waiting.
Get creative. Get scrappy.
Because your “imperfect” piece of property might just be the next unforgettable glamping destination.
Happy Glamping,
Brian Linton
