Firelight Camps

My husband and I spent 3 nights at Firelight Camps for our wedding anniversary and we had a great time!
Key things to know:
— The tents are clean, fairly big, the king bed is comfortable. No full body mirror inside or any mirror. The veranda is nice with a pair of cute rocking chairs. I’m in love with the writing table and safari chair is nice!
— Photos on their website are 100% accurate.
— The lamps inside your tent are great. It lasts the whole night (if you’re not charging your phone while using it). If it dies sooner that you expect, you can have it replaced for a new one on the main tent.
— The breakfast is mostly pastry, bread, and yogurt. They have gluten free options, too! It’s straight forward and not too heavy– which I think is great. They also offer coffee (from Nicaragua) and Harney and Sons tea ²⁴⁄₇. Most of their food products are local and/​or organic! Also, don’t miss out on their chive cream cheese, it’s good!
— They offer free wine tasting every 5pm-​6pm so you can taste their local wines. This part of NY is the same temperature as the Rhine Valley in Germany which is known for their Riesling so you must must must try their Riesling.
— The bathroom is unisex which is cool as I’m as scaredy cat and I need my husband in sight most especially when I need to go and it’s dark outside lol! They have hot water, people! The towels are clean and new. They do provide shampoo, conditioner, and body wash– just in case you forgot. The bathroom is CLEAN!
— You should remember to bring the lantern though if you’re going to the bathroom at night, it’s pretty dark going back to your tent (just a point of reference, we were in tent 5 so there’s like a small bushy entry towards that line of tents so it’s pretty dark). There’s a motion sensing light right on your tent so you can see the steps.
— The staff are nice and knowledgeable. We asked them their take on the best restaurants, hiking areas, and wineries and they gave us good and accurate information.
— They have a camp fire every evening and you can make s’mores to complete the experience. If in case you forgot to bring your kit, they sell them there. We didn’t try theirs though as we brought ours. We forgot to bring sticks but they happily provided us some.
— They provide (1) free drink per person (over 21) per night you’re staying with them. Nice touch!
I would recommend Firelight Camps to anyone who can’t do the full on camping and needs the basic necessities to last 24 hours lol! It’s my first time glamping and I think i’m up for my next one. Thank you Firelight Camps for the great experience!

Spent the Monday after Memorial Day here… Absolutely fabulous. Matt, Tom and Charlie were so welcoming and helpful with everything… From checking in to ordering food to getting the fire started. Had an absolutely fabulous time playing bocce ball and just enjoying the peace and quiet. Will definitely be back here only next time we will plan a little more in advance so as to get the weekend in :)

Great accommodations nestled in the woods. Very private & relaxing. Perfect for couples

If there’s one thing that my friends know about me, besides the obvious (like how much I love to eat/​drink, tell jokes, travel and write), it’s the fact that I would rather lick a dirty toilet seat than go camping. Hell, I can barely bring myself to use a unisex bathroom at a bar!
About a year ago, I received some intel on Ithaca by Firelight Camps, a «glamp» site located in upstate New York. Not having a clue what «glamping» was or how it differed from, gasp, traditional «camping,» I couldn’t get on their website quickly enough.
…
In the beginning of this past summer, I booked a single night’s stay at Firelight Camps for the second week of October. I would be in Manhattan the weekend prior for one of my dearest friend’s weddings, so it only made sense to make my way upstate thereafter for some R&R.
On Tuesday morning, October 6^th, I flew to Syracuse from NYC. Upon arrival, I rented a car and made the 45-​minute drive to Ithaca. The scenery along the way was absolutely breathtaking; aside from the region’s inherent natural beauty, the potpourri of fall colors — in the form of leaves and produce — was everything that I could have hoped for and more.
When GPS announced that I had «arrived» at my destination (Firelight Camps), I was both perplexed and a bit relieved to pull up to a full-​service hotel/​spa and restaurant. Where the heck was I? As I made my way further down the drive, I saw a sign for the Camp and continued just beyond the hotel and restaurant, down a little hill, and on to a grassy clearing with a central «tent.»
I pulled my rental car off to the side of the gravel road and made my way in to the «lobby tent,» where I received a warm greeting from the staff and a quick orientation, if you will.
…I was particularly thrilled to learn that «Happy hour is from 5−6PM when we spark the evening campire and bar remains open until 11PM.» Woohoo!
Upon making my way over to my tent, I noticed the al-​fresco communal hangout area just off the lobby, complete with a fire pit, an assortment of seating options, and liberally strung twinkle-​lights.
The staff told me that I could park my car outside of my tent to unload my suitcases, but that I would then have to parking just up the short hill near the facilities. Yep, that’s right, folks, I said «facilities.» Would they be unisex? Clean? Small? Would there be hot enough water? Would there be hot water at all?
After getting settled and unpacking my essentials, I made sure to familiarize myself with the battery-​powered lanterns-​cum-​phone chargers that were located in my tent. Try walking to the facilities in the pitch dark (There’s no electricity in the sleeping tents.) without one of those suckers!
From there, I decided to go check out the facilities before stopping over at the lobby for happy hour. And, I must say, I was very pleasantly surprised by how clean and ample the restrooms and showers were, in addition to being fully-​stocked with shampoo/​conditione/​soap!
5PM couldn’t come quickly enough! I made my way back to the lobby tent for happy hour and enjoyed wines from the local Finger Lakes region, «hard» apple cider (it just so happened to be Cider Week while I was there), and good company. Amongst a handful of couples (including one with their adorable dogs in tow), there was a fun group of older women on a pseudo college reunion trip.
As the sun slowly set over the glampground, so did the temperatures. While I was still in the lobby, I made sure to secure a propane heater for my tent to keep me warm overnight, as it was forecasted to dip in to the 40s!
Just after happy hour and a quick shower, I walked over to John Thomas Steakhouse (the restaurant located further up the property) where I enjoyed a fantastic lobster dinner.
Forgoing dessert at the restaurant, I made my way back to camp in anticipation of enjoying a glass of red/​nightcap and attempting to roast s’mores by the fire…
With a full and happy belly — plus a solid buzz — I made my way back to my tent and prepared for bed: I turned on the propane tank, put on my socks, and crawled under the warm blanket. Aside from the heater’s buzz, the only thing I could hear beyond the mesh of my tent’s windows were the leaves lightly dancing and the crickets chirping. A few hours later, I awoke to the tranquil sound of a rain shower that aided me in to falling in the deepest, most comfortable sleep that I’ve experienced in… forever. Wow.
The following morning, I allowed myself to sleep in before packing up and heading to the continental breakfast in the lobby tent — something I haven’t done in quite some time. Ultimately, however, I was jonezing for a cup of coffee and some sustenance.
Although I would have loved to stay for another night (or two!), it was time for me to hit the road and explore the region and Ithaca proper, in addition to checking out Cornell’s campus.

