A new Chicago startup wants you to get away to nature, but without the tent poles and uncomfortable sleeping bags found in a traditional camping experience.
Off Map is bringing 'glamping' to southwest Michigan. The startup purchased 75 acres of land near South Haven, where it will begin housing guests this July. Off Map offers an elevated camping experience with fully furnished tents equipped with mattresses, linens and decor. Each tent also features a wood-burning stove and guests can access a shared bathroom facility on the campgrounds.
Off Map offers two tent types: a single king bed option or a tent with three twin beds. In total, the startup plans to have around 15 tents available by launch day, with plans to expand.
Off Map is led by Mike Doyle, an entrepreneur who previously co-founded Rent Like a Champion, a vacation rental startup that appeared on Shark Tank for its Airbnb-like business that focuses on college towns during sporting events, and Sam Shanley, a VC at Chicago's Adams Street Partners. While on a cross country road trip, Shanley discovered how popular high-end camping sites were out west, and together with Doyle's experience in the hospitality industry, the two decided to bring a "glamping" experience that's just a two-hour drive from Chicago.
Off Map Glamping
While the popularity of camping has risen sharply since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Doyle and Shanley were planning Off Map before the U.S. effectively shut down last March. In fact, the two were visiting potential sites the day travel bans began to take effect last year, Doyle said.
"We weren’t sure what was going to happen," said Doyle, who sold his stake in Rent Like a Champion in 2019 to another partner. "Is starting a travel company right now the dumbest thing we could be doing?"
But with camping continuing to grow in popularity, the two decided to forge ahead with the business, providing a nearby getaway for travelers from Chicago and Detroit who wanted to unplug and recharge but didn't want the hassle of setting up a campsite.
"It's camping for people who maybe don't have the desire, equipment or know-how for rustic camping," Doyle said. "It's a super turn-key experience."
Off Map has so far raised an angel round of funding, with investors including Chris Deutsch of Chicago-based Lofty Ventures.
Reservations for this summer began this week, with tents starting at $200 a night. Doyle said Off Map will eye additional locations down the road, particularly in vacation towns across the Midwest.
Off Map joins a growing group of companies offering "glamping" to the millennial camper. New York startup Getaway recently opened a location in Grand Junction, Michigan, which includes 41 cabins for rent across 79 acres. San Francisco-based AutoCamp offers high-end camping in custom-built Airstreams. And Hipcamp, an online marketplace for camping sites, also offers glamping options.
