Agritourism

amberskipper3 said:I’ve been reading through all your posts, and honestly, the only thing I can say is—there’s a grain of truth in everything being said here.
The reality of the situation is just plain depressing. Truly sad.
I have some friends living in a gorgeous part of the American Midwest—young, smart people, some even with specialized degrees in hospitality management—who really wanted to get an agritourism project off the ground.🙏 We're talking cozy lodging, guided excursions, farm-to-table food grown right on the property, scenic hikes across a massive, beautiful estate...
But once they actually stepped up to the plate? Once they presented the plan to the local authorities, went to the bank, hit up the county offices, and dealt with those endless federal departments and agencies... well, when they were handed a mountain of paperwork requiring every single permit, certification, and clearance imaginable, and then the bank had the nerve to quote them a 12% interest rate on a loan—they just threw in the towel.
Now, they just run things under the radar, serving a few hunters and lost bikers on the side.

Oh, and yeah... that’s basically the crux of it, isn't it? That's the whole problem. No matter what you try to build or start, you just run straight into this massive wall of resistance...

But hey, whatever. This article is focusing on agritourism... does anyone actually have a positive example? Like, has anyone actually pulled it off and succeeded or something??

cosmicviper10 said:Oh, and yeah... that’s basically the crux of it, isn't it? That's the whole problem. No matter what you try to build or start, you just run straight into this massive wall of resistance...

But hey, whatever. This article is focusing on agritourism... does anyone actually have a positive example? Like, has anyone actually pulled it off and succeeded or something??

It isn't just "resistance" in the traditional sense; it's more like every single link in the chain is trying to grab its own slice of the pie independently...🙄

Without genuine willpower at the higher political levels, you aren't going to find solutions for even the most seemingly impossible issues—just look at the latest situation regarding the border between the US and Mexico.
Ask God what they actually signed🤷 but—Eppur si muove....

cosmicviper10 said:Oh, and yeah... that’s basically the crux of it, isn't it? That's the whole problem. No matter what you try to build or start, you just run straight into this massive wall of resistance...

But hey, whatever. This article is focusing on agritourism... does anyone actually have a positive example? Like, has anyone actually pulled it off and succeeded or something??

Oh, they definitely exist—you can find a few estates like that near Saint John. The real catch is that they're way too far away from anything that feels like a convenient getaway.
On top of that, unfortunately, they end up being way too pricey for the average American family to afford.

Jesse Sanchez90 said:It isn't just "resistance" in the traditional sense; it's more like every single link in the chain is trying to grab its own slice of the pie independently...🙄

Without genuine willpower at the higher political levels, you aren't going to find solutions for even the most seemingly impossible issues—just look at the latest situation regarding the border between the US and Mexico.
Ask God what they actually signed🤷 but—Eppur si muove....

As for this whole "getting paid" thing, that's a whole different beast.
From federal agencies down to local communities, prices are basically determined by who can grease which palms.
My buddies just weren't ready for that reality.

amberskipper3 said:As for this whole "getting paid" thing, that's a whole different beast.
From federal agencies down to local communities, prices are basically determined by who can grease which palms.
My buddies just weren't ready for that reality.

And that’s exactly my point—this is our biggest tragedy: we just aren't ready to shake this off and finally hold these mafia-style tactics accountable.
Sure, nothing changes unless it starts at the top with the government and then moves to the banks—but around here, nobody seems willing to step up, pick a fight with them, or even try to build some real domestic competition.

cosmicviper10 said:Oh, and yeah... that’s basically the crux of it, isn't it? That's the whole problem. No matter what you try to build or start, you just run straight into this massive wall of resistance...

But hey, whatever. This article is focusing on agritourism... does anyone actually have a positive example? Like, has anyone actually pulled it off and succeeded or something??

This truly captures the essence of our struggle. I remember someone once remarked that if you want to get things done in Western Europe, it’s like being a train running steadily along its tracks. But here? If you actually try to make progress, it feels like everyone is working together just to shove you right off the rails.

wanderingrider17 said:This truly captures the essence of our struggle. I remember someone once remarked that if you want to get things done in Western Europe, it’s like being a train running steadily along its tracks. But here? If you actually try to make progress, it feels like everyone is working together just to shove you right off the rails.

What an incredible metaphor: 👍

My parents are from the Žumberak region, a pretty little area about an hour or an hour and a half's drive from Washington, D.C. via some decent paved roads. The town is mostly filled with elderly folks who can’t really look after themselves, and honestly, I doubt they even know the internet exists, let alone anything about agritourism. My folks built a decent little weekend cottage out there; they have some land and basically spend their time doing small-scale hobby farming.
I head out there often just to soak up the peace, the quiet, all that greenery, and the birdsong... mowing the grass, digging up potatoes, picking plums... and every single time, I think about how incredible it would be to actually live there and do exactly what you guys are talking about. Hard work isn't the issue; it's the logistics. Where does the startup capital come from? How do you kit out the space? What do people actually want out of a weekend like that? What are their expectations regarding food? I'm talking things like homemade preserves, warm flatbreads, bacon and onions, or hearty porridge... give me some examples of breakfasts, lunches, and dinners you’d actually crave. And besides nature and silence, what else are you looking for in a getaway? Activities? Would people show up to help with the plum or grape harvest? I highly doubt anyone is driving out there to play tennis. Or maybe they would? Also, what should the accommodations look like—what kind of setup are we talking about? I’m genuinely curious about your expectations because I’m still chewing on this idea.
I'll get into the paperwork, investments, government grants, and all that later. For now, I just want to know: what actually draws city dwellers out to spend a weekend in the countryside?

