Wheelchair-accessible car park
Yes
Ithaca by Firelight Camps in Ithaca
Categories
Location on the map
Ithaca, Tompkins County, New York, US
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Yes
Amenities
Good for kids
Yes
Comments (66)
We booked Firelight for Memorial Day Weekend! Unfortunately, it was record breaking temperatures for the coldest holiday weekend in history! Plus is poured rain the entire time. However, all this being said (none of which is the Firelight Camps control) - THIS PLACE IS FABULOUS! Let me begin by saying, I AM NOT A CAMPER. My kids have begged me to go camping, so I felt like this place met them half way. The entire campus is beautiful. Every tiny detail considered: decor was brilliantly paired from area rugs to chunky wood furniture & leather couches! The camp supplied lanterns to light our paths, umbrellas for rainy days and did everything to make your stay perfect. Cocktails at the bar, fire pits & yard games are the perfect way to reconnect with your family and unplug your iPhone. The bathrooms are spotless! Staff was charming and educated! I love being around young/college people who have brains, are outgoing and share in the visit!! Firelight is also extremely eco-conscience, which is important to our family!! We loved being able to bring our dog, as well! He was treated as an important guest - which was really awesome! This is a special place - even for non-campers! Go GLAMPING!!
I’ve followed Firelight Camps for years on social media and was finally able to book a weekend for my husband and myself this September. To say we were excited was an understatement. Unfortunately, we were both incredibly disappointed with the experience and ended up requesting a refund and leaving early. This camp is not the high-end, retreat getaway it appears to be. It has turned into a family campground with screaming kids left unattended by their parents. When we spoke to the manager, we were offered a free night in the fall when “kids are in school.” I suggest you save your $350 a night (with fees and taxes) for another venue. The only reason this is a 2-star review instead of 1-star is that the bed was comfortable.
TLDR: Firelight is nothing less than an overpriced parking lot.We dont usually leave reviews, but we really dont want our fellow gen zers to fall prey to this capitalist scam. This glampground is not located in a lush or secluded landscape at all. Its literally in the parking lot of a hotel and bistro right off of a major road. Youre better off staying at a campground in Buttermilk Falls for a few bucks and taking a shower in Firelights bathhouse which is so far from the glampground that staff wont even notice. The entire experience was embarrassingly pretentious, and there was a collective sense of yeah we were all scammed amongst guests. A dirty hostel in Europe had more of a community appeal than this place. If youre a family that wants to satiate your kids yearn for a camping experience, but dont want to deal with the inconveniences of actual camping, then yeah this place is for you. But, if you dont fit that criteria, and are young, childless, with an already established social life, literally do not waste your time booking a tent here, youre not going to get that cottage-core, granola, christopher mccandles experience. skip this glampsite that was just curated for the gram. and no bobby, dont apologize for our experience being less than perfect. the issue is you marketed the experience as a perfect outdoor getaway, and it was super cringe to see the reality — which were just some musty tents beside a green parking lot
Tents were very cool, $50.00 extra dollars for one extra person, very unreasonable, shouldnt be a fee at all for what you pay for tent. Not everything is available now, so should be cheaper for tents especially during covid. Cost is more than a nice hotel, $180-$280. Way more expensive on weekends, so go during the week, youre paying for the experience. Needs more/better breakfast options during covid, Ithaca bakery great option. Checkin was easy, tent was ready. Access to buttermilk falls from grounds, bonfire at 8pm, w smores for no additional fee. Bathrooms clean, its quiet, relaxing, shouldntallow dogs/animals, people dont want to listen to others dogs barking. Would keep it just adults, enjoyed the quiet. One night is plenty, arrive at 3, people shouldnt have to book two nights. Enjoyed our stay, a little odd location since its outback of a steak house, but once there, very pleasant. We would go again, would recommend you go. Tent reminded me of being on an African safari, takes you away from everyday life. Safe option during pandemic I think.. Enjoy..
Looks big and spacious, had a nice area where people could shower or use the public restrooms had a community area where you could get beverages or firewood and then the path to buttermilk falls is right within one minute walking distance. we did not stay there but walk through the path and it looked like some of the campsites were up in trees like a big tree house very cool!
The staff was super attentive and helpful, the bathhouse was very clean, and the lobby/reception/bar was great. Unfortunately, our tent was not properly sealed. Every time we walked into the tent we had to spend 5 to 10 minutes trying to rid the tent of spiders and other large insects. Its a shame because this really took away from all the other amenities firelight camps had to offer.
