Originating in the United Kingdom in the mid-2000s and officially added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2016, the term “glamping” is a portmanteau of “glamorous camping” that refers to a way of spending a few nights outdoors in a way that goes way beyond what one finds at a traditional campground — running water, electricity and air conditioning as a start but, in some cases, the luxury goes all the way to catered meals, spa services and a personal butler.
While the line that differentiates “camping” and “glamping” is a very fluid one that is open to much individual interpretation, a recent research report shows that the North American glamping market is predicted to grow from $993.2 million in 2025 to $2.60 billion by 2033.
Sandy Pines Campground to head to bankruptcy auction in Maine
Some estimates show that there are approximately 10,000 sites with the word “glamping” in their description being advertised on various camping and accommodation rental platforms in the U.S. at any given time.
But with the costs of running any kind of accommodation running high, not everyone who sets out to launch a glamping site is able to stay in business.
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Opened in 2016 by former hotelier Tim Harrington, Sandy Pines Campground in Kennebunkport positioned itself as a glamping site offering guests cottages, yurts, luxury tents and RV sites on over 46 acres of land near Goose Rocks Beach on the Maine Coast.
In February 2026, Sandy Pines filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maine amid mounting debt, liens and lawsuits over unpaid contractor work.
The filing temporarily postponed a looming foreclosure auction but, after the judge overseeing the case evaluated its financial position and approved an auction to the highest bidder, a bankruptcy auction is proceeding throughout the day on May 27.
The sale is being overseeing by the local Keenan Auction Company Inc. and is taking place in a sealed bid format, which means that buyers submit bids that become public once the deadline for presenting an offer has passed.
Sandy Pines
What went wrong and why is Sandy Pines being sold at auction
Neither Sandy Pines nor Atlantic Hospitality, the wider resort company owned by Harrington, offered public comment on the bankruptcy auction.
The bankruptcy auction could allow Sandy Pines, should a buyer present an offer accepted by the bankruptcy judge, to continue operations under new ownership. The campsite is currently set to open for the season in June 2026 and previously sent out news releases celebrating a 10-year anniversary since launch this summer.
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Located approximately 30 miles south of Portland on the Maine Coast, Kennebunkport is a popular coastal resort town that is home to a large number of luxury resorts and at least two other campsites.
The town is also a five-hour drive from Montreal and remains heavily affected by the sustained dropoff in Canadian tourism that began after President Donald Trump started insulting then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and referring to Canada as a “51st state” at the start of his second term in the White House.
Related: Another luxury travel company declares bankruptcy, cancels all trips
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