Close your eyes, take a deep breath and imagine…
You wake up gently, the dappled sunlight across your face, the air smells slightly sweet and you can hear birds chirping in the distance. There is a bit of a chill in the air, so you yawn, stretch and snuggle into the crisp white comforter. After a few moments, you roll over, place your feet on the cedar planks and walk towards the big, fluffy white robe hanging nearby. You step out on the deck to find a basket of local goodies
Picture Yourself at Homegrown Hideaway
Close your eyes, take a deep breath and imagine…
You wake up gently, the dappled sunlight across your face, the air smells slightly sweet and you can hear birds chirping in the distance. There is a bit of a chill in the air, so you yawn, stretch and snuggle into the crisp white comforter. After a few moments, you roll over, place your feet on the cedar planks and walk towards the big, fluffy white robe hanging nearby. You step out on the deck to find a basket of local goodies waiting for you – eggs, pastries and fruit. You sit in the Adirondack chair and take a bite of the peach, letting the juice drip down your wrist…
Is this heaven? Nope. It’s Homegrown Hideaway.
Just Like Romeo & Juliet…kind of
Tucked away from the road, just by the Lynn Valley Trail and Lynn Valley River, Nova Mutual commercial member Homegrown Hideaway is a family owned and operated glamping site. Owners Caroline and Jonathon Jager have a fascinating story. Jonathon grew up on the land where Homegrown Hideaway is now located, and his wife Caroline lived right across the street. However, since the street (St. John’s Road) is the dividing line between Port Dover and Simcoe, Caroline and Jonathon went to different schools and didn’t meet until they were in their late 20’s!
Inspiration for Homegrown Hideaway came from Facebook of all places. It was always Jonathon’s desire to refurbish the 100+ year old barn and when Caroline saw an ad on Facebook for a glamping site, the Jager’s imagined how they could bring that to life in Norfolk.
With help from her former colleagues at G. Douglas Vallee Limited (Caroline is a licensed architectural technologist), they have beautifully restored the barn. Eventually it will be fully heated, but they have already installed in floor heating (Jonathon is an apprentice electrician) and they are building beautiful tables from the original barn boards.
The Perfect Place to Relax and Recharge
The glamping tents themselves are in private nooks surrounded by greenery which provides privacy for their guests. Each site has a porch with two Adirondack chairs made from recycled plastic, a fire pit and BBQ with a cooking grill. The tent is outfitted with a queen-sized bed (with a headboard made from recycled barn boards), luxurious mattresses, linens and kitchen essentials. Guests also have access to a shared stainless-steel prep kitchen area with running water to prepare meals. The ‘Secluded Sanctuary’ tent even comes with an adjacent private rainwater shower.
While opening a new business during a global pandemic is certainly not ideal… accommodations on 17 pristine acres with truly contactless check in/out and only one other couple on site? That certainly sounds idyllic.
Originally Caroline and Jonathon had planned to open with five glamping sites, but they scaled back for the first season. This has ensured that the guests will have their own private powder room and shower facilities. They’re hoping to turn the three remaining sites into picnic areas. These spaces will be available for daytime use, giving people a safe and physically distant way to enjoy the property. Still nervous about venturing out into the ‘real world’? Caroline will happily strip a tent completely and guests can bring their own bedding, pillows and big, fluffy robes from home.
A Lot of Local Love
One of the strengths of their business model is local partnerships. Jonathon and Caroline work with Urban Parisian and Matz Fruit Barn to fill the delicious breakfast baskets. Their massive property is cared for by South Coast Group, who also constructed the washroom building and the barn project. Moving forward they’re also hoping to expand into partnerships with wineries, bike rentals, yoga instructors, musicians and more!
Now…close your eyes, take a deep breath and imagine…
You’re sitting outdoors in an Adirondack chair, your favourite beverage in your hands and a blanket draped over your legs. Your face is warm, partially from the crackling fire and from a day spent in the sun. The sound of the crickets and hypnotic leaping of flames are putting you into a trance…but before you completely zone out, you wonder is this heaven?
Nope. It’s Homegrown Hideaway.
Written by Emily Gibson, Brand Ambassador