Recently returned from a 2 night stay at Firelight, and I probably wouldnt return. The tents themselves were nicely appointed, and the shower/restroom facilities were clean and well kept. The location was convenient to downtown Ithaca, as well as surrounding parks/trails/etc. We had our 2 year old with us; he very much enjoyed running around the grounds, and the area was very safe for him to enjoy his first camping trip. The staff was generally very helpful and friendly, with the exception of 1 member. The description of the property leads you to believe that the camping area is secluded, but its essentially in the rear parking area of a steakhouse and hotel, a few hundred yards from a fairly major road...I actually thought my GPS was incorrect upon arrival. We could hear traffic from our tent, which was situated about as far from the road as they get. Check-in was timely, however we were twice promised (while booking) that we would have 4 tents together for our group, and then we were separated upon check-in because another large group was checking in and taking up most of the middle of the campground. This large group then ended up on both sides of us in different areas of the campground (not sure why we had to be split up if they already were?), and proceeded to have a RAGING party each night complete with a weekend long itinerary (we saw them passing it out to arriving guests), beer pong, egg carry races, singing, etc...for an adults 30th birthday. All this went on while my group of 8 was told to turn down the music playing from our small bluetooth speaker at least 3 times one evening. We were also reprimanded for drinking our own alcohol in the public areas while this other group was literally wheeling coolers around and playing beer pong in a different public area. Overall, a decent experience, but given the rather high price (over $300/night per tent) and significant hype around this place (recently featured in the NY Times), I guess I just expected a bit more.
I was very disheartened by this place and overall experience. I read so many great reviews on Insta and other platforms, so decided to get the good Glamping experience.I went there for my wedding anniversary on a weekend. We booked a non- heated tent. It rained the whole night and it was super super chilly and windy. There is no heating inside plus they dont provide any portable heaters. Bedsheets are super cold and there is no way you can sustain that cold without any kind of heater.Secondly its very expensive. They make you book for 2 nights in a row and that amounts to a lot of money. They provide breakfast which is Okish.. nothing is hot except tea and coffee. With Covid , the breakfast scene is not that great.Buttermilk falls hike starts right behind their tents. Thats the only positive point about this place.Also, there is a fireplace right outside where you can chill and enjoy..but you still have to buy your own booze even after paying so much money.The place- This place is just behind a parking area of a big hotel. It does not give you experience of being in forest. There is some forest behind the tents . But the main road goes through the parking lot of a very big and good hotel. This is not at all close to GLAMPING.I wouldnt recommend this place, especially if you are just a couple. It is very expensive and very less amenities are provided.
This was an amazing experience. The tents are really great and very comfortable. The bed was really good too. The bathrooms being far away was a bit tough at night thats part of the glamping experience. I would totally recommend coming here even with kids. We brought our 4 year old with us and she had a blast. The employees are very friendly and helpful.
We loved staying @ firelight camps last year, it was such a unique experience! My husband loves camping and I love the outdoors but prefer sleeping indoors !😂 this was a great in between. When we stayed we did a wine tasting , hiked, had an awesome breakfast and there was even yoga! I 100% recommend and I tell everyone I know they need to experience firelight camps ! We will definitely be back.
I have very mixed feeling about Firelight Camps. On the one hand, it was a different sort of experience than the usual hotel, our tent was nicely furnished, and the complimentary breakfast was nice. On the other hand, our tent was a little on the dirty side (a dead bug hanging from the ceiling, dead bugs under the bed), the restrooms were a bit of a walk from the tent, and the showers were on the dirty side. We also arrived a little late (~8:00pm, I think), and no one was to be found in the lobby tent for a good 10 minutes. BUT there were two big issues with our stay: 1) We had very loud neighbors, and tents are obviously thin-walled, and 2) IT WAS FREEZING. I get that they have special heat-conserving blankets, and I overheard that they used to have heaters in rooms but now they dont due to fire code, but in mid-October, it was in the 30sF, and it was uncomfortably cold, even with two in the bed. For the price (similar to a decent hotel), we were disappointed in the situation (granted, they tell you up front on the website that there is no heating, but make it seem like its no big deal; let me tell you, it is!). Though just my opinion, it seems unsafe, particularly for vulnerable populations, to be exposed to these temperatures all night.
