A father and daughter in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, are converting a portion of their 123-acre farm into a small glamping and camping business scheduled to open in May.
The project, Ray of Sunshine Camping and Glamping, is being developed by Kat St. Pierre and her father, Rick, on land that has been in their family since the late 1700s.
Their plan reflects broader efforts in rural counties such as Mercer to diversify local attractions, draw visitors and younger residents, and bolster long-term economic stability amid ongoing population decline.
St. Pierre, a former English teacher who moved back to the family property from Arizona, said the idea emerged as she considered how to keep the land productive at a time when farming has become increasingly difficult.
She noted that working alongside her father was also a key motivation. “He’s a jack of all trades, and he’s almost 80. It was kind of a now-or-never thing,” she told Axios.
Since May, the pair have been constructing glamping cabins using lumber milled from trees on the property. The site, located in Jefferson Township about an hour north of Pittsburgh, is designed to emphasize low-impact structures and off-grid accommodations.
Plans include two two-story cabins that can sleep up to four guests, priced from $110 per night, along with a smaller cottage for two starting at $75 per night. The location will also offer five tent platforms for $15 per night, additional backpacking sites, composting outhouses, fire pits, and lawn games.
Visitors will be able to rent tents, sleeping bags, flashlights, and other gear, and can opt for setup and takedown services.
Ray of Sunshine has also launched free artist residencies, which St. Pierre says will complement future educational programming. She plans to host workshops and teach outdoor skills with the goal of making nature more accessible to people who may feel excluded from outdoor recreation spaces.
“That was a big motivation for me because I was once intimidated by camping culture,” she said. She added that she hopes to create a welcoming environment for queer visitors and others who may have felt unwelcome in traditional outdoor settings.
For outdoor hospitality operators, the project highlights a growing trend in which small landowners repurpose rural property to serve a changing visitor profile. Demand for inclusive, skills-based, and low-impact stays continues to expand, particularly in regions looking to attract younger travelers.
The use of on-site materials, such as lumber milled from the property, also illustrates cost-management and sustainability approaches that may be relevant to operators evaluating expansion or diversification strategies.
The farm, which once supported dairy operations and is now leased to organic growers, will soon add hospitality to its mix of uses. Ray of Sunshine plans to open to the public in May, with reservations now available. The developers are also promoting the project through social media to build interest ahead of the launch.