The year has only just begun and vacation rentals are once again the target of many political agendas. A few days ago we said that there was data indicating that tourist apartments increased the rental Price by more than 30%, and regulations and vetoes continue to increase in many nations. However, what happens if instead of houses they are caves? The story of a 34-year-old engineer who left everything for a strange investment is different. And without help from Airbnb.
From engineer to entrepreneur. In a secluded corner of the Ohio wilderness, Bryant Gingerich, a 34-year-old engineer, appears to have found an opportunity to transform his professional life by turning a simple cave into a successful vacation rental business.
What began as a project driven by a passion for nature and a desire to escape the routine of an office job, became Dunlap Hollow, a company that today generates more than $700,000 annually. It has been such a success that reservations are sold out a year in advance.
A risky bet. As he said, it all began in the spring of 2019, when Gingerich and his wife Amy acquired some land in the woods of Ohio financed with a local loan and family support. At the time, the engineer’s job as a researcher at Ohio State University left him unsatisfied, and the purchase of the property was, in his own words, “a leap of faith” that involved considerable financial risk, one where the mortgage It absorbed more than half of his monthly salary.
Additionally, with no prior experience in the tourism industry, Gingerich began by renovating a small cabin called “The Cottage,” one that required an initial investment of $120,000. What happened? That, despite the lack of promotion, he achieved an occupancy rate of 85% during his first winter, which gave him some confidence to expand his business a little more.
A unique offer. Dunlap Hollow currently consists of three distinct lodges, each with its own appeal. First, The Cottage, a one-bedroom cabin with a loft that generates an income of $60,000 annually in net profits and which served as a springboard and starting point for the company.
Then there is The A-Frame, a kind of triangular cabin of modern design with capacity for 10 people, built with an investment of $300,000 and which currently brings him $160,000 annually in net income. In fact, the growing popularity of this property led Gingerich to even commercialize his design plans, generating passive income of $220,000 in three years through the sale of the architectural drawings and CAD plans.
The A-Frame
And the jewel in the crown: The Cave. It is a 140-square-meter cave with carefully selected decoration that combines exposed rock walls with a library and a classical-style bathtub. The investment in this construction was $400,000… but it generates an exceptional return with $190,000 per year in net profits, making it the most profitable property of the three. Its success in attracting visitors from all over the country is such that many travel by plane to Columbus just to stay in this iconic space.
The strategy: without Aibnb. As you have emphasized, Dunlap Hollow’s growth would not have been possible without an effective marketing strategy, obviously. In his case, the now entrepreneur explains that he used Instagram (@DunlapHollowCabins) as the main promotional tool. In addition, he dedicated himself to offering free stays to influencers from Columbus, Ohio, in exchange for exposure on social networks.
This tactic apparently skyrocketed its audience from 3,000 to 30,000 followers in one month, consolidating the brand’s reputation and allowing the company to go from depending on Airbnb to managing direct reservations through its website, maximizing its profit margins. and leaving aside the popular vacation rental application.
The Cottage
The challenge of giving up job stability. As we said, the success of Dunlap Hollow led Gingerich to make the final decision to resign from his job as an engineer just a week before beginning construction of The A-Frame. Here is a non-trivial detail: his previous experience in construction, acquired in his youth, as he has said, allowed him to execute the projects with a certain practical and efficient vision, although, there is no doubt, financial uncertainty represented a significant challenge.
Can the model be replicated? Fortune reported this weekend that, although Gingerich’s case may be inspiring to many, he himself warns that his success is not easily replicable. The reasons? The man stresses the importance of identifying and separating personal passions from a profitable business, exploring ideas prudently and developing a structured plan, especially before leaving any stable job. Among other things, he recommends other would-be entrepreneurs test their ideas on a small scale before committing fully.
Impact and future. Today, Dunlap Hollow represents a success story in the niche vacation rental industry, with a focus on customer experience and taking advantage of unique natural environments. A recipe where Gingerich has managed to combine his love for nature and design, along with an evident nose for business, into something highly profitable, one in which he does not seem to have the slightest intention of returning to the routine of a job. office.
Imagen | Dunlap Hollow
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