My hubby, dog, and I just checked out this morning and we would absolutely drive up from Jersey again to stay! We LOVED our stay. The staff is extremely accomdating and kind. The King room is perfect. It definitely gets cold at night but man is that bed comfy and the covers really keep you cozy. Didnt want to get out of bed! The local spirits they use for the cocktails are so good we went and picked some up for the way home and everything they had for breakfast was delicious. Buttermilk trail is right there and worth the walk - its pretty manicured but very enjoyable. It was lovely sitting around the fire with the other guests chatting the night away while eating the smores from the kit they give you at check in. Cant speak highly enough of our stay!
Such a great place. Ive fallen in love with the glamping idea. The beds were very comfortable, the tent is big and the bath house has all you need. The lounge area/bar/reception is perfect, staff genuine and friendly. Breakfast surprisingly high quality, all you need really.
Awesome experience! Very friendly staff, accommodations were beyond what was described, breakfasts were good. The entertainment was excellent.........and sitting around the campfire at night was magical. (For those wondering, the bathrooms were very clean and well maintained ....very posh...not like your typical campground). Would highly recommend
The accommodations were really nice and comfortable but Id say for the price ($370/night for a family of three with no electricity in the tent) I would have expected a bit more attention to detail, a bit more glam, and less nickel-and-diming.First, what we liked: super comfy beds and blankets, friendly staff everywhere, morning yoga option, hammocks and swings and community space and games, charging station, large attractive tent accommodations.What could stand some improvement to justify the price: our tent was right on the road and passing cars were very noisy in the gravel. It didnt feel private. The sound of bullfrogs and geese was so intense in the morning and evening they should recommend and make earplugs available. For all the staff milling around it was surprising to me that soap dispensers in the showers were empty our entire 3 day stay, when I finally asked them to fill them I noticed the dispensers just went missing for the next few hours of our stay, dirty towel bins were full every morning and afternoon, fresh coffee not available until 7:30, quick oats- why not small amount of real oats? They mention/show smores on website but each individual smore is $5! Each. One.Overall I dont think Id return if there were nice hotel options or less expensive campings options.
We havent stayed here, since we live so close, but we have enjoyed live music at the campfire with local wine, beer and cider. Very pleasant and low key, not crowded. the bar is in a tent with tables and seating inside the tent and outside. The tents look wonderful to sleep in.
Right next to trailhead for buttermilk falls park, family friendly, warm, comfortable and amazing even during a thunderstorm⛈️ They have everything you need- pizza truck and live music on Tuesdays 10/10 will return.
LOVE THIS PLACE. Great employees Zach and Tom were very helpful and the camp itsself is beautiful. Lots of things to do. The camp has a bar area trails right next to the cabin / TP, a few fire pits hammocks and lots of other things to do. The area is beautiful and its a great price.
2nd time visiting...great experience will definitely introduce more of my friends and family to this site! Love the drinks, meeting new people and being at one with nature...fun campsite!!❤🎉💃🥂
Located on the grounds of La Tourelle Hotel and Spa this luxury campground has 17 safari tents on platforms with king size beds and furnishings. Bathrooms and showers are located in separate building near the reception tent. If like the feel of camping but want the amenities of a hotel, its a perfect choice.
Cute little glampground that skimps on the small details that could really elevate the place to match the beautiful surroundings it is set in. Bring your own shampoo. Flip flops are a must for using the showers. Cocktails are great depending on the mixologist. A solid place with room to improve.
I had the pleasure of staying at Firelight in Ithaca during a photo assignment in the area. Only a few minute drive from downtown Ithaca, the camp is a well thought out selection of tent cabins both in the open and in deep woods, all connected by a trail system that lights up at night. The center area was a combination lobby, canteen, work space, and lounge with plenty of seating and fire pits nearby. The next tent over was running a Yoga class when I wandered by in the morning and by evening the place was hopping. Fires roaring, food and drinks out, all lit by strings of old timey light bulbs. I showed up in the middle of the week so I had the place almost to myself but this is one of those situations where the more people are there, the better the experience is. Ill be sure to visit again next time Im on the East Coast.
This was an amazing place to stay - we loved it!! The ambience, the comfort, the beauty. Just wonderful. We did not want to leave!!
Great stay. Comfortable tents and good amenities. Staff were super friendly and helpful. State parks nearby are small but beautiful and make for great day trips.
Such a great place to get away with my girlfriends for the weekend! So close to amazing hiking spots, delicious food and a spa! Well definitely go back!
