Why is your F.A.Q. so candid and why should I read it?
The real question is why aren't all FAQs transparent, informative and 100% candid? We want to exceed guest expectations and find campers that are seeking our curated experience, all while weeding out potential guests that won't have said experience. We read somewhere, from someone way smarter than us, that square pegs don't fit in round holes. Are you the peg to our hole? Read on!
What is "Glamping?" And is it right for me?
Glamping is a combination of the terms "glamorous" and "camping." You WILL be camping, but our version of camping is as comfortable as camping can be! Camping Simplified is what we call it. Welcome to Glamping Unplugged!
Which category do you fall into?
1. NEW TO CAMPING: This is the best way to get your feet wet! You may be stepping slightly outside your comfort zone, but not to worry, your comfort is paramount, we have thought ahead and your payoff awaits! Consider "Glamping" the kiddie pool, you simply are not ready for the deep-end of buying gear, planning what to bring and lugging supplies! We did all the thinking for you and will provide you a checklist. Arrive with an open-mind and your time may be transformative, you're welcome. Welcome to Glamping Unplugged!
2. CAMPING REGULARS: Glamping will be next-level for you! You will be in your element, but with NO lugging around a tent, cooler, pillows, blankets, etc. The hard work is already done and a King/Queen +/- Bunks await you. More time for the fun stuff. Note to yourself: This is when you reserve and click your heels. Now would be a good time. Go ahead, we will wait... Welcome to Glamping Unplugged!
3. HYBRID: Maybe you are experienced, but your better half isn't or you are bringing kids camping for the first time? Jump in, the water is warm (figuratively, not always literally). Arrive optimistic and with kid's eyes. You will leave recharged and reconnected and with the payoff under your belt. Welcome to Glamping Unplugged!
THE SMALL PRINT (in bold and in regular type size): If the thought of encountering a bug visitor concerns you, glamping-camping is probably not your cup of tea. Probably best to stay in your lane and rent a cabin. If "Glamping" does NOT elicit excitement and poke your adventurous side, more than likely we are not for you (woomp, woomp, sad face, sad face). No worries, let's part as friends and not force anything. Glamping-Camping is not for everyone, we understand this! But promise us that you will find another way to disconnect, recharge and immerse yourself in nature outside of our curated experience.
What We Provide:
- An Instagram-worthy, nature-immersive experience;
- A primitive, semi-private camping site (1 of only 3) on 8.5 acres in Deep Gap or (1 of only 2) on 12 acres in Fleetwood, each with 1200+ feet of trout stream (that's like 1/4 mile);
- 200-300 square foot, 9'-10' tall, steel, geodesic dome tent insulated on a huge deck;
- King Beds, Queen Beds, Bunk Beds & bunk cots (depending on the dome, see below) with Linens, Pillows, Comforter and Towels provided;
- Fire Pit and/or Chimenea or PYRO TOWER, Outdoor Seating including Hammocks;
- Charcoal grill, well-insulated cooler, board games, compostable bowls, cutlery and cups;
- A 22,000mAh battery-powered USB power packs (to recharge lighting, cells and interior fans);
- Camping wipes to deodorize yourself (or use the stream!) & a new, private port-o-let toilet (private for your own use); and
- All the nature one needs and maybe a little bit of whimsy along the way!
* Firewood provided during the winter months ONLY (Nov thru mid-April), firewood and starter logs for the tent stove Domes, but NOT for the fire pits. You are responsible for fire wood for the fire pits. We will only provide enough firewood for the tent stove to keep you warm in bed!
What We Do NOT Provide:
- Electricity. We provide rechargeable USB battery packs to illuminate your tent at night, charge your iPhones and get your camping fans moving during the summer months.
- Plumbing. Bring Your Own Water. The stream is crystal clean for bathing (not drinking and you CANNOT USE SOAP) - we provide towelettes to clean your underarms properly and we provide a brand new port-o-john (cleaned daily) and toilet paper. Per guests "it's not a perfect solution, but it works perfectly."
- WiFi. You are already over-connected and this is the time to reconnect via a disconnect. Reignite romance, breathe in nature, spark conversation, play a board game, make S'Mores. Reconnect and soak in anything but 5G. This is why you chose Glamping Unplugged! We promise there will be a connection, just not via Alexa.
- Firewood for the fire pits or chimeneas! We provide firewood ONLY for the interior tent stoves in the winter months. "Reiterating."
What You Should Bring:
- Water, and plenty of it (BYO-H2O). You will be 15 minutes from grocery stores (such as Food Lion on Old 421 S in Boone NC). And we supply a heavy-duty pull-cart to bring items to your Dome.
- Ice for the cooler (10 pounds/night). Charcoal for the grill. Spices and food for the grill. Cooking pots and pans and a way to make your coffee (or go cold coffee). A bathing suit and fishing pole!
