Luxury camping at The Resort at Paws Up is nature served on a gleaming silver platter. Known as North America’s premier glamping® destination, The Resort at Paws Up features five luxe tented camps that cater to families, couples and groups. Each safari-style tent features fine linens, comfortable beds, chic rustic furnishings, art-adorned walls, electricity, air-conditioning, heat and—most importantly—a camping butler at your beck and call. Learn from our Resort Manager, Charles Daenen, and our Glamping Operations Manager, Eddie Young, how we turned old-fashioned camping into glorified glamping.
1. What are the necessities to “glamp” up a camping experience?
Charles: Be flexible. You are not checking into a five-star suite with a 50-inch television and a minibar, but you are getting ready for an experience of a lifetime.
Eddie: Lots of s’mores, a sturdy pair of boots and a mind that’s open to new and fun experiences.
2. What’s the funniest request you’ve received from a guest?
Charles: I was once asked to sing happy birthday in my native language—Dutch—and it sounded awful, as I cannot sing. But I made the entire group laugh.
Eddie: A guest once asked me to remove ants from a tent, without harming them. (All ants were safely removed.)
3. What about a guest’s most unique request?
Charles: A guest wanted to have one of our ponies come to a camp and stay next to her child’s bed inside the tent until she fell asleep.
Eddie: I had a guest who wanted me to try to get an elk close enough to touch.
4. What necessities should a guest bring to Paws Up glamping tents?
Charles: An open-minded attitude. You are going to experience a vacation like nothing you’ve done before.
Eddie: The tents have pretty much everything you could need, and if they don’t, we can get it for you.
5. What is the most unique aspect of Paws Up?
Charles: There are actually two things that make the glamping adventure unique: the location and the willingness of the staff to go the extra mile time after time. If one of those two things was missing, it just would not be the same experience.
Eddie: Our employees at Paws Up are special. They are friendly, genuine and passionate about giving our guests a great glamping experience.
6. Where is your personal ultimate favorite place to camp?
Charles: The deck of Cliffside Camp early in the morning, drinking coffee and watch the sunrise while eagles soar above the Blackfoot River looking for breakfast.
Eddie: All camps have features that make them individual, and I can honestly make a case for each being my favorite. Moonlight Camp has a special place in my heart, as it was the first camp I worked. It has the true feel of camping, being out in the open meadow and away from most of The Resort, so you definitely feel like you’ve stolen away.
7. If you could tell guests one thing before they visit Paws Up, what would it be?
Charles: Do not hesitate to ask us anything, no matter how crazy your request is. We want to know what you like, but we are also really good at anticipating your needs.
Eddie: Be prepared to get dirty! Whether you are on ATVs, horseback riding or sitting around the campfire, it’s the great outdoors, so—naturally—it can be dusty and dirty. A good pair of old jeans is sufficient here, as we don’t want to ruin your good pair.
8. What’s the one thing you see guests most often forget to pack?
Charles: Sunscreen.
Eddie: A cowboy hat. If you don’t have one, don’t worry. We have a huge selection of hats in the Wilderness Outpost, and you will be feeling country in no time!
9. If you could have one famous camper come stay at the ranch, who would it be?
Charles: Bear Grylls—I’d love to have him run a wilderness workshop.
Eddie: Louis L’Amour. I grew up reading my dad’s old books while we were camping, and he was by far my favorite storyteller. I would love to sit around the crackling fire as he told stories of the Old West, gun-slinging cowboys, outlaws and bandits that would keep me intrigued for hours.
10. How did you become a camping butler?
Charles: I am too old for that now, but if I—just like Cher—could turn back time, this would have been my favorite summer job. Most of our butlers are referrals from other employees.
Eddie: I started working at the Resort as a summer job during college, and it has easily become one of my favorite jobs I have ever held. Being outdoors and helping guests enjoy themselves while glamping is a fun and challenging job, but it is highly rewarding when you see the smiles and continually have guests who don’t want to leave at the end of their stays!
Ask Kyle Riggs what wine you should bring to a wintertime party, and he’ll tell you it’s hard to beat Bordeaux-inspired reds. Whether you like Napa’s fruit-forward Cabernet Sauvignons or the more assertively tannic Cabernets from France, winter and fine red wines belong together. “And I’m in love with some of the Willamette Valley Pinot Noirs. I think that’s a quintessential winter wine choice,” Riggs said.
