Urban Cowboy has brought its design-focused hospitality concept to New York City through a collaboration with Collective Retreats Governors Island, introducing a 325-square-foot tent for the 2026 season. The Urban Cowboy Tent is available through the end of November and is expected to return to the site for the 2027 season.
The project extends Urban Cowboy’s relationship with hospitality firm Dovetail + Co, following their work together at Urban Cowboy Lodge in New York’s Catskills.
The latest collaboration places the brand’s Western-inspired design approach within Collective Retreats’ waterfront setting on Governors Island, offering an example of how established hospitality brands are using distinctive accommodations to create differentiated stays in urban and destination markets.
Designed by Lyon Porter, Urban Cowboy co-founder and creative director of Cowboy Creative, the tent combines camping accommodation with a range of hotel-style features. It includes an ensuite bathroom and a clawfoot soaking tub positioned to provide views of the Statue of Liberty.
The interior incorporates Pendleton textiles, El Paso Saddle Blanket rugs, vintage furnishings and found objects, including antique artwork, boat oars and a vintage radio.
The tent’s interiors are wrapped in red Pendleton Harding-pattern fabric, which was used for wall and ceiling panels as well as a custom upholstered headboard. Additional vintage pieces include antique lanterns and 1920s canteens sourced from outdoor markets and other locations. An antique French cast-iron tub serves as one of the room’s central features.
Kevin Jacob Design LLC, which has previously worked on Urban Cowboy Lodge & Resort, contributed custom elements including hand-painted stencil work, signage and mounted deer antlers.
“The Urban Cowboy Tent at Collective Retreats, like Urban Cowboy Lodge, embodies the kind of unexpected hospitality experiences we strive to create at Dovetail + Co: immersive destinations that invite guests to experience a place in an entirely new way,” said Phil Hospod, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Dovetail + Co.
“By bringing together Urban Cowboy’s distinctive aesthetic with the natural setting and unique character of Collective Retreats Governors Island, we’ve created an experience that celebrates both brands and encourages connection, discovery and memorable stays.”
For outdoor hospitality operators, the project highlights the potential of pairing a recognizable accommodation concept with a strong sense of place. Rather than relying solely on the physical tent as the selling point, the offering combines views, location, interior design, hotel-style amenities and brand identity into a single accommodation experience.
Such an approach can help operators position premium camping units around a broader guest experience, particularly in locations where access to nearby attractions is part of the value proposition.
“An authentic Urban Cowboy experience is always relevant and meant to be transportive,” said Lyon Porter, Co-Founder, Urban Cowboy.
“This collaboration marks a meaningful return to New York City, where Urban Cowboy first began with our bed and breakfast in Williamsburg. Collective Retreats at Governors Island presented an opportunity to reimagine the spirit of Urban Cowboy in an entirely new setting that feels both immersed in nature and connected to the city.”
The Urban Cowboy Tent is currently operating as a seasonal accommodation at Collective Retreats Governors Island through November 2026, with plans for its return in 2027. The project adds another example of glamping being used in locations where operators can combine outdoor accommodation with proximity to major urban destinations and attractions.
