WALLBROOK, N.S. — If it was a traditional camping tent you were expecting, prepare for the “wow factor.”
Valley Sky Luxury Camping president and secretary Jonathan Stacey said he’s always loved luxury hotels, but also the great outdoors. He’ll be offering a unique “glamping” experience in geodesic domes at a location on the mountain at the southern end of the Grand-Pré Road in Kings County.
Glamping, a form of camping that involves accommodations and facilities more luxurious than those associated with traditional camping, is becoming more popular as a tourism attraction, particularly in Nova Scotia. For example, Stacey said there are glamping accommodations in Cape Breton that are booked solid for the summer.
Instead of the more traditional bell tent glamping, Stacey said the geodesic dome “allows me to push the envelope on luxury.” Walking into the first one he built at his Wallbrook site, the Tidal Dome, is like stepping into a five-star hotel room, and that’s what he wanted.
“Through the works of it, I’ve decided on geodesic domes because they’re absolutely beautiful and now here I am trying to make a go of it,” he said.
Stacey said he built it to his standards of what he would want such an accommodation to feature. The site will be landscaped in the spring. He’ll soon begin construction of the second dome, which will be named the Valley Dome and will be just as luxurious as the first.
The entrepreneur said it would depend on how things go, but he is currently working with the Municipality of the County of Kings and he may end up building as many as 10 domes over five years.
The proximity to the Grand-Pré UNESCO World Heritage Site and several renowned wineries was a major factor in Stacey’s site selection. He sees the Annapolis Valley as somewhat of an untapped resource when it comes to tourism.
“I think my part in that is to provide accommodation and bring people in here, so they can enjoy all the local tourism activities,” he said. “When everything opens up again, it’s going to be an exciting time here for sure.”
Until travel restrictions relating to the COVID-19 pandemic ease, Stacey sees his main market as Nova Scotia “staycationers” and he wants to provide them with the best service and experience possible.
The ‘wow factor’
Geodesic domes are far from your average tent. Advantages include the strength of the structures, which are designed to withstand winds up to 140 km/h, and “they just look cool.”
“It’s like its own ecosystem in here when it’s cold and windy outside,” Stacey said, pointing out that the domes allow for year-round use.
“It’s very comforting to be in here, actually.”
It’s easy to maintain the temperature inside, as Stacey has had a heat pump installed that, based on specifications, could warm a space twice the size. With a large bay window and a skylight, there is a lot of solar gain for additional warmth and he also plans to install a propane stove.
With two queen size beds, the dome can easily accommodate four people. There is a bathroom with a shower. The wooden platform that the dome stands on also serves as a deck, complete with a fire pit and hot tub.
Although he has been relying on skilled trade contractors for many aspects of the construction, Stacey said perhaps the most satisfying part of the project for him up to this point has been doing all the “grunt work” himself. He also enjoys seeing the “wow factor” on the faces of visitors.
Loving the Valley
Stacey, who is originally from Newfoundland, said he spent some time out west but wanted to live in Nova Scotia and he now calls the Annapolis Valley home. He has family members who relocated here and after visiting for a couple of summers, he found the area “amazing.”
“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in the world right now,” Stacey said.
He said the level of support for his project since he went public with the idea, especially on social media, has been fantastic. He’s even had a site visit from Kings-Hants MP Kody Blois.
Blois said that anytime we have entrepreneurs who are looking to build businesses here in the Valley, he sees it as a very good thing. He said we all know the beauty of the Valley, and people want to come here to experience what we have to offer.
“I applaud Jonathan’s work to add additional accommodations and an experiential destination which will give visitors even more reasons to come visit our communities,” Blois said.
Bookings soon opening
Stacey said they are on the verge of launching a website with a booking platform but anyone looking for more information can visit Valley Sky Luxury Camping on Facebook or Instagram. To get things started, he plans to begin taking weekend bookings while he continues construction work on his second dome during the week, and then he plans to open bookings from June 1 to Oct. 31.