We had so much fun sitting around the campfire meeting New people! Tents were spacious, and beds were comfy! Everyone who worked there was super nice!
First, Ill say Im completely opposed to glamping either in principal or because Im too cheap, which is why it only gets 4 stars. However, I did come here to have drinks and food with my family when visiting Ithaca and the non camping food eating, music listening, drinking and playing games outdoors on a summer night was awesome. Accordingly, youd probably be a happy glamper.
Very cool and really nice tents - but starting at $245 with no a/c and limited food. Maybe Im just better suited for a hotel with room service.
I have only attended Yoga by Firelight with Rachel VerVallin of Heart Thread Yoga, not camped at Firelight. However I have found the parking, bathroom facilities, and decor at Firelight to be wonderful.
Really nice place, we got a tent next to the pond and frogs did keep us awake for some time. They were really laud, that can happen in nature.
Blast for the whole family! Tents are spacious, main lodge has lots of amenities, and campfires are warm!
Love the overall atmosphere but dont expect to hang out by the fire late. We were told to go to bed or elsewhere after midnight.
Nice looking glamping site! Friendly staff. Clean and high quality.
Hiked here and found some edible plants. Beautiful place to camp. Spectacular beauty. We loved it.
Great atmosphere. Great music. Great brats. Fun to cook your own over a fire.
Great place just to enjoy music outdoors and have a drink.
Friendly atmosphere ,lots of room for kids and adults.
Cool camping place with clean bathhouse with showers. Kinda pricey but worth it.
Beautiful tents and campground. Glamping is a game changer!
Beautiful spot overlooking Lake Cayuga and not too far from Ithaca College.
Top notch accommodation, great bar service, live music. Best kept gem on South Hill
Great music on Tuesday evenings Staff is very friendly and welcoming
Amazing tents and wonderful service!!! Wish I could live there
I was there this past weekend, this scenery and accomodations were everything I needed
Great service, excellent music, and amazing atmosphere!
Help build it
Amazing place to stay. Staff is great!!!
Wonderful experience! Will be visiting again soon!
Very special place, awesome attention to the details.
The stafg are really lovely. Zoë was great.
A unique and glorious spot. One of a kind!
The premier glamping experience in the FLX
Awesome wedding venue
Great comfortable place
Beautiful scenery
Love this place
Total reviews rating 4.4
66 Reviews for Ithaca by Firelight Camps 2023:
Review №1
2022-06-15It’s in a parking lot, the positive reviews informing this look fake to me - artistic pictures and overly positive, what does that read like to you?Road to tents was dangerous, my fiancé fell and hurt herself. Breakfast was plain bagels and some cream cheese with a bowl of bananas and some basic pastries.Save your money, go elsewhere.
Review №2
2022-06-01Overpriced scam, cheap tents with no electricity, bathrooms are a long way away from the tents, which makes no sense as it rains a lot. False advertising, it felt like, as we were hearing distance from our neighbors and it was freezing in the tents.
Review №3
2022-06-06Such a beautiful glamping experience ! I never wanted to leave it was so perfect. Relaxing and exciting all at the same time! I can’t wait to come back !
Review №4
2021-10-19All around a wonderful experience. The operation was obviously well thought out and user friendly. The tents are beautiful and main tent unbelievable beautiful. We woke to a wonderful breakfast and very friendly staff. Tuesday night was great a live singer who by the way rocks. Pizza and full bar. I have read other reviews about the camp being in a parking lot and that is ridiculous. Peaceful, relaxing and was just what my wife and I needed.Thank you for having us
Review №5
2021-10-11Overpriced Parking Lot.....but with potential.The campsite sits directly behind a 3-star hotel. The parking lot for Firelight is an old tennis court. My husband and I stayed in Tent #1 which is adjacent to the parking lot.Quiet hours are between 11pm - 8am. We could hear cars doors closing and people coming and going at night. We could hear the garbage truck from the hotel very LOUDLY at 7:20am.The tents are VERY close to each other. The tent adjacent to ours was a two-queen tent. We were woken by small children both mornings at 6:20am. Having left our kiddos behind, we were hoping to at least sleep until 8am.When we booked, there was a 2-nigh minimum, however we met several people who were only there for one night.All other tents besides tents 1 and 2 had a stone path leading to the entrance. The walkway was muddy from golf cart tracks.The bathrooms and showers are nice. Most are stalls, but there are a couple that are separate. Before checkout, the separate bathrooms were being cleaned, so I showered in a stall then went to comb and dry my hair in the mirrored area. The staff member then came into the mirrored area and started cleaning around me, hovering and waiting. This was all before checkout and was rather intrusive.Housekeeping is suspended because of COVIDBreakfast was lovely. The hiking trail that connects to Buttermilk Falls was very convenient. Overall location is nice (far enough away but easy to get elsewhere in the area). Not sure why they put some tents next to the parking lot and all of them SO CLOSE to each other.