Harold Jackson32

I mean, an hour or an hour and a half drive is pushing it, right? Like, I'm right on the edge of whether it's actually worth the trip or not. But, okay, let me tell you what my dream scenario would look like—if you're actually serious about opening this place up, please, tag me and my friends for a weekend getaway once you launch 🙂!

Look, at my job, I work like a dog. No way am I picking grapes, digging dirt, or hauling hay... but, hey, I bet there are people out there who'd actually find harvesting fun. So maybe offer that right away! And, you know, for the folks who want a little more action (maybe a smaller group, so don't dump it all on them later 😁), they could stomp grapes with their feet, run the press... distill some moonshine... pick plums and clean them, then just chill out with some homemade cake or plum dumplings. That’s the pitch! Tell them they can take those plums home as dumplings... or come back in two weeks for some jam, or even have you mail them the jam (for a little extra fee, obviously)... Oh, and mushroom hunting with a pro who gives a mini-lesson on what's edible and what isn't! Or harvesting chestnuts or corn, and then roasting corn on the fire while listening to local legends from your neck of the woods... In the winter, maybe an open fireplace where guests can sip on some mulled wine and do what our grandparents used to do—shucking corn, prepping veggies, knitting—all while swapping stories and legends... ... ...

Me? Honestly, I just need peace. Just a little comfy chair on the porch in the shade, and maybe a forest or a meadow for long walks with the local wildlife. A bed, a shower, and a TV so I have something to zone out to before I drift off. And good heating in the winter. That's it.

Breakfast—porcini mushrooms with eggs (okay, you totally had me at that part), boiled eggs with homemade sausage, eggs with local ham, cheese and cream, homemade dried cheese, fresh bread straight from the oven, and local milk 😍. Maybe some sweet cornmeal porridge with homemade jam, or some thinly sliced prosciutto... ... ...

Lunch or Dinner—porcini soup, homemade tomato soup, veggie soups, clear broths—we cook that stuff ourselves, but you should definitely offer it. Sauerkraut, pickled turnips, bean and cabbage stew, stuffed cabbage rolls, stuffed peppers, turkey with traditional flatbread strips 😁, potato rolls, dumplings, savory pastries, meatloaf, strudels, pies, walnut cake, poppy seed cake, cheese or poppy seed bread, or maybe some hearty cornmeal mush 😍... or just some homemade pasta in a chicken gravy... ... ...

You actually made me laugh with that menu—and I don't mean that in a bad way. Honestly, I cook a lot of that stuff at home myself. I’m living out in Suburban City, USA, and part of me just wants to give you a call and whip up everything you mentioned. Even without the whole agritourism vibe, I’m always making tomato sauce and eating nothing else, foraging for mushrooms (though these days it's mostly chanterelles), and spending my time making jams, ajvar, and pinđur. I also make these savory turnovers—kind of like a savory strudel with cheese, cherries, walnuts, or potatoes—and my own homemade pasta... Plus, since I live a bit outside the city limits, it’s pretty peaceful out here. All I need now is to buy a lounge chair for the pool, and then I’m officially inviting you over for a weekend :-) We could even take a quick trip out to the Hilly Region; the scenery alone makes the drive worth it. And don't even get me started on that thinly sliced smoked meat, onions, and farm-fresh eggs with cheese and cream, or some traditional egg porridge...
Anyway, thanks a million for the reply and all the ideas. If anything else pops into your head, please reach out! I’m seriously considering jumping into this business full-time. If I actually pull it off, you’ll be my very first guest. :-))

The whole reason I decided to start this thread was because of what brisknomad6 was saying... I mean, it’s all about those creative concepts that really need to be legalized, properly marketed, and then actually sold to people. Because, let's be honest, not everyone is out there looking for nothing but the ocean, the sun, and a day at the beach..

Harold Jackson32 said:You actually made me laugh with that menu—and I don't mean that in a bad way. Honestly, I cook a lot of that stuff at home myself. I’m living out in Suburban City, USA, and part of me just wants to give you a call and whip up everything you mentioned. Even without the whole agritourism vibe, I’m always making tomato sauce and eating nothing else, foraging for mushrooms (though these days it's mostly chanterelles), and spending my time making jams, ajvar, and pinđur. I also make these savory turnovers—kind of like a savory strudel with cheese, cherries, walnuts, or potatoes—and my own homemade pasta... Plus, since I live a bit outside the city limits, it’s pretty peaceful out here. All I need now is to buy a lounge chair for the pool, and then I’m officially inviting you over for a weekend :-) We could even take a quick trip out to the Hilly Region; the scenery alone makes the drive worth it. And don't even get me started on that thinly sliced smoked meat, onions, and farm-fresh eggs with cheese and cream, or some traditional egg porridge...
Anyway, thanks a million for the reply and all the ideas. If anything else pops into your head, please reach out! I’m seriously considering jumping into this business full-time. If I actually pull it off, you’ll be my very first guest. :-))

