A proposed luxury glamping resort south of Cadillac (Michigan) is moving forward as developers Shelby and Ben Hastings prepare to present a key request to the Clam Lake Township Planning Commission.
The project, called The Haven of Cadillac, seeks a Planned Unit Development (PUD) overlay on a 70-acre parcel near Evergreen Golf Course.
The Hastingses, operating under Beauvista Partners, LLC, aim to develop an upscale outdoor resort that combines high-end camping accommodations with natural preservation. The resort is designed to appeal primarily to couples and corporate retreats. While families would not be excluded, they are not the core audience, according to the developers.
Phase 1 of the project would introduce 15 to 20 glamping units, including eco-domes and mini cabins, with future phases to add up to 85 RV sites.
“We were there [Clam Lake Township] in April, and then we will be back next week. We are going to be in front of the planning commission to present our PUD request,” Shelby Hastings said, as reported by Cadillac News.
“We are requesting to put the PUD overlay on the property so we can move forward with the final site plan,” Hastings added.
The resort would feature eco-friendly amenities such as walking trails, dark-sky lighting, and native landscaping.
The developers said the intent is to minimize disruption to the natural terrain, which includes woodlands, wetlands, rolling hills, and a pond.
A landscape architect is part of the project team to ensure sustainable design practices. The development aims to keep the trees and not mow down everything.
If the township approves the PUD overlay, a final site plan review will follow. Phase 1 construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2026, with a goal of opening by Memorial Day 2027.
The full project build-out is estimated to take five to seven years.
Support for the project has come from local organizations, including the Cadillac Area Visitors Bureau, the Cadillac Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Alliance for Economic Success.
“They did their homework,” said Cindy Warda, Clam Lake Township Downtown Development Authority director and zoning administrator. “They came to the township, had a joint meeting and preliminarily explained what they were trying to do. Then they did a market and feasibility study to see if it would work.”
Warda said the PUD overlay, if approved, would provide flexibility for the developers to mix land uses while maintaining oversight through township approvals for each development phase.