treehouse glamping in Ohio: a romantic stay at Tullihas in the Trees
This unique treehouse hideaway in rural Ohio is the ultimate chance to enjoy unplugged glamping. Here’s my honest review of our stay.
“Glamping” is the most recent trend in traveler accommodation. Glamping (a portmanteau of “glamorous” and “camping”) allows people to embrace the simplicity of camping while also experiencing added amenities of luxury stays. I’m a mega fan of these rustic-meets-luxurious stays, so I was thrilled when Luke found a hidden glamping gem in rural Ohio: Tullihas in the Trees.
While planning our New Year getaway, we wanted something that would put us in the throes of nature. Somewhere without WiFi or cell reception, but where we could still make a hot cup of coffee to kick start the day. Luke discovered this treehouse listed on Airbnb, and we booked it instantaneously. Tullihas in the Trees, as it’s called, was exactly the quaint treehouse escape we were longing for.
what is “glamping” ↴
As previously mentioned, glamping is a portmanteau of “glamorous” and “camping.” The beauty of glamping is that less is more. Glamping accommodations are typically eco-friendly and built with surrounding natural elements in mind. Expert travel analysts have seen an upswing in demand for ecotourism and “back to nature” stays. You can find glamping accommodations in the form of yurts, cabins, glass pod hotels, “tiny houses”, Mongolian-style round tents, and treehouses.
The concept of glamping isn’t new. In fact, it’s first attributed to safari lodges across the African continent. The trend has seriously caught on in the last couple of years, and it is sweeping travel destinations from New Zealand to Iceland and just about everywhere in between— including Ohio in the United States.
getting there + what’s nearby ↴
Over the holiday season, (give or take a few weekend city breaks) we based ourselves in Bloomington, Indiana, where my parents live. This made it easy to square away the life admin we’d been putting off while living in the van out West. It’s also allowed us to get to know Indiana and its neighbouring states. Tullihas in the Trees is located near Dayton, Ohio, a 4.5-hour drive from Bloomington. That didn’t put us off— we love a road trip!
If you’re not into longer drives, consider staying at Tullihas in the Trees if you are in or near:
Dayton, Ohio | 2-hours by car
Columbus, Ohio | 1-hour by car
Newark, Ohio | 22-minutes by car
For our New Year’s Eve dinner, we grabbed Thai food from a local restaurant in Newark after we snagged some extra snacks from the supermarket. Newark has a small variety of dining options if you don’t feel like cooking over the supplied propane stove.
what to pack for your treehouse stay ↴
Admittedly, I only briefly looked through the photos of the Airbnb listing Luke sent me, and I paid no attention whatsoever to the amenities that were and were not included. Packing well is the key to enjoying a minimalist stay at the treehouse, especially during the colder months.
all-year-round pack list
potable water - There is potable water available just down the road at a nearby farm. We opted to bring our own in (reusable) bottles of water so that we didn’t have to faff about with going down the road and hauling water back to the treehouse.
cooler full of snack - Tullihas is close to a number of grocery stores, but you won’t want to drive 20-minutes every time you get hungry. We packed a Yeti cooler filled with snacks, but still grabbed a few extras at the Kroger’s grocery store in nearby Newark.
portable charger - If you use your phone as your camera or alarm clock and need it charged, bring a portable charger with you.
an iPad - You might want to go screen-free, but you might also want to download some movies and give them a watch late at night when darkness sets in. Bonus: you won’t have any internet or cell phone service to distract your watch time.
books, cards, + board games - I recommend soaking up the calm and quiet of Tullihas with a book in hand and a deck of cards. It’s amazing how much more fun games become when there aren’t
camera - Whether you’re one for capturing candids or staging shoots, I think it’s important to document your memories for yourself. Pack your camera so you can have a personal record of the wonderful time you have!
colder months pack list
We weren’t lucky enough to time our stay with snowfall, but we were greeted with a lot of rain and chilly temps on our second day.
extra blankets - Bedding is provided, but in the colder months you’re definitely going to want to bring additional heavy blankets.
merino wool socks + house slippers - Keeping your feet warm will ultimately keep the rest of you warm.
waterproof layer + an umbrella - There is a relatively high probability of rainfall during these seasons.
thermal base layer - Even if you aren’t planning on exploring outside, a pair of long underwear and a thermal long sleeve will go a long way in ensuring you stay toasty warm in the treehouse
what to expect during your stay ↴
Because Tullihas in the Trees is a treehouse with no electricity and no running water, you need to set your expectations accordingly: no shower, no air-conditioning or central heating, no large overhead lighting, and no refrigerator. Potable water is available on a nearby farm (owned by the family who own the treehouse). There is a campfire pit next to the treehouse that’s perfect for making s’mores.
The owners of the treehouse have done everything to make the place as comfortable as possible. They’ve fitted the treehouse with twinkly lights, lanterns, and solar string lights. The treehouse is supplied with a propane heater for those chilly nights. There is a double and a twin memory foam mattress and two hideaway cots. There are hammocks, lawn chairs, and hanging swings to be enjoyed. A small blue coffee cart sits in the corner of the main room with hot cocoa pouches, coffee, mugs, trail mix, paper towels, and an extra flashlight.
All the tiny touches made our stay exactly what we hoped. We woke up in the morning to the sound of Amish horse carriages making their way up the road. Birds were chirping as Luke brewed me a pot of coffee over the propane stove. For two whole glorious days, we had no WiFi or cell reception. If this sounds like your kind of getaway, then Tullihas in the Trees will be right up your alley.
