Server to Glamping Tycoon: $100,000 Upscale Camping Venture

      Side Hustle Nation aims to enhance your personal profitability. To achieve this, we frequently collaborate with companies that have a similar mission. If you register or make a purchase via one of our partners’ links, we might receive compensation—without any additional cost to you. Learn more. What if you could transform 10 acres of rural land into a million-dollar hospitality venture while maintaining a full-time job?

      Garrett Brown of Cameron Ranch Glamping successfully “land hacked” his way to a multi-six-figure business valued at $1.5 million, generating over $100,000 annually. During the day, he teaches about short-term rentals at BiggerPockets, but his true wealth creation stems from his real estate side hustle featuring nightly rates exceeding $400, without the expenses typical of a conventional hotel.

      Tune into Episode 686 of the Side Hustle Show to discover:

      - How “land hacking” allows for minimal down payments

      - The 60-30-10 rule for identifying lucrative glamping sites

      - Why 80% of his bookings are sourced through social media (instead of Airbnb)

      But First, Check Out Our Playlist of Top Real Estate Side Hustles

      

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      The Land Hacking Strategy

      Garrett's breakthrough came from adapting the house hacking concept to land purchases, which he refers to as “land hacking.” Instead of acquiring raw land (which usually necessitates a 50% down payment and costly utility development), he secured a $550,000 property with over 10 acres in an unrestricted area near Houston. He made a down payment of just 5% on the house and negotiated a 3% seller concession, effectively reducing his down payment to about 2%, or approximately $12,000 in total. This saved money financed his first glamping structure.

      Garrett’s 60-30-10 Location Rule:

      - 60 minutes from a major city (Houston market)

      - 30 minutes from attractions (Lake Livingston, state parks, national forest)

      - 10 minutes from civilization (gas station, Dollar General, Walmart)

      This guideline ensures he can attract weekend visitors while still being able to access contractors, cleaners, and emergency services.

      Building Your First Glamping Structure: The $30K Geodome

      For his first structure, Garrett selected a geodome from Pacific Domes, essentially a sophisticated tent constructed of steel and a 10-year canvas, costing around $13,000.

      Startup costs for the initial unit:

      - Geodome structure: $13,000

      - Road/access: $5,000

      - Septic system: $9,000

      - Utilities connection: $5,000

      Total: $32,000

      The geodome included architectural plans, streamlining the county permitting process. Garrett advises: Contact several county permitting offices prior to selecting your location. Rural counties vary significantly in their receptiveness to alternative structures.

      Pro tip: Owning a house on the property mitigates the primary challenges of raw land—electricity is supplied, water systems are installed, and you’re not starting from scratch with utilities.

      The Numbers That’ll Amaze You

      Here’s where the mathematics becomes thrilling:

      Geodome Performance (Year 2):

      - Average daily rate: $422 (including cleaning fees)

      - Occupancy: 88%

      - Gross revenue: $95,000

      - Net profit: $60,000 (after covering the complete mortgage of the main house)

      At these rates, the geodome paid for itself in less than a year and now creates pure cash flow while building equity in the underlying real estate.

      Creative Financing: The $129K Cabin They Acquired for Free

      Garrett desired a $129,000 mirrored cabin from OOD, an Estonian firm, but lacked the funds. He contacted the company and proposed a revenue-sharing partnership. The agreement involved OOD supplying the cabin for free in exchange for