Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
You Can Now Sleep In A Tiny House On Governors Island
By
Jen Carlson
Published Aug 30, 2019
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Collective Retreats
View all 7
By
Jen Carlson
Published Aug 30, 2019
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Last year, Governors Island got a new attraction (which returned this year): a luxury campground, courtesy of Collective Retreats. The set-up is simple, with rustic-looking small (Journey) and large (Summit) tents dotting the waterfront grounds, all centered around a main "lodge" that offers a bar, dining area, and reading nook. Some Adirondack chairs are strewn about the lawn, facing the Manhattan skyline across the river. The elevated camping experience — offering the unique opportunity of sleeping over on the island during off-hours — features real beds, a little electric stove for warmth, and other amenities you won't find in a standard camping tent.
And now, there's a newer, more expensive option: the Outlook Shelters.
These just debuted, and Collective Retreats declare they are "the most luxurious offering" they've got. As of this weekend, they're open for business, and will remain so through October 31st, when Governors Island closes for the season. Here's the press release language they offered up:
The new transformational hotel room that creates a luxury indoor/outdoor experience in the most spectacular settings, offers over 400 square-feet of luxury guest offerings where indoor architecture seamlessly compliments outdoor grandeur with design-forward fully sheltered structures. The Outlook Shelters’ innovative design, with dual private landscaped decks, allows it to be placed front and center in the most spectacular settings in the U.S. The Nordic style structure evokes a mid-century modern design and is designed with black corrugated metal and Brazilian hardwood accents. The rooms will feature 10-foot ceilings, white-washed pine walls and a luxurious soaking tub, elevating the Collective Retreats experience beyond the comforts found in the Summit Tents.
That is 200-square-feet more than my actual apartment, and it also has two private decks (outfitted with Yeti coolers, Hay furniture and Pendleton blankets), which is two more decks than I have in my actual apartment.
You'll also get fancy bath products, a curated in-room library (a.k.a. bookshelf), and a private boat over to the Island from Pier 25 in Manhattan. And did you see that bathtub? Move over, "best bath in NYC."
So what's the catch? It's a very common catch: things cost money. And nice things costs more money. And this nice thing costs $595 and up. And expect it to be "and up"... currently, a random weeknight in September shows the following pricing: Journey Tent at $169/night, Summit Tent at $459/night, and Outlook Shelter at $699/night.
Can't spend most of your monthly rent on one night? For a little less, over in Rockaway, you can get a glamping experience for around $250/night.
Tagged
governors island
glamping
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
The hottest way to show you're an authentic New Yorker is… riding a Citi Bike?
Thanks to Dua Lipa, Kim Kardashian, Timothée Chalamet and more, the rideshare program is having a moment.
By
Lindsay Lee Wallace
Published Oct 8, 2026
Is NYC’s hottest attraction the free observation deck at 1 Centre Street?
If you're playing tourist in your own town, this is an in-demand option.
By
James Ramsay
Arts & Entertainment
Is NYC’s hottest attraction the free observation deck at 1 Centre Street?
If you're playing tourist in your own town, this is an in-demand option.
By
James Ramsay
What happens when NYC kids take lessons in rock music? Really good bands.
By
Jayson Greene
Inside a photographer's journey to visit every neighborhood in New York City
By
Sonia Rao
Banned books and Winnie the Pooh: October in NYC libraries
By
Alec Hamilton
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .