A glampground and retreat center in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge is expanding its offerings this spring as it continues to position itself as a destination for both leisure stays and organized group events.
Dappled Light, located in Beattyville, sits on 50 acres of forested land with hiking trails and currently offers 10 glamping sites alongside a growing focus on retreats, off-sites, and small-scale events.
Dappled Light first opened to the public as a campsite in 2021. According to the retreat center, its business model evolved in the second half of 2025 to more intentionally include large and structured gatherings, such as company off-sites, yoga retreats, and micro-weddings.
The shift coincided with the launch of The Rookery, a newly built indoor-outdoor event space designed to accommodate organized groups while maintaining a strong connection to the surrounding landscape.
“We’ve hosted over 500 individuals/families and dozens of retreats over the four years we’ve been open to the public. We love both styles of hosting,” Izaac Rains, co-owner, told CityBeats.
“The thing that calls to us about group retreats is the potential for groups to form deep connections, have fun together, and get into a more creative headspace. We’ve seen these benefits show themselves to groups of many styles; that fired us up. We knew we were onto something good.”
The Rookery includes 1,500 square feet of flexible space and features a slide-open glass wall with views of the surrounding valley. The venue also includes a large kitchen and serving area, multiple bathrooms, and a cliffside deck. The space can seat up to 40 people and is available for booking for retreats and events beginning this spring.
In addition to the new event space, the Dappled Light team has made upgrades to its overnight accommodations. The property includes nine glamping tents, each sleeping between four and six guests, as well as a Cliffside Cabin that can host up to six people.
The cabin includes a fully stocked kitchen, a private bathroom, and views overlooking the gorge. Each glamping tent features a private front porch, canopy views, and access to outdoor play nets, along with shared amenities such as an on-site bathhouse and grill. Some tents also include private fire pits.
For outdoor hospitality and glamping professionals, Dappled Light’s evolution reflects a broader industry trend toward diversification of revenue streams. By combining overnight accommodations with purpose-built event infrastructure, operators may be able to extend shoulder seasons, increase midweek occupancy, and attract higher-yield group bookings.
The property’s transition highlights how smaller, nature-based destinations are adapting their offerings to meet demand for experiential travel and group-focused stays without fully shifting away from traditional leisure guests.