Visited Firelight for a friend’s wedding and had a fabulous weekend. Tent provided a comfortable bed and warm down blanket. We were located at a tent that was not in the woods though, but a clearing near the parking lot. If you enjoy sleeping in the woods definitely discuss tent location when booking, as most of the tents are in the woods. Staff were friendly and helpful, accommodations clean. Hope to return soon!

Awesome and unique place! Great accommodations, superb staff and scrumptious breakfasts. Near Buttermilk Falls hiking trails and swimming in Gorge and falls. New bathrooms made it very hotel like but in a camp ground. Very clean and enjoyed the visit and will be back!

Be careful booking! Imagine you have four children and both grandparents live out of state. Now imagine you are turning forty and your fabulous husband actually plans a special fortieth weekend glamping for you. He thinks ahead, gets the grandparents to come watch the kids and books months in advance. It’s all paid for and you can’t wait for your special weekend of pampering. Two weeks before arrival firelight sends an email — not even a phone call just an email saying oops! We’ve double booked. No room at the inn for you. What firelight?! Two weeks before? After you’ve already taken our money? We had local activities booked in the area that had to be cancelled. Shame on you! Too short notice for us to even find a sweet alternative. Turning forty is hard enough without you Firelight.

My fiancé and I had a wonderful two days at Firelight Camps. The tents were beautiful and spacious. The bathroom facilities were clean and a short walk from the tents. We loved the communal area stocked with games and, of course, the fire pit for nightly smores! Each night there was a happy hour let us sample some local wines and beers. We took advantage of the buttermilk falls trail that was right onthe grounds and had a memorable hike. Overall a great experience and one we would recommend to friends! Hope to come back next year!

Love love love this place! Our stay was great, from a complimentary happy hour, to our beautiful tent that felt like a safari tent. Breakfast was local, organic and fresh. With only 15 or so tents, you got to get to know the people you’re Glamping with at the bonfire. We’re definitely going back

Stayed here as part of a yoga retreat (#treehouseyogaretreat) so my experience was likely different from the normal booking. Based on my two nights here I would definitely come back and will be recommending the Firelight Camp to friends.
The staff and owners were lovely, charming, helpful and excited about sharing the beat of this area. The tents are unbelievably comfortable and the facilities modern and kept very clean.
Staying in a tent means you have to deal with a few bugs, and the sounds of the campfire and night, but honestly that’s what you should be signing up for with this experience. I live in Brooklyn so this stay felt like a real escape.
Come!

