First-Ever Overnight Camping Retreat Coming to Governors Island this Season!
Feb 7, 2018 9:30 am
Today, the Trust for Governors Island announced that for the first time, New Yorkers will be able to sleep under the stars in their own city on Governors Island! Beginning in May, Collective Hotels & Retreats will bring unique, temporary seasonal lodging against the back drop of the Island’s iconic views of the Lower Manhattan skyline, New York Harbor and Statue of Liberty. As part of their operation, Collective will open a new public lawn with free programming and new dining options for all visitors to the Island during the public season, and is committed to partnering with local non-profit organizations to offer opportunities for NYC youth to experience camping on the Island.
As part of a three-year license agreement announced today, Collective Retreats will transform six acres of the Island’s Western Development Zone into a unique, environmentally-friendly overnight lodging retreat with unobstructed views of the Statue of Liberty. Collective Governors Island, a New York City Retreat will accommodate up to 100 overnight guests who will be able to select from a range of lodging options. The company currently operates in the Hudson Valley and in Big Sky Mountain near Yellowstone National Park. Collective Governors Island is its first venture in New York City.
Collective Retreats will also create a newly landscaped public lawn on the site with special events and programming such as live music, innovative dining, recreation, wellness activities and much more. During the Island’s public hours, the site’s lawn and dining options will be open to all Island visitors. In addition, Collective Governors Island will host special community nights for non-profit youth organizations, making the site accessible for New York City kids to experience a night on the Island under the stars. For more about Collective Governors Island, visit www.collectiveretreats.com.
Late last year, Collective Retreats responded to a Request
for Proposals (RFP) that The Trust issued in October 2017. The RFP sought
interim, temporary entertainment and recreational uses for the Western
Development Zone, a flat paved site located on the Southern portion of
Governors Island. The Trust received a broad range of proposals that were
evaluated based on impact to Island operations, fit with the overall character
of the Island, demonstrated operational experience and proposed fee offer.
These new interim uses for the Western Development Zone designated today will
offer fresh, exciting opportunities for visitors to experience the Island in
new ways. Site fees generated by these interim uses will go towards funding the
Island’s operations and stewardship of over 90 acres of public open space.
Photos by Kate Osborne and Timothy Schenck