The Woods Luxury Camping offers glamping near Fennville

The luxury Woods campsite in the canton of Ganges. (May 22, 2024)

GANGES TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — A new campground opened near Fennville offers a glamping experience in the woods.

Luxury campsite in the woods officially opens its doors at 6708 118th Ave., near 66th Street, in Ganges Township on May 30. Residents can get a sneak peek and s'mores Sunday during a open day which will take place from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Owner Jacqueline Petro, who previously owned 205 Coffee Bar in downtown Holland, was inspired to create the campground because she wanted to create a space where she could escape with her dog, Lovey, a Pitbull rescue.

“She’s part of a part of my story. She's someone I thought about when I was working and, “How soon can I get back to her house?” “And then take her to the trails, to the woods,” Petro said. “Then the thought came, 'How can I create a business where I can take my dog ​​with me on the trails, in the woods and create that space for other people?' »

Petro is originally from the Netherlands and moved to Michigan as a child. From there, she lived in different parts of the state and the Philadelphia area.

When her son was 3, she said she Googled the “best place to raise a family” and discovered Holland.

“It’s been really great. I love the area,” she said.

She added that she loved The Woods Luxury Camping's proximity to the beach, with five public spaces with beach access less than a mile and a half from the 45-acre property. There are also five wineries within a three-mile radius, Saugatuck is just a few minutes away and Holland is about 15 minutes away, she said.

The campground offers three different types of cabins, ranging from $185 to $375 per night. There are A-frames, hidden cabins and glass houses. All are at least 50 feet from each other and each is decorated differently.

A community space offers two large foyers, with a kitchen area and a canteen that will offer coffee and pastries from the DeBoer Bakery in the morning, pies, cookies and drinks in the afternoon, and s'mores in the evening .

There are rabbits and chickens on site, so there are fresh eggs in the morning. There are also games like Corn Hole.

Dogs are welcome and so far about half of the reservations bring their dogs, Petro said.

Petro envisions the space serving as a sanctuary. She said it was peaceful in the morning with birds singing, and became a “magical fairyland” in the evening with lots of lights along the paths.

“It’s a place to escape. It's a place to relax, a place to recharge your batteries. A place to write, a place to heal if you need to heal, a place to reconnect with your loved one,” she said. “Or just a place to be alone, where you just need nature.” You need to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. You need to get away from the desk and your phone. And that's where you can have privacy in the woods and you can have your campfires, you can lay in your hammock, you can lay in the swings. …It’s a luxurious room in the middle of the woods.

She said it would be an ideal space for women's retreats or weddings as all 15 campsites would be rented out.

“In the evening, they can all gather around the fire and make their s’mores,” she said. “It’s just a very different experience. So what we're really looking for is privacy, relaxation, rejuvenation and the feeling that you're from Chicago or the Detroit area and you're walking into 45 acres of woods, with beautiful lighted trails in a luxury room in the woods.

Petro said the response from the community has been “wonderful” and she is pleased with the number of reservations already received.

“I think we've created one of the most beautiful glamping areas, not only in Michigan but in the entire country,” she said. “My builders were incredible. … I think we're one of the nicest, most isolated glamping areas in the country. So having the privilege of building this business has been fantastic.