How to Prep for Winter Glamping

It’s bloody cold up here in Western Canada. But that doesn’t stop people from glamping.

Blackstrap Glamping in Saskatchewan is proof of that. Guests experience temperatures as low as -40°F during the bitter winter months. And they still love it.

There’s great money to be made in winter glamping, but there are loads of pitfalls too. Most of those you only learn from experience.

Today’s dispatch will give you two seasons worth of winter operating experience, without you having to lift a finger. Josh Turner, Blackstrap’s owner, is coming out of his second season of winter ops. He’s taking over from me this week, and he’ll teach you everything you need to know to survive and thrive through cold season.

Oh, and you’ll want to stick around for The Posh Report. It’s a good one this week.

P.S. Josh consults through iCANglamp. Shoot him an email at [email protected] if you’d like 1-to-1 help with winter glamping, or any other aspect of building an outdoor resort.

Take it away, Josh.

The Unknowns of Operating a Glamping Resort in Winter - and What We Learned

Hi Insiders, Josh here.

Let’s get into it!

The idea of winter glamping sounds like something out of a dream, snowflakes gently cascading outside a panoramic dome window, guests wrapped in cozy blankets, sipping steaming cups of cocoa by a crackling fire. Even better? The potential to generate revenue year-round by offering a magical cold-weather retreat.

However, before you take the chilly plunge into winter glamping operations, there are several crucial factors to consider. From infrastructure challenges to daily operations and guest experience, winter presents a unique set of unknowns that can quickly turn your winter wonderland into a logistical nightmare.

1) Pre-Planning for Construction: The Hidden Costs of Cold-Weather Infrastructure

If you're building from scratch, winter readiness starts long before your first snowfall. Failing to plan for the harsh realities of freezing temperatures can result in costly repairs, guest complaints, and operational headaches.

Deep Utility Lines: In colder climates, water and septic lines need to be buried well below the frost line to prevent freezing. Shallow installations can lead to burst pipes, expensive repairs, and unexpected closures. If you're using a holding tank, ensure this has an insulation factor to it as well. The last thing you want is when your septic truck shows up to have a big block of ice in there.

Foundation Considerations: If you're using glamping domes, cabins, or yurts, consider how snow accumulation and frozen ground affect structural stability. Frost heaving also needs to be considered as to not crack your foundation or move your inner walls. If you're using screw piles, you need to ensure they go deeper than the frost line.

Power Needs: Winter requires more electricity for heating, lighting (shorter days), and additional guest needs. Ensure your grid or off-grid systems can handle the load.

Heating specs: Make sure you check the ratings of your heating system and what temperatures it can handle being at outside. We also recommend having back up systems in place in case one of the heating units stops working. We have three different heating systems in our domes to ensure a comfortable stay if something goes wrong with one.

Type of heating: The thought of a crackling fire in your glamping structure sounds amazing but make sure you check with your insurance and what inspections you would require. This will pertain to pellet stoves as well. The cost and timing of these inspections actually changed our choice of heating at the last minute and caused a lot of stress and pushed back bookings

Extra operational costs: Just know that if you are planning for Winter operations, that the cost will be higher to operate and operations become more difficult. Weigh those options in your pre planning

2) Building Phase: The Unexpected Challenges of Winter-Ready Glamping Structures

Even if your infrastructure is solid, building for winter presents unique challenges that many first-time glamping operators overlook.

Condensation Issues: The combination of warm indoor air and cold outdoor temperatures creates condensation inside domes, yurts, and cabins. Left unchecked, this moisture can lead to mold, mildew, and even structural damage. If you are operating a Glamping dome, you'll need to work out a system to catch the condensation of your front window as this is where most of your heat loss will occur.

Heated Utilities: Plumbing/ septic lines and utilities need to be heated to prevent from freezing. Even composting toilets need heat sources in sub-zero conditions.

Winter-Resistant Materials: Standard flooring, windows, and even insulation may not be designed for extreme cold. Cheap solutions fail fast. We recommend using a closed cell spray foam for your structure. This will act as a Vapor barrier to help with mold/ mildew and is a great insulation factor. This process isn't cheap but you won't regret spending the extra money at this time.

3) Day-to-Day Operations: The Reality of Keeping a Winter Glamp Site Running

Once guests arrive, keeping your glamping resort functional and comfortable in winter is a never-ending job.

