Get Inspired By This Cool Glamping Fire Pit Extra
Most of us glamping site owners get pretty good at decorating the inside of our tents, yurts, and domes. Donna did a great job - but wait until you see the unique extra touch she put into making her fire pit area special. No wonder her glampsite stays booked solid.
In this article:
Why did Donna become a glampsite owner on Airbnb?
That fire pit though!
Fire pit FAQs
If you’re ever in New Zealand and love to go glamping, you’ve got to check out River Belle Glamping in Egmont Village, Taranaki. Host Donna has carved out a corner of her family’s 160 acre farm by the Mangaoraka River to create a secluded and stunning and romantic glampsite with views of Mt. Taranaki.
Why Become a Glampsite Owner?
Donna started her glampsite business back in February 2020 so she could be home for her kids. She’d never hosted before then (and argh… the timing!). But she’s done a great job creating a truly beautiful spot to share with her guests.
The glampsite started off with a lotus belle tent, but now features a geodesic dome with a separate amenities hut that houses a kitchen and bathroom, plus an outdoor bathtub!
Guests love staying here! It’s comfy, private, and steps away from a creek - nothing but nature as far as the eye can see.
But just wait until you see the little extra special touch she added to the site’s fire pit.
Check Out This Fire Pit Extra
Sure, every glampsite needs a fire pit. Sitting around a campfire, no matter what time of the year it is, is practically magical. That’s where the best stories are told, and the best thoughts are thought.
Donna wanted a little something special to add to her fire pit area, and she sure found it. Someone was selling this old rowboat, thinking the buyer would restore it and put it back on the water. But Donna and her husband cut the stern off and turned the whole boat into a shelf. No reason you couldn’t do something like this, too.
Fire Pit FAQs
Is it cheaper to build or buy a fire pit?
It’s almost always cheaper to build your own. Prefab fire pits are available everywhere, from Amazon to home improvement or decorating stores. Clever glampsite owners have made their own by using stones, cinder blocks, washing machine drums, metal rings, hubcaps, and more.
What do you put on the bottom of a fire pit?
You’ll want to clear your fire pit area of brush and make it flat, of course. But it’ll look even better and be even safer if you add a layer of sand topped by a layer of gravel.
How do you make a fire pit step by step?
It’s pretty easy to make your own fire pit even if you’ve never made one before. Simply:
Pick a spot that’s level and is at least a dozen feet from any structure.
Use whatever materials you’ve chosen to build the outer circle of the fire pit. Rocks, pavers, or bricks work really well and you may have some on-site that you can use.
Add a layer of all-purpose sand to the inside of the fire pit, about an inch deep.
Add a layer of gravel on top of the sand.
Add a metal ring if you’d like. You can also provide a grate your guests can use for cooking over an open campfire.
How do you make a cheap fire pit?
The cheapest way to make a fire pit is by using materials already on your land. It may take some sweat and muscle, but if you can find, dig, and haul large stones to the spot where you want your fire pit, you can make a basic one for free.
Does a fire pit need air holes?
Yes, that’s how fire works! It needs a little air circulating to get the blaze going. If you use a metal ring or something similar, simply place some stones underneath so there’s room for air to flow between the ground and the ring.
Do you need rocks at the bottom of a fire pit?
Rocks and sand are not absolutely crucial, but they do help to make your fire pit look nice, stay free of weeds between uses, and help keep the fire exactly where you want it.
The Takeaway
Donna’s done a wonderful job building a place where she hosts unique stays on Airbnb. She mentioned that the first iteration with the lotus belle tent and amenities hut cost $25,000NZ (about $15K USD), plus hubby’s labor to build it all… priceless! They expected it would take 18 months to break even, but crossed that milestone in just six months. (Not sure when they swapped out the tent for the dome.)
Hosting glamping stays isn’t for everyone, any more than going glamping is! But if you’ve got vacant land - especially land that’s scenic and peaceful - and you love helping people get away from it all and reconnect with nature, this may be the perfect business for you to start.
