DEFUNIAK SPRINGS, FLA.—The Florida Panhandle has a new glamping destination. Twin Lakes Camp Resort has just completed the installation of seven luxury glamping tents, each of which is furnished with a king size bed with a large decorative 100 year old sinker pine wood frame, fine linens, a full bathroom and kitchenette with hot water on demand, a small refrigerator and a microwave oven. The units also come equipped with air-conditioning, ceiling fans, indoor and outdoor dimmable LED lighting, as well as a heavy gauge outdoor grill for cooking a meal.
“It has taken us close to two months to install these ‘Eco-tents,’ which we imported from Australia. They sit on elevated platforms with all the comforts of a hotel or your house,” said park co-owner Patrick O’Neill, who has been working the past two years to transform Twin Lakes Camp Resort from a traditional campground into a glamping resort destination that features luxurious Eco-tents as well as private cabin suites and lake house rentals. The seven new Eco-tents complement two other glamping tents that were installed four years ago.
O’Neill said four of the tents, which are close to the lake, are for adults only, while five other Eco-tents are set 250 feet back from the lake and are designed for families with children. The adults only Eco-tents also include bathtubs while the family tents have showers.
Meant to Appeal to All Ages
“We think these units will appeal to people of all ages throughout the Southeast,” O’Neill said, adding that Twin Lakes Camp Resort typically draws campers from Orlando to Atlanta or within about six hours of the resort.
O’Neill said he is transitioning Twin Lakes Camp Resort into a glamping resort because that’s what more and more consumers want: experience-based vacations.
“I try to watch what’s going on in the industry and listen to my customers,” he said. “We’re finding that more and more people want to be outdoors, and they want to experience non-RV accommodations. So, we are marketing to people who are looking for awesome outdoor experiences.”
The resort’s amenities include boat and kayak rentals; an activity center with kitchen facilities, a swimming pool, and a bathhouse with wine barrel sinks with copper basins; laundry facilities; and a boutique store with souvenirs, camping supplies and a selection of grocery items, such as coffee, ice cream, refreshments, homemade jams, specialty jerky and old fashioned candies.
