Firelight Camps operates at 1150 Danby Rd, Ithaca, NY — a wooded glampground in the backyard of La Tourelle Inn & Spa. The operator positions the property as elevated camping: furnished luxury safari tents immersed in forest, not a hotel with tent-shaped marketing.

The Tent Setup

Each safari tent includes hardwood floors, a plush king bed or double-queen configuration, a private tented porch with rocking chairs, battery-powered lanterns, and a writer’s desk and chair. King tents sleep up to three guests; double-queen tents sleep up to four. Cots can adjust bedding layout within those occupancy caps.

Four tents — numbers 16, 17, 18, and 19 — add electric heat, fans, floor lamps, and outlets at a higher rate. All remaining tents rely on super-warm bedding, complimentary hot water bottles and hand warmers in colder months, and battery lanterns. The operator recommends electric tents for spring and fall when Upstate overnight temperatures drop.

Bathhouses with hot showers, flushing toilets, and eco-friendly bath products sit two to five minutes’ walk from tent clusters. There is no in-tent plumbing. The lobby tent handles check-in, coffee and tea service, phone charging, and communal campfires at sundown.

Who Operates It and Who It Fits

Firelight Camps operates in partnership with La Tourelle Inn & Spa — guests can extend into spa services and inn dining without relocating. The profile suits couples, small families, and Finger Lakes visitors who want forest immersion without tent-pitching logistics.

Strong fit: Gorge-country weekenders combining hiking and winery loops. Parents introducing teens to camping with real mattresses and hot showers nearby. Dog owners in non-electric tents — well-behaved dogs are allowed for an additional nightly fee in non-electric units only.

Weak fit: Guests requiring ensuite bathrooms, in-tent electricity in every unit, or self-camping. Firelight does not accept personal tents or RV hookups.

Seasonal Operation

The glampground operates seasonally. The operator publishes open dates on the official booking page each year — check current-season dates before planning rather than assuming a fixed calendar. The book page may list dates for the active booking year only.

Rates are per tent, per night, based on two-guest occupancy with additional fees for extra adults, children under twelve, and dogs. Quiet hours run 11 PM to 8 AM.

When Taughannock or Buttermilk Falls State Park Is the Better Call

New York State Park campgrounds around Cayuga Lake — when you carry tent gear and secured a site at Taughannock Falls, Buttermilk Falls, or Robert H. Treman. State parks deliver gorge proximity at lower cost with standard bathhouse loops.

La Tourelle inn rooms — when forecast calls for sustained cold rain and you want hard walls without leaving the property ecosystem.

RV travelers or self-campers — no hookups and no personal tents; look to private campgrounds near Ithaca with full-service pads or tent sites.

Guests needing guaranteed in-tent power — unless you book tents 16–19 specifically, plan for battery lanterns and lobby charging.

For broader glamping comparisons, see glamping campgrounds: yurts, safari tents, and canvas suites.

Practical Notes

  • Reserve electric tents early for shoulder-season nights.
  • Dogs: non-electric tents only; leash rules in communal areas; no unattended pets.
  • Cancellation within seven days of arrival triggers one-night charge; earlier cancellations incur a $25 fee.

Firelight Camps is the booking when Ithaca gorge country, furnished safari tents, and La Tourelle adjacency beat state-park tent setup — and when shared bathhouses minutes away fit your comfort threshold.