Nathan F.doesn't recommendJuly 8, 2019
Three Sisters Tipi @ Old Gem Farm
Unwelcome at the Old Gem Farm...
I rarely submit negative reviews. However, with this being my least favorite roomshare experience to date, I wanted to share some of the things I wish I would of been aware of prior to booking with Old Gem. My girlfriend and I are new to Hipcamp, but have used similar apps. My experience with the Hipcamp app, booking and support has been very positive and will continue to use them.
PROs
Old Gem is located in a beautiful, remote farm setting and the directions the host provided were timely and accurate.
The drive out was great.
The price for the tipi was fair.
The tipi is accurately described and the photos reflect what you can expect.
Community firepit with firewood provided is a nice touch.
Outhouse is conveniently close to tipi.
Clean bathroom, kitchen and wifi is available in the "Main Lodge".
CONs
"Main Lodge" is actually the hosts personal home and is quite the unwelcoming experience if you plan to use these amenities. The picture of the bathroom and breakfast nook for example are in her home where she also houses her two farm dogs. It is expected to locate the host and schedule times to use these amenities from 9a-9p. We were made to feel we were intruding each time and as if she would do us a favor to "leave it unlocked". At one point the host closed my laptop, placed it back into my work bag and set it outside her home stating she was having some kind of reaction to it(?). I was told twice that I should not be downloading anything on the wifi connection while I was only checking emails. We ultimately stopped using these amenities. We feel the post is deceiving in listing the amenities as a typical public/communal lodge one would expect.
There is an on-site farm helper that has two dogs. One of which runs across the field and aggressively barks at you every.single.time he sees you. The dogs owner seemed to not notice over the course of 3 days. To be clear, these are different from the hosts dogs, they are fine.
The tipi is placed directly on ungroomed ground and has a small outdoor rug placed on the dirt (accurate photo on the listing). Additionally there is a sign that says "No Shoes" when you arrive to the Tipi. Dirt, bugs and rain are inevitable.
The tipi is a traditional open top setup. This means rain falls directly onto the center of the bed. The host advised us to cover the bed with provided plastic and we ultimately had to sleep under the plastic as the rain fell. Still no complaint from us, I mean we did book a tipi and weather happens.
Weather is an expected challenge while camping and we were as careful as possible with tracking in dirt on our feet. We spent the last rainy day driving into Taos because the tipi was getting wet and cold. During our departure we took each rug out and shook them. However, despite the above circumstances and non-stop rain my account was sent to Hipcamp support by the host for leaving the site dirty and was required to pay additional fees.
Hipcamp support was wonderful with helping me pay the fee. Ultimately, I would encourage potential guest to review Old Gem on other channels and if only interested in the tipi / tent experience (vs. the tiny homes)... possibly search elsewhere.
Marit G.doesn't recommendJune 2, 2019
High Road Farmstead Camp
The listing was probably accurate a couple of years ago, but it's now predominantly a glamping site with a couple of tiny camp sites. In our case, a tiny campsite that we found out we had to share with another couple/group. The grass was very tall and I didn't really picture how we'd pitch a tent comfortably, let alone make it a spot where we'd want to hang out. It's not private and using the communal fire ring in our case would have involved invading the glamping site that had been entirely reserved by a large group of students. We decided not to stay and ended up getting a partial refund. The hosts are very friendly and the area is beautiful, but I wouldn't recommend tent camping.
Anna M.recommendsMay 31, 2019
High Road Farmstead Camp
Sweet little camp ground
We had a great time at the site! We had a cute little nook between two rivers and it felt pretty private.
There is a shared/community fire pit, adorable farm animals (we loved the donkey!), gorgeous views, and the hosts were fantastic!
There are two pretty neat bathrooms on site that the host built from scrap--one has a flushing toilet with running water, and the other is a compost bathroom that wasn't stinky at all! (Seriously, it wasn't!)
Chelsea W.recommendsSeptember 18, 2017
Creekside Glamping at Old Gem Farm
This campsite was great. The tent was clean, the fire pit was big and wood was provided, and the outhouse is well-maintained and closeby. The site is really private and overlooks a great rock cliff, an acequia, and a little meadow. It's very serene and the hosts were also really friendly.
Megan K.recommendsSeptember 1, 2017
Creekside Glamping at Old Gem Farm
Ahh I absolutely LOVED this place. Its a working farm nestled in a canyon in the little town of Trampas, NM. First off, the drive was beautiful, you pass through all these small towns that look like something out of an old western film. We arrived at the site and were greeted by the friendly hosts who gave us a tour. The property has a small creek that runs through the place and several spots for tent camping with easy access to the water. We stayed in the glamper and loved it! I would recommend possibly bringing extra blankets or a sleeping bag, as it got pretty chilly overnight in the tent, and the blankets provided weren't quite enough. Our experience was great, I would definitely camp here again!
Andi L.recommendsJuly 30, 2017
High Road Farmstead Camp
We enjoyed our time at High Road Farmstead Camp. The setting is beautiful! The outhouse is the coolest (and cleanest) one I've ever used. We highly recommend!