For urbanites dwelling in the relentless concrete grid of New York City, escaping the metropolis has long required a journey beyond city limits. Generations of residents seeking respite from sirens, concrete, and the perpetual hum of urban life have looked to the sprawling wilderness of the Catskills and the rugged peaks of the Adirondacks. In recent years, a wave of music-forward retreats and boutique outdoor ventures has expanded this culture of escape, making the great outdoors far more accessible to hardcore city dwellers who prefer their wilderness with a touch of curated comfort.
Yet, for those unable or unwilling to commit to a multi-hour drive upstate, an enticing alternative has existed right in the harbor since 2018. Collective Retreats introduced a seasonal, six-acre glamping oasis on Governors Island—a mere eight-minute ferry ride from Lower Manhattan. It offered a rare hybrid experience: sleeping under canvas while gazing at the towering financial district skyline. But this season, the destination has received a striking aesthetic jolt with the arrival of a distinctive new presence: the Urban Cowboy Tent.
Nestled within the existing landscape of Collective Retreats on Governors Island, the new 325-square-foot tent offers guests an immersive, tactile departure from the standard minimalist glamping aesthetic. Stepping outside the canvas dwelling in the morning, visitors are greeted not by dense forest, but by framed, unobstructed views of the Statue of Liberty rising majestically over the glistening waters of New York Harbor. Inside, however, the atmosphere evokes a remote, time-worn lodge deep in the American frontier rather than a temporary setup a stone’s throw from a global metropolis.
The cowboy quarters are the brainchild of Lyon Porter, co-founder of Urban Cowboy and creative director of Cowboy Creative. Porter has infused the space with a signature maximalist vision, housing a lovingly curated collection of custom and vintage furnishings designed to evoke a rich, storied past. The interior is layered with vibrant red Pendleton textiles and El Paso Saddle Blanket rugs that soften the wooden floors and bring a rich warmth to the tent. Antique artwork, repurposed boat oars, and a vintage radio are thoughtfully positioned throughout the space, each object bearing the marks of history.
These distinctive pieces were meticulously sourced from regional treasure troves like the Beacon Flea Market and the Elephant Trunk Country Flea Market, giving the tent the distinct impression that it has evolved over decades rather than being assembled for a single season. To complete the rustic narrative, Kevin Jacob Design was brought on to create custom elements that anchor the theme, including intricate hand-painted stencil work, bespoke signage, and authentic mounted deer antlers positioned above the entryway.
Despite the rugged, romantic cowboy aesthetic that defines the visual language of the tent, the actual guest experience is thoroughly modern and accommodating. New York summers can be sweltering and shoulder seasons brisk, but the tent comes fully equipped with a modern HVAC unit designed to maintain a comfortable climate regardless of the weather outside. An ensuite bathroom provides the kind of creature comforts rarely associated with traditional camping, featuring a generous standing shower, a large mirror, and a proper toilet.
Yet, the undisputed standout feature of the accommodation is its bathing setup: a patinated cast-iron tub, plumbed with on-site hot water and strategically angled to offer panoramic sunset views over the harbor as day turns to night.
The story behind this centerpiece tub reflects the resourceful spirit of Urban Cowboy’s design ethos. As Porter explains, sourcing items for the space often involves a blend of luck and an eye for character. While a brand-new or professionally restored antique tub of this caliber can easily command a price tag of around $11,000, Porter managed to secure a remarkable alternative for a fraction of the cost.
"One of my favorite found objects is the French cast-iron tub," Porter says, noting that they found the heavy piece sitting abandoned in a Connecticut mansion’s yard for just $400. Weighing in at approximately 500 pounds, the tub features a naturally weathered, rusted patina on its exterior that contrasts sharply with its smooth white porcelain interior. "Those kinds of unexpected finds are what give the spaces their character," he adds.
This collaboration on Governors Island also extends Porter’s ongoing partnership with Dovetail + Co., the hospitality group behind Collective Retreats. The two entities share a history of creating memorable hospitality destinations, most notably marked by the 2020 opening of the Urban Cowboy Lodge in the Catskills. That upstate property quickly established itself as a beloved go-to retreat for New Yorkers seeking a cozy, design-forward mountain escape, making this latest venture on Governors Island a natural evolution of their creative partnership.
With the introduction of the Urban Cowboy Tent, Porter is consciously positioning the brand’s maximalist aesthetic as a direct, tactile antidote to the digital fatigue and screen time that dominate contemporary urban life. By surrounding guests in rich textures, heavy fabrics, vintage curiosities, and warm lighting, the space invites visitors to slow down and engage their senses physically rather than digitally.
"An authentic Urban Cowboy experience is… meant to be transportive," Porter observes. Even though guests are essentially lingering just a stone’s throw from the dense urban core of the nation’s largest city, the whimsy, isolation, and deliberate design of the space work in tandem to help visitors feel completely worlds away.
Reservations for the Urban Cowboy Tent on Governors Island are currently available through the end of November 2026, with bookings managed directly via the Collective Retreats website.
