Northgate Resorts is moving forward with plans for a large-scale camping resort near the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, marking a significant expansion in the company’s portfolio of outdoor hospitality properties. 

The project, called The Bend Resort, will be developed on a 215-acre site along the Cumberland River, approximately 1.3 miles from the iconic music venue.

The development will introduce 425 campsites, comprising 320 recreational vehicle sites and 105 cabins. 

The first phase of the resort will also include a variety of high-end amenities designed to enhance the guest experience, such as a welcome center, camp store, event center, swimming pool, craft pavilion, petting barn, chapel, and arcade barn.

Future phases are expected to diversify the site’s offerings beyond traditional camping accommodations, according to Connect CRE. 

Plans include a 120-room hotel, 300 apartment units, an indoor commercial amusement facility, and a farm-to-table restaurant with a microbrewery. 

These additions indicate a broader hospitality approach, blending outdoor recreation with entertainment and residential components.

The project involves Nashville-based architecture and engineering firm Gresham Smith, known for its expertise in large-scale hospitality developments. 

Northgate Resorts, which currently operates 34 camping resorts under 11 brands nationwide, is the largest franchisee of Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Parks.

For professionals in the outdoor hospitality sector, The Bend Resort represents a model of large-scale, diversified development that integrates multiple revenue streams beyond traditional campsite bookings. 

The inclusion of an amusement facility, residential units, and a microbrewery suggests an effort to capture a broader market while enhancing guest engagement and length of stay.

As demand for high-quality outdoor accommodations grows, this development underscores a shift toward resort-style camping experiences that cater to a wide demographic. 

The Bend Resort’s combination of traditional camping, luxury lodging, and entertainment-oriented attractions could serve as a blueprint for operators looking to expand their offerings beyond the core camping market.