Sharing Economy Embraces Camping
Apr 07, 2016 01:34AM ● By Family Features
The number of people sharing their homes and rides has increased at steady rates across America based on increasing demand for less expensive and better vacation rentals and carpools. Now, landowners can join the sharing economy and benefit by sharing their land and hosting campers.
In recent years, the number of people going camping has steadily grown, leaving many state and national parks overcrowded and booked up months in advance. Hipcamp.com, an online resource for listing, discovering and booking unique places to stay in nature, is unlocking previously inaccessible pieces of land and creating more campsites for the growing population of campers. This also meets a common need amongst private landowners who can now host campers and earn money toward keeping their land undeveloped and natural.
"We're dedicated to building the largest network of private landowners, including farmers, ranchers and vineyard owners, through which we can support them in keeping their land and taking better care of it, which we know isn't always possible," said Alyssa Ravasio, Hipcamp founder and CEO. "It's a great way for landowners to earn money and cultivate a community of nature lovers all while sharing their special property with people who respect and have a low impact on the land. Not surprisingly, our private camps are some of the most popular with our campers."
Building on the growing trend of diversifying revenue, this can be an attractive prospect for landowners as it helps them protect their land all while increasing access to nature for their local communities. Several Hipcamp hosts have earned $5,000, $6,000 and even up to $13,000 in their first six months hosting during the peak summer season. This additional revenue can be used to help offset property taxes, monitoring fees, barn-building or just put a little extra cash in your pocket while keeping your land privately held.
"Hipcamp has allowed us to keep our land the way it is," said Mackenzie O'Donnell, host at Mendocino Magic, California. "I don't have to think about selling it because the business model supports our long term plans. The empty promise of a bulk sale would bring cash to my family, but the dream of keeping the land protected, respected and accessible would die."
At the same time, camper demand is outpacing the number of available campsites, creating increased opportunity for landowners. For example, California has more than 250,000 Hipcamp users, but only 200 campsites listed.
To share your land or discover unique camping destinations near you, visit Hipcamp.com.
Camper image courtesy of Monica Semergiu at Salmon Creek Creekside Camp, California
Cabin image courtesy of Michaela Ravasio at Oz Farm House, California