- A camera phone! You will want to share your Instagram-worthy photos with friends and family. And if you tag photos of your family enjoying your camping/glamping experience @glampingunplugged or with #glampingunplugged, and share with us directly via text or IG, we can refund a little or discount a future stay.
- A flashlight, umbrellas and raincoat (in case of inclement weather).
- Cooking gear to reiterate (pots, pans, oil, spices, salt & pepper).
- Firewood for the chimenea or fire pit (we provide wood for the tent stove only). We see a lot of guests buy and bring a 6-pack of quick burn logs. Simply leave what you dont use and we will simply refund you. Best to be safe!
- BUG SPRAY and plenty of it, just in case.
- The correct mindset. We realize many of you are camping for the first time and this excites us. Camping is an experience, just have fun with it. Go with the flow. We promise the payoff at the end!
| DEEP GAP/ELK CREEK: Dome Choices | "Original" | "TreeHouse" | "Starry Nights" |
| Will Plant 1 Tree for Your Booking | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sleeps 4 (King + Bunk Beds) | Yes | Yes | - |
| Sleeps 4 (Queen + 2 bunk COTS) | - | - | Yes |
| Dome Diameter | 20' | 20' | 16' |
| "Built-In Deck" Cargo Net Hammocks | - | Yes | - |
| 8' Privacy Wall Inside the Dome | Yes | - | - |
| Winterized: Tent Stove + Insulation | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wood Provided for Tent Stove ONLY | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pillow + Linens + Blankets | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Chargers + Lighting + Personal Fan | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Shower Wipes + Private Toilet | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Charcoal Grill + Cooler | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Creek View | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| On the Creek w/ Stairs into the Creek | Yes | Yes | - |
| Actual Tree House Over the Creek | - | Yes | - |
| Fire Pit | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wood Provided for Fire Pit | - | - | - |
| Deck Chimney (Retro or PyroTower) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wood Provided for Deck Chimney | - | - | - |
| Outdoor Seating + Hammock(s) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Arrive Open-Minded! | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Nature-immersive, eco-friendly, outdoorsy, camping experience | Yes!!! | Yes!!! | Yes!!! |
| FLEETWOOD: Dome Choices | "FamilyDome" | "Getaway Dome" | "Tiny AF: A-Frame" |
| Will Plant 1 Tree for Your Booking | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sleeps 4 (King + Bunk Beds) | Yes | Yes | - |
| Sleeps 5 (King + 3 single bunks) | Yes | - | - |
| Sleeps 2-3 | - | - | Queen + Hammock |
| "Built-In Deck" Cargo Net Hammocks | - | Yes | Yes |
| 8' Privacy Wall Inside the Dome | Yes | Yes | - |
| Winterized: Tent Stove + Insulation | - | Yes | Yes |
| Wood Provided for Tent Stove ONLY (winter months) | - | Yes | Yes |
| Pillow + Linens + Blankets | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Chargers + Lighting + Personal Fan | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Shower Wipes + Private Toilet | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Charcoal Grill + Cooler | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Creek View | Yes | Yes | - |
| On the Creek | Yes | Yes | - |
| - | - | - | |
| Fire Pit | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wood Provided for Fire Pit | - | - | - |
| Deck Chimney (Retro or PyroTower) | - | - | Yes |
| Wood Provided for Deck Chimney | - | - | - |
| Outdoor Seating + Hammock(s) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Arrive Open-Minded! | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Nature-immersive, eco-friendly, outdoorsy, camping experience | Yes!!! | Yes!!! | Yes!!! |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
- I prefer to book through AIRBNB, is that OK? Sure (and it is a great spot to read real reviews) and so we have a link in the menu bar!
- Are you Family Friendly? Absolutely!
- Are you Pet Friendly? Yes, with an additional, one-time $25-35 fee. and, however, our insurance requires certain breed restrictions. We are sorry and will continue to look for alternative insurers that will allow the larger "protective breeds." Pre-approval required for all dogs over 45 pounds.
- Are you open year-round? Yes, 4 of 5 domes are fully insulated (floor & walls) and have a tent stove. WINTER IGLOO CAMPING!
- Do I need 4x4? Deep Gap, NO (we located off a paved, state-maintained road). Fleetwood: YES, but only during winter months is 4x4 required (a lot of gravel, no low sports cars either).
- What is different about Tiny AF (A-Frame)? Tiny AF is a stick-built A-Frame camping cabin with nice views and a huge cargo net hammock and located in Fleetwood and is either 4x4 REQUIRED or requires strenuous steep uphill hiking ... it's no joke, pack light for a hike or drive a 4x4 with clearance. It sleeps 2 on a queen bed, maybe an kid up in the hammock?
- Can I rely on navigation to get me to your Fleetwood project? Absolutely not! Follow our explicit directions from the Fleetwood Post Office (we are 2 miles away from there...
