If clients are still interested in the wide, open spaces for their domestic vacations, they may now have a new opportunity to enjoy nature.
Chaffee County has announced the approval of a private-land camping ordinance that provides rural landowners with an accessible, clear and cost-effective path to hosting small-scale commercial camping on private property. With the ordinance, the Chaffee County Board of Commissioners has modernized the county’s definition of agri-tourism and opened critical economic opportunities to Colorado farmers and ranchers.
“This groundbreaking policy puts outdoor recreation dollars into the hands of the rural landowners who are stewarding some of Colorado’s most historic and prized rural landscapes,” said Hipcamp Government and Community Relations Senior Manager Michal Rosenoer. “The new ordinance outlines clear, cost-effective and thoughtful regulations for camping on private lands to ensure it’s safe for the community, good for the environment, and supportive of Chaffee County’s continued economic development.”
Hipcamp partnered closely with farmers and ranchers, the Chaffee County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and Hipcamp Hosts across the county to advocate for the change.
Private land camping provides an additional revenue stream for hundreds of farmers and ranchers across Colorado who have been impacted by increasing drought, low commodity prices and historically high production costs.
“It’s never been harder to make a living off the land,” said Chaffee County Commissioner Keith Baker. “If we want to protect our agricultural and rural heritage in Chaffee, we must be creative. Expanding economic opportunities for rural landowners in Chaffee by allowing for well-regulated, small-scale private land camping is a huge win for our community. This first-of-its-kind land use will reduce pressure on public lands, create new revenue streams for the ag community and support our outdoor recreation economy. I’m proud to have worked with the many stakeholders who collaborated to make it a reality.”
Hipcamp provides a way to host campers, glampers and RVers, and new Hipcamp listings in Colorado have grown by 265 percent since 2019, while demand for bookings in the state have surged by 202 percent during the same period.
Hipcamp Hosts across the country, more than 80 percent of whom steward working lands, earned over $31 million last year. The majority of Hipcamp Hosts reported investing their earnings back into their land to prevent sell-offs and urban development, pay taxes and maintain their farms, ranches and vineyards.
Hipcamp Host Monika Courtney began welcoming tent campers, glampers and RVers onto her 40-acre historic ranch and animal sanctuary in 2017. Since then, she has hosted hundreds of campers and has used the earnings to supplement the cost of running the sanctuary. Her local community has benefited too; Hipcampers visiting the sanctuary listing drove an estimated $235,000 in revenue to neighboring businesses during the past five years.
“We operate out of pocket, and the cost of feed is always increasing, especially with ongoing drought conditions,” said Courtney. “Hosting campers is good for the welfare of our animals, good for the land, and healing for everyone who comes to Thunderbird Spirit Ranch. This new ordinance is common-sense and cost effective, and will benefit rural folks like myself who have to sustain our farms and do the demanding work required to help our lands and animals thrive.”
Hipcamp looks forward to partnering with other member organizations, and state and local lawmakers to promote agri-tourism opportunities in rural communities across the nation.
For more information, visit www.hipcamp.com.
Related Stories
Travel Experts Share Top Trends for 2022
Stanly Ranch, Auberge Resorts Collection Opens
Nevis Launches New “Around The Garden” Experience
Mendocino County Taps into $1.7B U.S. Cannabis Tourism Niche