What began with a handful of vintage campers in the Catskills is growing into something much larger for Boheme Retreats.
Launched in 2022, Boheme Retreats began as a small glamping destination on leased land in Livingston Manor, N.Y. When Brooklynite Keva Niver launched the outdoor hospitality venture, the goal was never simply to create a place to stay. The vision was centered on creating welcoming spaces in nature for people who have not always felt represented in traditional camping and outdoor recreation culture.
Now Niver's vision is expanding as she works to acquire a 100-acre property located in Greene County, with the purchase expected to close this summer. The expansion will include a farmhouse, barn, water features and open land capable of supporting expanded lodging, retreats, wellness programming, farming and community events, Niver said.
"When I started Boheme Retreats, I did not see many Black women leading in the glamping, outdoor hospitality, or nature retreat space. That absence was part of the reason Boheme needed to exist," said Niver.
With over four years on leased land in Livingston Manor, Boheme Retreats welcomed more than 1,800 guests. Many experienced camping, campfires and rural outdoor settings in an environment designed around comfort, inclusion and accessibility.
"For many of our guests, Boheme is their first time camping, glamping, sitting around a campfire, or feeling fully comfortable in a rural outdoor space," said Niver.
The success of the retreat helped validate the concept, but it also revealed the limitations of operating on land the company did not own.
The move represents more than a change of address. It marks a shift from temporary space-making to long-term place-making.
"As Boheme grew, it became clear that the next chapter required more permanence, more creative control, and more ability to build the kind of space our community deserves," Niver said.
To help fund the purchase and development of the property, Boheme is using traditional financing and a community investment model through Fractional, an investment club platform, that allows supporters to participate in the project.
"We wanted to create a pathway where our guests, supporters and community could participate not just as customers, but as owners," said Niver.
While some retreats end when the weekend does, Boheme Retreats is focused on building something designed to last.