Snow Removal: Guests expect pathways to be clear and safe, requiring constant plowing and shoveling especially after storms. If you don't have your own equipment for the job, create a good relationship with at least 3 snow removal companies to call on when an unexpected storm blows through.

Heated Storage for Linens & Supplies: Storing bedding, towels, and essentials in unheated storage areas is no fun for staff. Trying to find a king sized duvet in minus 50 feels like it takes an eternity.

Septic & Waste Management: On top of ensuring that your lines don't freeze, you need to ensure that these bigger trucks can get to your site in Winter to service them. In slick conditions, our septic truck has to take smaller loads to ensure he's safe to get to the dump station.

Plan in advance: Watch the weather and make sure you have a plan in place for when those Winter storms hit. Trying to find snow removal after a big dump will leave you extremely frustrated and maybe even cancelling reservations.

4) Guest Experience: The Surprises We didn't See Coming

Winter glamping guests are looking for a magical experience, but cold-weather surprises can quickly ruin their trip.

Winter Packages & Experiences: Guests expect more than just a warm place to stay. think sled rentals, snowshoeing, guided winter hikes, hot tubs or saunas. The more immersive the experience, the better the reviews.

Frozen Doors & Locks: Extreme cold can freeze door mechanisms shut, trapping guests outside their units (not ideal for customer satisfaction). Make sure you check with your supplier that your lock systems can handle the colder climates. Pro tip: Keep lock de-icer somewhere outside the guest's accommodation. This works great in a pinch.

 Vehicle Plug-Ins: Guests driving in sub-zero temperatures need plug-ins for their cars to prevent dead batteries. Also a great idea to provide extension cords at their accommodations in case they forgot theirs.

Heating Expectations: Guests may underestimate how cold it gets, leading to complaints about heating, extra blankets, and comfort issues. Make sure you explain in your welcome book or lead up email of exactly how to use the heating systems in place.

5) What We Wish We Had Done Differently

After running a winter glamping resort through two full Canadian winters, hindsight is 20/20. Here are the key lessons we wish we had known from the beginning:

• Invest Early in Proper Infrastructure. It can be expensive, but cutting corners will cost you more later. In both head aches and revenue.

• Have a Snow & Ice Management Plan Clearing paths, preventing ice buildup, and maintaining accessibility needs to be part of daily operations.

• Offer Winter-Specific Experiences. Guests will pay premium prices for a well-curated winter adventure.

• Anticipate Guest Needs Before They Ask. Heated storage, extra blankets, clear communication about cold weather challenges, these small details make a huge difference.

• Test EVERYTHING for the Extreme Cold. What works in mild fall weather might fail spectacularly at -55 C

Final Thoughts: Is Winter Glamping Worth It?

Absolutely. I know this article brings up all the difficulties in running a Winter glamping site but if you plan properly it can be very rewarding and set you apart from your competitors.

Winter glamping also offers huge revenue potential and an opportunity to create one-of-a-kind experiences, but it's not as simple as keeping the lights on year-round. If you're serious about running a successful winter glamping resort, preparation is everything and we hope that sharing our experience, helps you get there.

Want to avoid costly mistakes and set up your site for winter success? We'd love to help! Reach out, and let's chat about making your glamping resort winter-ready.

Think Josh can help with your glamping project? Email him at [email protected] for consulting packages.

📰 The Posh Report

Last week’s Posh Report told you how initial testing had gone brilliantly for Skyridge Glamping, the first Posh Outdoors location.

We charged people a $1 deposit to gain an exclusive discount and first access to the booking calendar. These deposit holders become “Skyridge VIPs.”

We’ve since raised the deposit to $35 CAD. The idea is that we make enough from deposits to completely cover the ad spend.

Sounds ridiculous, right?

Well we’re currently in the black!

Here are the stats from March 6th - 13th (all CAD):

• Amount spent: $6,958.10

• VIPs signed up: 211

• VIP deposit revenue: $7,385

• Email leads: 7,110

In short, our ads have built a highly-qualified waiting list of 211 people, AND we’ve made $426.90 in the process!

We’ll continue running this ad campaign until we open the booking calendar to VIPs. This will likely be late April / early May.

After our units open at Skyridge, we’ll be running this playbook at every future Posh Outdoors location.

Time is running out to invest in Posh. We’re closing our WeFunder round on April 30th.

Download our deck and schedule a call to learn more.