Look who’s gotten into glamping …
Beyoncé’s sister, Solange, and some very fashionable friends went glamping in California’s Joshua Tree National Park for New Year’s Eve.
(Photo via @shionat)
While there, they took an epic group photo that got me to wondering if Solange might be interested in knowing …
(Photo via @saintrecords)
how glamping got its start.
Dearest Solange,
Several years ago, myself and some B&B guests were sitting around a morning campfire (hope you got to enjoy one also, BTW, love your hat) when the husband of one of our couples (housed in tent 3) said, “You know, I have to tell you, when my wife said we were coming over here to spend perfectly good money to use an outhouse, I told her, ‘This MaryJane thing’s got you catnipped,’ but now that I’ve been here and seen it, I’m thinking I’ll go back home, buy a wall tent, put it up the way you’ve done, and the missus and I will finally have our cabin in the woods. So yeah, I get the girly camping thing now. But I’ll have to let her do the glamour part of it.” I said, “Right, how about we call it glamping?” To which we toasted our enamel coffee cups.
Now that someone like yourself gets it too, I’m thinking a star was born that morning (BTW, loved your wedding also, congratulations!).
MaryJane Butters (the woman who ever-so-proudly pioneered the concept)
P.S. Thanks for taking glamping to its highest fruition yet!!!!! Here’s my Airstream.
P.P.S. Next time you go, let me send you some of our s’more kits (w/our homemade marshmallows and organic graham crackers).
Winnie Nielsen 
Cindi Johnson 
Eileen 
Nancy Coughlin 
Lisa 
connie-killarney 
Kathleen 
CHARLYN 
MaryJane 
Karlyne 
Lisa 
You tell’em , MaryJane! Our Queen Bee has revolutionized what simple living can be about and we are thousands strong in embracing that concept. I think many of us Farmgirls want a Wall Tent, glamped up outhouse. outdoor spa tub, and one of her tear drop campers parked outside for road trips with friends. You should purchase her book on Glamping if you need a how to guide.
P.S. And don’t forget to order some of her OutBack instant organic meals for quick and yummy easy meals. We’re talkin’ easy peasy and outrageously good!
Your airstream ~ now THAT’s glamping! I can be pretty handy with a drill and a few nuts and bolts, even a hammer, nails and paint brush, but now I wish I had taken the shop class right next to the home economics class when I was in school. Oh well. You have inspired me to make my stationary home a bit more glampy and enjoy it just the same.
Loved this! I hope she replies and becomes a farmgirl convert!
I was a tent camper for years, even in the winter. Then my favorite State Park Worlds End opened their cabins during the winter and I became a regular. Spent a few Christmas days up there, too. But, when people visited me they were always amazed at how I had “glamped” up the rustic cabin (electricity but no running water!) with the ‘extras’!!! Decorated for whatever season and used the wood-burner for heat in the winter. Found a local person to buy my wood from and was cozy and warm. Now, I have an upstairs screened in porch and I have turned it into my “at-home-camping-experience” and glamp it up from the early Spring into late Fall. I love it and with arthritis, it is much easier to deal with than packing and hauling and toting things around. We do what we can!
Do you rent the cabin by the month, Nancy? It sounds like a lot of fun!
I wanted to take shop class, but in the ’60s, they wouldn’t let me, because I was a girl. So now I’m a farmer and drive a fork lift. I would love to have a glamping campground on our “land-locked island”, but I don’t have a decorative bone in my body. I love seeing what others do, though.