What's Camping Without Having to Rough It? Around Here, It's Red Cedar Glamping
luxury-style camp sites on a roughly 15-acre stretch of private Dunn County land may be exactly what you need on your next getaway
Whether you’re loading the family up in an RV for a close-quarters cross-country trip or packing up a tent, campfire cooking gear, and lacing up your hiking boots for a weekend adventure, camping is a staple fair-weather experience. But sometimes, you just wish you had your own bed with you.
Enter, Red Cedar Glamping. It may not be your actual bedroom, but it’s about as close as you can get while still camping outdoors – and according to over 50 guest reviews, Red Cedar Glamping offers the best of both worlds.
Menomonie residents Kelli and Dain Peer are not full-time Airbnb property managers. They just happen to live on an incredible piece of Dunn County land and have a longtime love for road-tripping and camping.
“When we bought this place – our house and quite a few acres – we saw it in February when it was, like, -20º outside. We walked one of the trails and saw the Red Cedar River, and just fell in love,” Kelli said. “When we moved in, we thought, ‘this is a little slice of heaven; how do we share it?’ ”
In the spring of 2022, the Peers did just that: they set up luxurious-style camp sites and started hosting guests for overnight and multi-day getaways.
The Peers' slice of heaven stretches nearly 15 forested acres, nestled just 50 feet above and across from the Red Cedar River.
Each of their two sites feature canvas tents with cedar porches. Pulling back the canvas flaps, queen-sized beds are fitted with down comforters and bedding, nightstands, a luggage rack, and a small table with some amenities. Solar-powered lights and stocked gallons of drinking water are provided.
Going back outside, a private fire pit and cooking grate is also included at each site, with portable toilets located nearby. Soon, a solar-powered outdoor shower will also be added to the sites, and an outdoor sauna will be ready to go in the coming weeks.
The Peers’ slice of heaven stretches nearly 15 forested acres, nestled just 50 feet above and across from the Red Cedar River. Located about one mile from Downsville – which has its own stunning trailhead and local businesses – and seven miles from The Bottoms, a local beach and natural area, there are plenty of opportunities to truly enjoy the outdoors.
The family also has two e-bikes available to rent for folks who’d rather pedal their way to Downsville or over to Menomonie. The Peers regularly recommend folks check out the town’s three breweries: Lucette Brewing Company, Zymurgy Brewing Company, and Brewery Nønic – for when folks want to explore past the on-site nature.
It’s pretty idyllic, to say the least. There was one interesting hurdle, though: county ordinances. “We reached out (to the Menomonie Chamber of Commerce and city) looking for support and help in passing a glamping ordinance with the town and county. We realized we weren’t fitting into the “bucket” the State Health Department wanted,” Kelli said.
Red Cedar Glamping’s two tent sites weren’t the average Airbnb or rental-style dwellings: there is no plumbing or related amenities; they’re totally unplugged. They also didn’t fit into the same “bucket” as campgrounds: the Peers have no plans on becoming a campground and they don’t have multiple, or regular, bathrooms.
“My husband worked many hours in writing up and working with the town to pass the first glamping ordinance, which we helped define,” Kelli said.
On Thursday, July 17, the Menomonie Chamber of Commerce held an official ribbon-cutting for Red Cedar Glamping – and there’s more to come for the luxury-style camping experience.
Entering their fourth summer season this year, the Peers are excited to continue sharing their slice of Dunn County heaven, and will continue ebbing and flowing through their unique small business experience.
While most guests travel from places within a two-hour drive from Menomonie – largely from the Twin Cities – Red Cedar Glamping is the perfect spot for folks looking to enjoy the quiet outdoors while camping – without “roughing it.”
Later this fall or next spring, the Peers will be adding a third site to Red Cedar Glamping – a tiny house-style rental. Kelli said they will be reworking a hay wagon into a functional rental fitted with solar panels and wood stove, better suited for chillier weather than the canvas tent sites are.
Check out Red Cedar Glamping's availability on HipCamp or Airbnb, and keep up with the small biz on Facebook and Instagram.