High hopes, a bit dashed. This was our first experience «glamping», having previously utilized more traditional campsites. We wanted to still be outdoors, enjoy the stars, nature, and some peace, while having a more comfortable place to sleep. Unfortunately, that’s not what Firelight was able to provide.
Starting with the positives. The canvas tents were comfortable and well-​appointed. The visual aesthetic of the campground was lovely, with soft glowing lights and two campfires. The bathhouse and showers were well-​designed and functional.
The largest issue is the noise, and it’s hard to pinpoint whether it’s Firelight’s issue or can be laid at the feet of the type of people «glamping» attracts. Firelight serves a complimentary happy hour from 5:00 to 6:00 pm, and on the first night of our stay, the people around the campfire were pretty well drunk, obnoxious, and loud. It seems clear that many of them had been over-​served at the bar. We chose to sit at the second campfire, but since it’s only twenty feet away, there was no peace and quiet to enjoy. The third night of our stay, a huge crowd gathered in the main tent and got louder and louder as the night progressed, several hours past the camp’s 10:00 noise guideline. At checkout, the man at the desk asked me if it was campers or people from the nearby resort (as if I’m supposed to know who’s who), which is when I learned that Firelight allows people from the La Tourelle resort on the same property to utilize their facilities (but apparently not heed the camp’s guidelines).
I lived in Ithaca for several years a while back, so I’m aware of the type-​B, laid-​back pace of many of its residents. However, a bit of urgency from the employees would have been appreciated. They moved at a snail’s pace, so the bathroom was constantly out of towels, the breakfast foods and coffee not replenished quickly, and the waste bins in the bathroom overflowing. There was a giant smear of what I hope was dirt from the contractors (yes, contractors… we’ll get to that) on the back of a bathroom door for three days, so cleaning was not a top priority.
Firelight is as pricey as any bed and breakfast, but without the more scrumptious breakfasts that most B&Bs offer. Breakfast was the exact same thing three days in a row. Bread, muffins, yogurt, and a tiny bit of fruit (if it was refilled). As one of the owners is a former Food Network competitor, there was a higher expectation for the food (especially for the price of our stay).
Which brings us to the contractors. A new shed was being built, so there was hammering in the morning. Contractors were also constructing pathways around the bathhouse, which sometimes impeded access to the facilities. If you are going to be doing work on the campground, some options are a) inform people of the dates that work will be done so they can decide if they still want to book, or b) offer a discount during that time.
Dogs are allowed on the property, but not everyone curbed them. One person did pick up their dog’s waste, but then didn’t know where to dump the baggie, so left it sitting on the porch of the bathhouse. Gross.
The website advertises propane heaters in the tents, but I guess they don’t put them out in July, even though one of the nights was very cold.
There were also a fair amount of smokers, not all of whom adhered to the camp’s guidelines about where smoking is allowed.
Overall, some of what made the stay uncomfortable was just the basic inconsideration of the other guests. However, there is plenty of room for Firelight to make some small fixes — more urgency in keeping things up to snuff, enforcing the noise rules, not over-​serving obviously inebriated guests — that could make it a great experience.
Firelight has a beautiful setting, nice aesthetics, and great potential, if they can just pull it together.

Had a great time, brought my two year old and three month old ! Wish we stayed longer. Very clean and managed, nice staff. Maybe bring board games or hopefully they add some in the lobby! Loved the little gardens!

My husband and I stayed here for a kid-​free getaway! We had a lovely time.
The tent was spacious and comfortable, and we loved the deck in the morning, especially. The lobby area is charming — a nice selection of books, comfortable seating. We felt very much at home while we enjoyed the happy hour and breakfast.
We are pretty environmentally aware, and loved the locally sourced beer, wine, and breakfast. The food was good and it is good for the environment and local economy!
The location is convenient to downtown Ithaca, yet far enough away that you feel secluded. There is a lot to do, for sure!
All the fun of camping without the dirt and damp. We loved it and look forward to returning!

Camping re-​envisioned !! The setting is casual but charming and comfortable, with the comforts of a full spa on the property. Lots of area amenities to take advantage of, including hiking, the Finger Lakes, winery tours and Ithaca. My only wish is that it were closer to home (NYC) so I could go more often.

I ‘ve been following the progress of Firelight Camps since I heard of it opening. This year my man and I celebrated our seven year anniversary, so we decided to slip away to Ithaca to go «glamping.»
While we still aren’t quite comfortable using the term glamping (ha!), I will say the experience was nothing short of perfection.
We were tucked into the woods with a huge Safari style tents – equipped with a queen size bed, a writing desk, and all the nature you could ask for. There was a community fire rolling 24 hours a day and the owner (Bobby) along with his wife (Emma) were the perfect host and hostesses.
The relaxation quickly took on the feeling of hanging with very dear friends, very dear friends we had only just happened to meet that weekend.
In addition to an amazing locally sourced continental breakfast at the lobby tent, there was a stocked bar with delicious whiskey (my favorite) and a complimentary wine hour from 5 PM to 6 PM. Firelake camps are on La Tourelle’s property, so there were trails to hike, a beautiful property to explore, and all the hotel amenities we could need or want. One morning we woke early and basically stepped from our tent to the spa for a massage.
I can’t think of a more amazing way to spend a weekend together; we are already looking forward to going back next year.