Douglas County Upholds 53-Space Glampground Near Zephyr Cove

Douglas County’s Planning Commission upheld conditional approval July 14 for a proposed 53-space glampground near Zephyr Cove, affirming the county staff decision after an appeal. The project may still face another appeal to the Douglas County Board of Commissioners.

The nine-acre site is near Elks Point Road and U.S. 50, in the Zephyr Cove area of Douglas County. Zephyr Cove is a census-designated place rather than an incorporated city, so the decision was made by the county planning commission, not a Zephyr Cove municipal government.

What the approval covers

The commission upheld conditional design-review approval for Globetrotters Property LLC’s proposed development. Project materials describe 53 camping spaces, accessory structures, a clubhouse and employee housing for up to nine people.

The application materials reported by the Record-Courier include nine year-round tree houses, 18 seasonal domes, additional shelters, an events lawn, 30 e-bikes, two electric shuttles and recreational-equipment rentals. Those features are part of the conditionally approved project description. The available sources do not establish that the facilities have been built, that construction has begun or that the site is operating.

Why the decision matters locally

The proposed campground would be located near existing campgrounds and recreation facilities in an active seasonal-lodging area. That makes the project’s future permitting, site work and operating conditions relevant to nearby residents, visitors and businesses.

The appeal record also raised questions about tree removal and the relationship between the proposed development and surrounding recreation properties. The approval does not mean that tree removal has occurred, and the available records do not quantify future changes to traffic, noise, recreation use, employment or neighborhood conditions.

The employee-housing component could become relevant to the project’s construction and operating plans if the development advances. For nearby residents and property owners, the more immediate questions are whether another appeal is filed and what conditions remain attached to the county approval.

What happens next

The appellant may still appeal to the Douglas County Board of Commissioners, so the July 14 action should not be treated as the end of the review process. Residents should watch county records for any appeal filing, additional hearings, permit activity, construction milestones, tree-removal notices and transportation or operating conditions.

The county’s planning records identify the action as a conditional design-review approval. Until later records confirm otherwise, the project remains an approved proposal rather than an operating campground.

Sources

• Douglas County Planning Commission action summary, July 14, 2026
• Record-Courier report, July 22, 2026
• U.S. Census Bureau Zephyr Cove CDP Profile