A Luxury Glamping Resort Offers Relaxation
Troy Hopkins believes he’s the luckiest person in the world. “I get to drive a 4-wheeler to work every day,” he says.
Hosting and customer service are 2 of Troy’s greatest joys, and he gets to see the results of his efforts daily in the smiles of his guests.
Troy and his wife, Patti, own and operate ReTreet, an innovative luxury glamping — glamorous camping — resort on Lake Guntersville. On a 40-acre property, ReTreet features extreme glamping tents, treehouses, and tiny cottages.
How It Started
The Hopkinses moved to Lake Guntersville in 2020. Patti works as a registered nurse, and the couple have owned a variety of businesses over the years, including a commercial cleaning company and The Interior Marketplace in Hampton Cove.
During their daily walks near their home, the couple noticed a beautiful piece of undeveloped property and dreamed of the possibilities. At first, they thought about building an angler’s retreat, but their daughters suggested another idea. With the growing popularity of glamping, they felt like a rustic retreat would draw visitors to come and enjoy the beauty of the area.
The terrain is steep, so the couple began by building 6 treehouses. “These aren’t just any treehouses,” Troy says. They are outfitted with granite countertops and king-size beds.
The first building phase of the property was so successful that in January 2023, the Hopkinses decided to branch out and build platform glamping tents and tiny cottages. While the tents are just that, a tent, they have interior walls and roofs. Also, each tent has its own theme. The Hogwarts House is very popular with Harry Potter fans. The Love Shack — which offers guests a private hot tub — is the most popular glamping tent.
All ReTreet guests are given access to a golf cart upon arrival. Troy says the first thing a lot of guests do is take a photo with their golf cart, which has their name on it. “We really give our guests a concierge experience,” he says. “It feels like camping at a very nice hotel.”
The Tiny Cottages, which are named after Sherwin Williams paint colors, are 280-square-foot studio spaces. Guests have access to a disc golf course, dog park, horseshoe pit, a general store, and more.
“We recently added a spa with a cedar soaking tub and an outdoor sauna so that everyone can enjoy a hot tub experience,” Troy says. “The Love Shack stays booked because people love the hot tub, so we are looking into adding more.”
1 of the most recent additions to the property is the Ekodome, a glass dome custom-made in Turkey and shipped to the property. Some of the plans for the future include a pop-up restaurant in the Ekodome featuring the talents of local chefs.
Coming Together
Troy has always been an entrepreneur. At 5 years old, he delivered fresh eggs from his family’s hens to customers for 50 cents per dozen. Today, he pays homage to his early entrepreneurial spirit by including fresh eggs in each cabin when guests check in.