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Inside The New Glamping Tents On Governors Island
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jul 13, 2018
Modified Jul 16, 2018
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Jul 13, 2018
Modified Jul 16, 2018
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Governors Island has introduced a new feature this year: glamping, i.e. the luxury twist on traditional camping in which your tents typically feature a wooden floor, animal pelts, antler chandeliers, and nearby showers. The island's glampgrounds (which are still missing grass, as you'll see) have just opened for the season, and this week we dropped by for a look.
The company behind the glamping, Collective Retreats, has been allotted about eight acres of land on the island, which currently closes to the non-glamping public after dark. In announcing the glamp plan earlier this year, Michael Samuelian, President and CEO of the Trust for Governors Island, envisioned a future in which Governors Island is always open overnight—"As we continue to expand our season and the diversity of our offerings, today’s announcement is an important step towards realizing our vision for a year-round, 24/7 Governors Island for all New Yorkers.”
For now, you'll only get that 24/7 experience if you can shell out at least a couple hundred for one of these tents—currently prices range from $75 on weekdays (though we only see as low as $199 right now) to over $800 for the larger tents on weekend nights. And an even more luxurious "Outlook Shelter" tent offering is coming soon, as well.
At the press event earlier this week, they offered a tasting of the menu, which includes chicken fingers, vegan corn soup, risotto balls, scallops, and short rib crostini. (Meals cost extra, including this BBQ-in-a-box). Of note: they get their fish every other day from Montauk, and also source other ingredients locally.
While the grounds aren't fully landscaped yet, they've turned this gravel pit area into a nice looking space in just a few months. There's also a Three Peaks lodge (where you can get a $120 prix fixe meal), a beanbag toss... and you can't beat that view.
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glamping
governors island
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Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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