A Welsh couple has transformed a former caravan park in Llanelli, South Wales, into an off-grid tourism business after selling their home and purchasing the long-abandoned property in a move that combined a lifestyle change with a business investment in outdoor hospitality.
Jon and Emilie James, ages 36 and 37, began the transition in June 2022 when they sold their home through Instagram for £132,000. After paying off the remaining mortgage, they retained approximately £79,000 in equity. They combined those funds with £11,000 in personal savings to purchase a three-acre former colliery workers’ caravan park that had been listed for £90,000.
The legal process to complete the purchase took around eight months. By the time the transaction closed, the couple said they had £500 remaining in their bank account but owned the property outright, eliminating mortgage debt as they started redeveloping the site.
The property had remained vacant for an extended period and required extensive cleanup before redevelopment could begin.
According to the couple, the land was heavily overgrown and contained debris from its previous industrial use. Jon James said he initially dismissed the idea of buying the property, recalling that he told his wife, “No way are we buying that.” Emilie James continued encouraging the purchase, and the pair eventually visited the site in late 2021 before deciding to move forward with the acquisition.
According to Streamline, the couple relocated to the property with their dog, Maggie, living in a renovated touring caravan while carrying out redevelopment work. They also continued operating their wedding photography and videography business, documenting the restoration process through social media under the Camp Out West brand.
Redeveloping the former caravan park presented several infrastructure challenges. During the first two months after moving onto the property, the couple lived without running water while working to establish a permanent supply. They also installed off-grid solar power and battery storage systems to provide electricity and completed much of the construction work themselves in an effort to reduce development costs.
The current focus of the redevelopment is the construction of a glamping cabin designed for short-stay accommodations. The planned unit includes insulation suitable for year-round use and a wood-fired sauna as part of the guest experience.
The project is intended to establish Camp Out West as an eco-tourism and glamping destination while creating a long-term source of business income.
The redevelopment reflects broader interest in adaptive reuse projects within the outdoor hospitality sector, where former campgrounds, caravan parks, and underutilized rural properties are increasingly being converted into glamping accommodations and nature-based tourism businesses.
Rising consumer demand for experiences centered on outdoor recreation, wellness, and digital disconnection has encouraged operators to invest in accommodations that emphasize sustainability and smaller-scale guest experiences.
For campground, caravan park, and glamping business owners, the project also illustrates how phased redevelopment can reduce upfront capital requirements.
By living on-site, completing portions of the construction independently, and gradually adding guest accommodations, operators may be able to spread investment over time rather than undertaking a full-scale redevelopment before opening.
While every project presents different financial, regulatory, and infrastructure considerations, incremental development can provide greater flexibility when restoring older properties or repositioning dormant tourism assets.
As construction continues, Camp Out West represents the couple’s effort to convert a former industrial caravan park into a functioning hospitality business while maintaining an off-grid lifestyle. Their redevelopment began with the property purchase in 2022 and remains ongoing as additional accommodations and guest facilities are completed.