Review №6
2021-09-08Great getaway, very relaxing. The tents are amazing, double doorway closure for security from elements. Try to get tents 9-18 in my opinion. Tuesday is their fun day, fresh pizza and music night. Cant wait to get back there.
Review №7
2021-08-13This is not our first time glamping in our lifetime. My husband and I decided to book this place because we love to hiking and explore the nature. We decided to give it a try due to great reviews on Google. Upon arrival, we were greeted by friendly and kind staffs at the reception tent. We love the tent and the amenities the tent has to offer. We also love listening to the sound of nature and seeing critters on our deck. During our stay, we got to enjoy live music from the local and sit by fire pit every night. The complimentary breakfast was great as we didn’t like to eat a big meal in the morning. We also love how convenient the bathhouse is. We stayed for about 3 days; however, we ended up leaving early due to inconsiderate neighbors.No fault at the kind staffs and the wonderful campground. But, on the third day, the new family with three children checked into the tent next to us. We love seeing families come and check out the camping experience. However, what we didn’t expect was the generator that the father brought with him. We tried to be considerate since the weather was so humid. With them having young children, they were probably worrying about heat injuries. The generator was so loud that you could hear in the other tent. To make it worst, the family ended up continue to turn it on during the “quiet hour” which is 11PM-8AM. Imagine sleeping next to the generator or lawnmower, I wouldn’t think it would be healthy for anyone’s hearing.We decided to leave that night at 2AM in the morning. It was great experience immersing in nature. The staffs were awesome. But, we probably won’t return to the campground in the future. We wish the management was able to be more assertive with the guests who didn’t respect the quiet hours. The whole reason why we booked this place was to enjoy the quiet among the nature and immerse ourselves in the glamping experience. Instead, we got to listened the sound of the generator running until 2AM because of the inconsiderate neighbors. We ended up booking a hotel in downtown to avoid the family with a loud generator. I mean, how can you truly unplug and connect with each other in the nature if you have to sleep next to a generator. With that said, we recommend the place with the caution that you pray for considerate neighbors.
Review №8
2021-06-28I would describe this place as heaven on earth. The tents are very beautiful and the beds are comfortable. There are hammocks hanging from the beautiful trees for you to relax. The bathrooms and showers are very clean and well maintained by the staff. We brought smore stuff with us but they give you a token to get a free smore kit. Overall I would definitely go back. I also loved having our own camp fire pit by our tent. The place is amazing
Review №9
2021-07-30Amazing. Everything is beautiful, well kept, clean and the aesthetic is perfect. Camp is literally in a state park! Just gorgeous and peaceful too but you’re less than 10 minutes from Ithaca. Complimentary breakfast is simple but delicious and the the lounge/bar tent is so cool. I really enjoyed the bar along with relaxing by the fires outside in “courtyard.” I enjoyed the cute little s’mores kits! The staff was very friendly and accommodating. Bed was comfortable and tent was very clean and I loved the style/decor. I loved the hammocks too!! They had live music and a food truck on Tuesday night and that was very cool. I also loved that it’s dog friendly, my pup loved it and he really enjoyed the homemade dog treats! I had a fantastic time I wish I could have stayed longer. I’ll never forget my time at Firelight camp!(The only this negative I can say about it is that it is quite pricey considering it’s just bougie camping lol. Though it’s a wonderful experience and I still recommend it.)
Review №10
2021-05-20The staff were unbelievably kind and helpful. The atmosphere was peaceful and so therapeutic. I enjoyed the smell of the fires and the taste of the stores. I loved waking up to the sound of birds chirping and enjoying a beautiful breakfast outside. The tent was amazingly clean so were that bathrooms and the shower. I like that the showers had shampoo and stuff so it was one less thing to pack and they were of good quality. I havent a single complaint. Im planning on comming back next year and bringing family and friends along. It was truly an amazing experience.