The debate over the rise of glamping sites in America’s national parks and deserts: the protests in Bar Harbor, Maine and development projects in the Joshua Tree Desert, California
Sustainable Travel – the case of US legislation against glamping on public natural sites
Glamping is an option of sustainable travel. A prevailing trend in contemporary outdoor leisure activities is referred to as a blend of the words: ‘glamorous’ and ‘camping’. The concept behind it is straightforward: individuals are willing to pay substantial fees, ranging from $175 to as high as $3,999 per night, for the privilege of lodging in lavish campgrounds featuring amenities akin to those found in hotels.
These can encompass luxuries such as televisions, gourmet meals, and even the services of a maid. However, this recent fad has come under criticism from many who view it as contradicting the inclusive and accessible ethos traditionally associated with national and state parks.
United States, Maine: residents express considerable concern over the rise of glamping sites – Sustainable Tourism
The focus of glamping has been especially concentrated on towns surrounding Acadia National Park, including Surry, where Under Canvas now resides, and Tremont, home to Acadia Wilderness Lodge. Sarah Dusek, CEO of Under Canvas, expressed in 2019 that the East Coast had long awaited such camp locations, with Acadia National Park being the most requested national park location. A fresh proposal, scheduled for a public hearing on June 5 in Lamoine, introduces 90 domed units.
These domes would include amenities like a restaurant, spa, employee housing, and ‘activity domes’ where guests can indulge in bird-watching and stargazing, nestled amidst the trees on a 230-acre site (with only 12 acres earmarked for development, leaving the majority as open space) along Partridge Cove. Each guest dome would offer the comfort of a typical New York City apartment, featuring 425 to 845 square feet of floor space, complete with electricity, air conditioning, fireplaces, and private bathrooms.
The National Park Service is under pressure – US’ need for new regulations regarding glamping tents activities
These sites fall into a new regulatory category, not quite a campground nor a hotel, leading many communities to struggle with the development of ordinances, and some even grappling with how to assess canvas tents for tax purposes.
Proponents of glamping view it as a way to broaden camping accessibility beyond the traditional market, especially for individuals with mobility issues who still desire the outdoor experience under the night sky. The National Park Service has been receiving an increasing number of requests for accessible campsites that feature stable, level surfaces devoid of roots or rocks, as well as specially designed fire pits, picnic tables, and trash receptacles.
Niche and luxury does not translate to sustainable. Clear Sky Acadia – The glamping project in Bar Harbor, Maine by Clear Sky Resorts
Clear Sky Resorts is a company that owns a 45-tent glampground near the Grand Canyon. Glampgrounds have stirred controversy in the area lately, with residents expressing concerns about fire safety, wastewater treatment, noise, and traffic. Acadia National Park has been drawing millions of visitors annually for years. Until recently, most of this activity was centered around Bar Harbor, Maine, the traditional hub for tourists from all corners of the globe.
However, there’s a shift occurring, with tourists increasingly exploring the quiet side of Mount Desert Island and neighboring communities across the bridge. Property owners and developers have recognized this trend and started catering to those seeking to explore the areas around the park, leading to the proliferation of short-term rentals in various communities across the county. Bar Harbor’s recent regulations on short-term rentals, which limited the number of allowed units in the town, have also pushed investors into nearby unregulated towns.
Protecting America’s national parks: Citizens Against Terramor concern over water supply and wetland impacts
«We are America’s parks, and we belong to the people», emphasized Jeremy Buzzell, chief of the Park Service’s National Accessibility Branch. «For us to have any segment of the population not able to access them, that undermines our passion and purpose». The CEO of Kampgrounds of America, Inc., which owns the Terramor brand, launched its flagship luxury camping resort in Bar Harbor in 2020 and has plans to expand across the country.
The company recently withdrew an application for a similar resort in the Catskills due to concerns that the project ‘did not meet criteria across several key benchmarks to warrant moving forward’, as reported in local news. Residents had formed a group, Citizens Against Terramor, to oppose the plans, citing concerns over water supply and wetland impacts. A similar group of concerned residents is forming in Lamoine since the area is «too big and overdeveloped» citizens complain.
The war on glamping site Wonder Inn Luxury Resort in the Joshua Tree Desert, California
The California desert near Joshua Tree is facing a number of massive development projects that, if built, could change the area and the ecosystem irrevocably. One of the biggest projects is the proposed Wonder Inn Luxury Resort, a massive 42,120 square-foot hotel with 106 rooms with accompanying restaurant, pool, spa, event facilities, and 205-space parking lot.
If approved by the San Bernardino Planning Commission, the Wonder Inn would commercialize about 25 acres of desert land that are currently largely dedicated to rural living. Local backlash towards the resort has been swift, constant and passionate.
Residents are deeply unsettled by the economic, environmental and cultural impact such a massive build could have. Any development should preserve the character and history of the area and in most cases, developers are going to ignore that. Community members worry about the accompanying noise pollution, light pollution and traffic that would surely accompany the resort.
Profit for some, loss for many. The socioeconomic disparity between locals and customer base
Adding up to all this is the huge economic incentive to develop the area, capitalizing off of the Joshua Tree tourism industry while neglecting to consider the needs or concerns of locals. The area figures as a blank spot on the map – now a travel destination – that they see a way to tap into for profit.
In most cases, the basins count a very high percentage of people living at or below the poverty line. The Joshua Tree region already suffers from officials’ reticence to cap short term rentals, which constitute about one-third of the housing stock in Joshua Tree.
Sustainable Travel – Glamping is bad only when it’s forced upon preserved areas. Potential environmental impacts
The area surrounding the Joshua Tree Desert could face damage to the endangered local desert tortoise population, the store of native Joshua trees and other vulnerable desert wildlife. Groups are concerned about the burden that such a massive development and over tourism could place on the already-underfunded fire department, law enforcement agency and the local water supply.
Beyond that, key concerns revolve around the risk that initial modifications would also trigger more and more development and forever change Wonder Valley. Developers already own in excess of 130 additional acres and have floated tentative plans to eventually build a new neighborhood composed of around 20 villas. The fight to stop Wonder Valley, however, is emblematic of larger changes in rural California.
Glamping in California – the pandemic amplified the preference for rural and isolated stays
«During the pandemic, when people were turning to places in California as a form of retreat, these projects started popping up like mushrooms in the rain» says Chris Clarke, the Associate Director of the California Desert Program with the National Parks Conservation Association. Clarke offered crucial advice against what he’s calling the colonization of the Joshua Tree area, to another community group hoping to stop the development of a 75-site glamping compound on 640 acres of land zoned for rural living in nearby Flamingo Heights.
In April 2021, Flamingo Heights residents got a notice about a new development in the area, with the prospect showing luxe glamping tents, a possible music venue and a helipad. The residents fear that these projects are made by developers who don’t live in the area and who don’t have as much respect for it. The risk is that there’ll be no more community to invest in in the future if these types of projects come about.
Glamping
An upscale form of accommodation that offers amenities that surpass the typical features associated with conventional camping. It has raised concerns from some communities that are pushing back on plans to develop glampgrounds on national parks and protected natural areas.