- How many Domes are on property and how private are they? Only three Domes at Deep Gap/Elk Creek and only 2 Domes at Fleetwood. Domes are typically 30-50 yards apart and face away from one another. Close enough that families rent adjacent units, but far enough that unrelated parties have some privacy too. Our opinion anyhow :)
- Can we fish in the stream? Please do, but a fishing license is required and you can purchase one online, at an outfitter or Wal-Mart in Boone. Children are covered by an adult license.
- Can we exceed 4 guests and maybe pitch a tent? Maybe an extra kid, probably not an extra adult, but let's chat.
- Does the door have a lock? Yes, we have a residential front door with a deadbolt lock. We recommend ONLY using the top deadbolt during your stay.
- Does each Dome have a Chimenea/Fire Pit on the deck? Yes, either a Chimenea or fire pit private to each dome.
- Can I stay a weekday for free? I have a huge social media following? Yes, maybe, ehhh? Let's chat on the Gram: @glampingunplugged
- Do you still offer small refunds or future discounts if we create content and share photos with you while on property? Yes! Of course, our social media is 100% guest-generated. Not 99%.
- Is there plumbing? No, please bring your own bottled water to drink. BYO-H2O.
- Is there electricity? No, but we provide power chargers to keep the lights on and your cells charged! Bring our portable chargers with you when driving to recharge them if you are draining them.
- Is there WiFi? Heavens no. Unplugging will do you some good, we promise! Heavens no.
- Is there cell service? Deep Gap, no. Fleetwood, probably yes (we have 4 bars there). But we still ask you to practice uplugging in Fleetwood!
- Is not having all 4 of these creature comforts a problem? No, it's not a problem. It is actually the solution! Think about that, let that marinate.
- What about bathrooms? In Deep Gap, we have private portable toilets in each dome and one Porto-potty in the parking area. In Fleetwood, we have two portos in the parking area.
- What about showers? We provide only moist, biodegradable towelettes for cleaning yourself. Feel free to have a bath in the stream, but absolutely no soaps allowed. You will figure out this solution, no worries. Shower bladders work wonders!
- Does it get warm inside the Dome during the summer? Yes, plan on exploring or laze it up in a hammock outdoors during the peak heat times, but NC tends to cool off in the evening! Nature is your A/C. No charge, you are welcome.
- Does it get cold inside the Dome? It can be chilly, but not if you are operating your tent stove properly. Pack hoodies and beanies for sure, feel free to bring extra blankets, you can always leave them in the car.
- Can we drive to the front door, Ma has a bad knee? No, absolutely not. We have 4 reasons.
- The anticipation while walking up to the Dome for the first time is part of the experience.
- We want our little explorers to safely explore without parents having to worry about cars.
- With the exception of the charcoal grill, we want guests to experience a zero carbon footprint while on property. Did we mention we provide compostable cutlery, bowls and cups?
- That was only 3 reasons? Nobody reasonable needs more than 3 reasons not to do something. This is a hard line in the sand for us. If you drive to the Dome, you will be asked to depart.
- Why do you not make the beds? The last thing we want is for you to pull back the sheets and see a little bug that found its way inside the tent. We launder and leave a nice pile for you to make your own bed when you are ready to make your own bed to sleep in or relax.
- Is this experience right for me? Please re-read our first section, "Is Glamping Right For Me?" We all need to unplug, we just don't realize it. Consider this a journey. Take the plunge. Jump in with us. It is important to get out of your comfort zone, even if only for a single night. Nature has healing powers. We can put the word "Nature" in front of any positive statement and our attorneys will approve it. Nature Needs No Hype!
Where are we located?
We now have two campgrounds! Our original is in Deep Gap (next door to Boone) and "2.0" is in Fleetwood (between Boone and West Jefferson!)
DEEP GAP is only 8.7 miles or 12 minutes from the Blue Ridge Parkway and Boone NC. We are located off a state-maintained road that rises 30+ feet over the property creating a beautiful rock wall view from your Dome deck over the creek. You will sleep feet from a noisy state-stocked trout stream on 8.5 acres. Your Dome is in the heart of the High Country! 15 minutes to a grocery store and gas, 20 minutes to downtown Boone (upscale dining to Starbucks) and then only 6 more miles to the quaint town of Blowing Rock NC. You will be within 30-45 minutes of all the High Country has to offer from the ski resorts, whitewater rafting, zip-lining, high gravity ropes, gem mining, snow tubing, river tubing, gravity-propelled roller coaster, shopping and really good restaurants! But save time to just experience nature on property, that is why you chose us! Airports: Greensboro, Charlotte, Asheville and Tri-Cities TN are all within 2+ hours of property.
FLEETWOOD. Where the $#%!* is Fleetwood? Awwww, young grasshopper, we are in between Boone and West Jefferson, the perfect location. 4x4 required in winter months, no sports car gravel type roads. Total end-of-the-road privacy! Even Google doesn't recognize roads to us, which is why following our directions is key :)