Upon booking a cabin, Getaway guests are emailed and texted the secluded nature-bound location’s exact address, along with a keycode for access. From there, disconnecting from all devices, which guests are encouraged to do, and connecting with the land is the mission. Here, founder and CEO Jon Staff discusses the contemporary lodging concept’s roots and how Getaway differentiates itself from other woodland retreats.
What inspired the Getaway model?
I spent a number of years living in tiny spaces, including an Airstream and the basement of a frozen yogurt shop. We wanted Getaway cabins to have a sense of everything you need and nothing you don’t. That ethos, combined with my practical experience, helped drive us toward the initial designs, which were intended to place us within nature without feeling out of place with what’s around us. From there, we focused on functionality much more than aesthetics but continued to design the cabin based on our guests’ feedback. It’s helped us make improvements over time. Our design philosophy is that we are creating the perfect hardware to allow you to quickly and easily escape to nature.
How do you incorporate sustainable elements in the cabins?
We try to use all natural materials as much as possible. Predictably, that means there is a lot of wood, glass, and metal and little to no plastic or composites. We steer away from materials pretending to be anything else like laminate, rubber, or ceramic floors designed to look like wood. We carefully place cabins so as not to disrupt the nature around us. Additionally, each [outdoor] area has a firepit, so you can spend some time outdoors and truly immerse yourself in the landscape.
What are some standout features?
If we design well, your eye isn’t drawn to any particular detail or feature, but rather the simplicity and restraint of the cabin. This isn’t about having a creative storage solution or four-purpose nook, but rather giving you an easy escape where you don’t need to think about where anything is or how it works. That said, the design feature that we get the most comments about is our big window that is strategically placed so guests have a perfect, uninterrupted look out to the natural landscape. It has the effect of feeling like you’re entirely immersed in the outdoors while still being cozy inside.
In contrast to traditional hotels, what does Getaway offer the guest experience?
When I take a vacation and go to a hotel, I often feel pressured to make the most out of everything and end up more exhausted than I was when I set out to my destination. I see Getaway as the opposite of that. Our guests have told us that by the time they leave a Getaway, they feel recharged and ready for their lives back in the city. It’s not work hard, play hard so much as it is work hard, then unplug and recharge.
What are people looking for in terms of wellness today?
We’re seeing how guests are fatigued by their day-to-day lives. When guests book a Getaway, they can write in why they are choosing to get away, and the themes might resonate with a lot of us: the need for more time with loved ones, the desire for less screen time, the notion of getting back in touch with our true selves, simple celebrations, and quiet moments. We like to say that when you come to a Getaway, you’re giving yourself the gift of more time. That’s where our notion of wellness comes in—providing undistracted time to just be.
Getaway cabins employ a signature floor-to-ceiling window
Wood-clad interiors are kept simple to spotlight nature
Getaway cabins foster a deeper connection to the outdoors
Photography courtesy of Getaway
