Meet Kim and Ben Saari

Kim and Ben Saari are the founders of Quarry Cove, a glamping retreat on Cherokee Lake in East Tennessee, which opened in Spring 2022. The inspiration for their business stemmed from their travels out west, where they experienced unique off-grid accommodations like funky cabins, hot springs with teepees, and yurts that required hiking to reach. They aimed to replicate a similar experience near a lake, providing guests with the ease and luxury of traditional accommodations while still being immersed in nature, a concept they term 'glamping.' Their goal was to offer amenities such as electricity, running water, showers, towels, and comfortable beds, all within an outdoor setting. Quarry Cove Retreat offers four bespoke glamp sites with bell tents and a micro A-frame cabin. Each bell tent is situated on a private deck and is furnished with a luxury Nectar king or queen mattress on a custom elevated platform bed frame. These tents include electricity, mini-fridges, bedside lamps, side tables, fans, Nespresso coffee makers with condiments and utensils, rugs, wireless phone chargers, flashlights, and a lake map. Each site also features a fire station equipped with a grill and fire pit, with firewood available upon request. Guests have the option to relax under the stars or watch movies in bed. Local pizza delivery is available to the tents, and nearby restaurants and stores provide additional convenience. For communal facilities, the resort provides a bathhouse located between the lake and the glamp sites, featuring two bathrooms, two outdoor showers, and two vanities with sinks, along with provided towels. The retreat is gated for privacy and includes a private parking lot for guests. In the Fall of the previous year, they introduced a micro transforming A-frame cottage on the lake, which includes a Nectar queen-size mattress, mini-fridge, electricity, a small chair, and a Nespresso coffee maker. This unit can open completely for an outdoor experience or close for privacy. It also has a private picnic table, fire pit, and grill station. Quarry Cove strives to offer customized experiences, including multi-family rentals where all four tents and the A-frame can be booked together. They receive bookings 6 to 8 months in advance, often from returning guests, and attract visitors from various states such as Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Indiana, as well as strong local support. The retreat also offers specialized items like charcuterie boards, themed tents, birthday parties, and s'more and firewood kits. For lake activities, they provide jet ski, paddle board, and kayak rentals, lessons, and tours. They also offer wake surf boat excursions and lessons, with summer camps available with local wake surf professionals. Kim and Ben Saari moved to East Tennessee four years ago from Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Both avid snowboarders and wake surfers, they purchased the old Marble Hall property and over 40 acres on Cherokee Lake, aiming to develop a marina. Ben’s background is in the ski industry, and Kim’s is in real estate. They previously owned and operated a wake surf company called WAKE in Steamboat for over a decade. Their dream of adding a marina was approved by the TVA in 2023, following an extensive renovation of the home and development of the business. Initially, their business plan prioritized the community marina, but due to COVID-19 and approval delays, they pivoted to phase two: the glamping resort with bell tents. This strategic shift allowed them to generate income and establish the resort while awaiting marina approval. This unexpected challenge ultimately proved beneficial, as the glamping resort was fully operational before the marina opened. The marina, approved in 2023, will be added to the resort in the coming spring, offering approximately 18 slips for seasonal rental, boat service, storage, and valet boat services for guests and clients, including overnight slip options. #GlampingRetreat #CherokeeLake #QuarryCove #Glamping #AFrameCabin #WakeSurfing #MarinaDevelopment #Entrepreneurship #OutdoorHospitality #GlampingRetreat #CherokeeLake #QuarryCove #Glamping #AFrameCabin #WakeSurfing #MarinaDevelopment #Entrepreneurship #OutdoorHospitality

20 months ago

Read Full Article