AGA Connection Story: From One Hunting Tent to a Thriving Glamping Destination
Featuring: Monument Glamping & Davis Tent
Some business partnerships begin with months of planning. Others begin with a tent that's been sitting in storage for 15 years. For Chris and Wendy Jeub of Monument Glamping, their connection with Will and Corina Marquardt of Davis Tent ultimately led to a thriving glamping business—but the story actually began long before Monument Glamping ever existed.
It All Started with a Hunting Tent
Back in 2004, Chris purchased his very first canvas tent from Davis Tent to use on annual hunting trips. What stood out wasn't just the quality of the product—it was the people behind it.
"I met with one of the Davis Tent patriarchs personally, and I loved how much he knew about tents," Chris recalls. "The Davis family loved their product, and that really resonated with me." For years, that tent spent most of its life neatly rolled up in storage.
Until one unexpected summer.
The Backyard Experiment That Changed Everything
During a bedroom remodel in 2019, Chris and Wendy were faced with a simple question:
Should they sleep in their living room for a month?
Instead, they pitched the old Davis Tent in their backyard and moved outside.nTo their surprise... They loved it. When the remodel was finished, another idea surfaced:
"What if we listed it on Airbnb?"
The response exceeded every expectation.
Their single tent booked for the remainder of the summer and generated $2,400 from something that had spent most of the year tucked away in storage. "We thought we made out like bandits," Chris laughs.
Little did they know that it was only the beginning!
One Tent Became Five
The following year, the Jeubs purchased a second (used) Davis Tent.
That season generated $18,000.
The year after, they added a third, this time purchasing a new tent from Davis Tent.
Revenue climbed to $90,000.
As demand continued to grow, so did Monument Glamping. Today, the property features:
Five Davis canvas tents
Three luxury container homes
Permits for four additional accommodations
A second family development already underway, with permits for 24 units on their son's neighboring property
Of course, growth wasn't always simple.
"We started getting into trouble with our county, building department, and health department," Chris says. "But that didn't stop us."
Instead, they immersed themselves in learning land-use regulations, permitting requirements, and building codes, ultimately creating a fully permitted operation that's still expanding today.
Why Davis Tent?
For Will Marquardt and the Davis Tent team, helping operators like Monument Glamping succeed is exactly why they do what they do.
Chris originally became a Davis Tent customer in 2004 before reconnecting with the company years later as Monument Glamping grew. For Will, that long-term relationship highlights what matters most. When operators are choosing a manufacturer, he encourages them to look beyond the product itself.
"Customer service matters. Choose a company that stands behind its product."
Chris agrees.
When asked what new operators should look for, his answer is simple:
"Antiquity. Davis has been around for decades, and the Davis family is still involved. I still talk with Chris Davis every now and then."
It's that combination of craftsmanship, customer support, and long-term relationships that has kept Monument Glamping returning to Davis Tent as their business continues to expand.
The Classic Canvas Tent Still Reigns
The glamping industry continues to evolve, introducing new accommodation styles every year.
But both Monument Glamping and Davis Tent believe one design has stood the test of time.
"Lots of tent variations have come and gone," Chris says, "but the traditional safari tent—or, as Davis would call it, the Outfitters Tent—has endured."
"It creates the image people immediately think of when they imagine luxury camping."
Will sees a similar trend emerging throughout the industry.
Operators are increasingly looking for accommodations that offer:
Customization
Ease of setup and takedown
Reliable product availability
Exceptional customer support
While innovation continues to shape outdoor hospitality, quality craftsmanship and dependable partnerships remain timeless.
Building More Than Businesses
Stories like this are exactly why the American Glamping Association exists.
A single purchase became a long-term partnership.
A hunting tent became the foundation of a thriving hospitality business.
A manufacturer became a trusted advisor.
The AGA is more than an association—it's a community where operators, manufacturers, suppliers, and industry professionals learn from one another, collaborate, and help each other grow.
Whether you're launching your first glamping site or expanding your hundredth accommodation, the relationships you build within this community can shape the future of your business in unexpected ways.
Sometimes... All it takes is one tent!
