‘Glamping’ experience pops up in the Laurel Highlands for October socially distant getaways

PITTSBURGH — Heated tents for two, a full-service outdoor bar and complimentary yoga classes to restore one’s well-being are just some of the activities that await those who participate in a “glamping” experience pioneered by some of the founders behind the Ace Hotel Pittsburgh in East Liberty. The weekend getaways, set to last through October with the first bookings occurring on Oct. 9, aim to offer a luxurious spin on the traditional camping experience and in a way that allows for relaxation while remaining socially distant from others amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Hideaway Co., the group of local boutique hoteliers behind the endeavor, has set up an outpost at the Barn at Maple Falls in the Laurel Highlands for the first of what it hopes to be many pop-up “glamping” opportunities in the months to come.

“Every day I was opening my newsfeed and seeing glamping,” Hideaway Co. founder Anna Baird said. “It’s not a new concept, it’s something that’s been out west for quite some time but it’s now something that’s making its way into more day-to-day hospitality as hotels and different entities try to figure out how to take their brand or their style of hospitality out into nature.”