Developer plans to bring 'glamping' to Weirs Boulevard

LACONIA — In a prior era, Weirs Boulevard was lined with small businesses offering tourists accommodations — a small space to rest at the end of a long day of visiting shops, beaches or other local attractions. These “cottage colonies,” as they were known, have nearly all converted to condominiums. A new business venture seeks a return to the cottage colonies of old, albeit with a modern approach.

Glamping New England speaks to its vision in its name, using the portmanteau derived from “glamor camping.” The entrepreneur behind the project, Kevin Hayhurst, recently completed the conversion of the former Christmas Island Steakhouse into Paugus Bay Pub, and is currently engaging the city in negotiations to purchase the second and third floors of the downtown parking garage with ambitions to build a domed athletic facility on the top floor.

Hayhurst said, of the three ventures, Glamping New England was actually his first development interest in the city, though it’s also been the slowest to develop. The Paugus Bay Pub, located across the street from the property at 711 Weirs Blvd he wants to develop for glamping, was a project he took on because the glamping development was dragging on so long.

Now though, the glamping plans are starting to take shape and Hayhurst is ready to publicize his vision.

An employee of the city’s Planning Department confirmed the Glamping New England plans have passed through the first round of the technical review committee, a group of department heads who evaluate a proposed development from their specific areas of expertise, and the project is due to return to the committee for a final review. After that, Hayhurst’s project will be taken up for consideration by the Planning Board, during which time the plans will be open for public comment as well as scrutiny by the board.

Hayhurst’s plans for Glamping New England include 37 dome tents sturdy enough to stay up year-round, constructed atop tenting platforms, all on a steep lot nearly 30 acres in size. Hayhurst said the experience will be “more hotel than camping,” as each tent would have heating and air conditioning, two bedrooms and a bathroom. The target clientele isn’t someone who might visit another camping area in the region, but rather people who want the comforts of a hotel while also being able to experience the seasons and scenery of the Lakes Region.

In addition to individual tent sites, the plans also include a large, clear tent, 70 feet in diameter, which could host a wedding of 250-400 people.

The design of the site takes full advantage of the location’s slope and elevation.

“The views up there are crazy,” Hayhurst said. The tent sites boast views across Paugus Bay, with a backdrop of the Belknap Mountains. He said the steep pitch of the terrain also allows for the tents to each have their own unobstructed view.

“You will feel like you are secluded” when looking out of the tent, he said.

He said he didn’t have final pricing figured out yet — he was also still deciding on whether to include wood stoves and hot tubs with any, some or all of the sites — but said he expects the rental cost for each site would be comparable to local hotel rates.

“I’m not trying to price anyone out,” he said.

Hayhurst expects glamping will catch on, and will both provide a convenient lodging option for people already planning to visit the area, and become a draw in itself for visitors looking for a memorable getaway.

“I think it will be world-class, a huge draw to Laconia and New Hampshire,” Hayhurst said.