When you're getting a tourism business off the ground, the most important thing is figuring out exactly who your guests are going to be.
If you're mostly hosting locals for a day or two, they probably aren't looking to get their hands dirty in a field or help you prep winter preserves.
Foreign travelers, on the other hand, absolutely live for that kind of experience. They don't really care about being productive; they just find pure joy in it. There’s this one family from the Netherlands that’s been coming to the Mountainous Region for years just to mess around in the garden and help out with the animals and the farm.
Regarding the rooms and lodging setup—official categorization gives you a clear roadmap of what you need to meet. As for decor and trying to make things look "fancy"—honestly, less is more.
A fireplace is a huge plus, along with that smell of woodsmoke and cooking up local specialties that define the area...

cosmicviper10 said:The whole reason I decided to start this thread was because of what brisknomad6 was saying... I mean, it’s all about those creative concepts that really need to be legalized, properly marketed, and then actually sold to people. Because, let's be honest, not everyone is out there looking for nothing but the ocean, the sun, and a day at the beach..

Yeah, sure...
All that sounds great on paper, but once you step outside the National Parks, finding local guests is incredibly rare.
Really rare.

Harold Jackson32 said:My parents are from the Žumberak region, a pretty little area about an hour or an hour and a half's drive from Washington, D.C. via some decent paved roads. The town is mostly filled with elderly folks who can’t really look after themselves, and honestly, I doubt they even know the internet exists, let alone anything about agritourism. My folks built a decent little weekend cottage out there; they have some land and basically spend their time doing small-scale hobby farming.
I head out there often just to soak up the peace, the quiet, all that greenery, and the birdsong... mowing the grass, digging up potatoes, picking plums... and every single time, I think about how incredible it would be to actually live there and do exactly what you guys are talking about. Hard work isn't the issue; it's the logistics. Where does the startup capital come from? How do you kit out the space? What do people actually want out of a weekend like that? What are their expectations regarding food? I'm talking things like homemade preserves, warm flatbreads, bacon and onions, or hearty porridge... give me some examples of breakfasts, lunches, and dinners you’d actually crave. And besides nature and silence, what else are you looking for in a getaway? Activities? Would people show up to help with the plum or grape harvest? I highly doubt anyone is driving out there to play tennis. Or maybe they would? Also, what should the accommodations look like—what kind of setup are we talking about? I’m genuinely curious about your expectations because I’m still chewing on this idea.
I'll get into the paperwork, investments, government grants, and all that later. For now, I just want to know: what actually draws city dwellers out to spend a weekend in the countryside?

Take cycling tourism, for example... you see that popping up everywhere lately. Companies are actually teaming up with tourist spots by integrating bike testing centers directly into the local attractions. It’s a win-win-win situation: the bike manufacturers find it way easier to move inventory because people can test ride models before committing to a purchase; the local towns benefit from the influx of travelers passing through or staying over; and the tourists themselves get to try out high-end gear and enjoy an incredible getaway in nature.

As for the food—please, just don't serve the same uninspired stuff you can find on every single street corner in 🙄 Washington, D.C., or Vienna—you know the drill. You've got to play around with different ingredients to create a unique flavor profile...

One more thing: you really have to invest in the location itself. It shouldn't feel like some run-down house that was just given a quick facelift. It’s not about being flashy or extravagant; it’s about giving guests the impression that there is constant care and attention being poured into the place, even if they are sitting on furniture from IKEA.
Maybe offer activities like fishing, or if there's space for riding, outdoor adventures; maybe even paintball for the guys 🤔 or just some simple, hands-on farm chores for those folks who spend their entire work week glued to a computer screen...

Regarding the distance—I honestly believe people will travel if you offer something truly original without breaking the bank. It’s not that everyone is looking for a bargain or trying to take advantage of someone; it’s just that families often can't afford to go on big trips every single weekend. It makes much more sense for them to save up for a longer trip to a destination that offers enough value and variety that they’ll actually want to come back again and again.

Harold Jackson32 said:You actually made me laugh with that menu—and I don't mean that in a bad way. Honestly, I cook a lot of that stuff at home myself. I’m living out in Suburban City, USA, and part of me just wants to give you a call and whip up everything you mentioned. Even without the whole agritourism vibe, I’m always making tomato sauce and eating nothing else, foraging for mushrooms (though these days it's mostly chanterelles), and spending my time making jams, ajvar, and pinđur. I also make these savory turnovers—kind of like a savory strudel with cheese, cherries, walnuts, or potatoes—and my own homemade pasta... Plus, since I live a bit outside the city limits, it’s pretty peaceful out here. All I need now is to buy a lounge chair for the pool, and then I’m officially inviting you over for a weekend :-) We could even take a quick trip out to the Hilly Region; the scenery alone makes the drive worth it. And don't even get me started on that thinly sliced smoked meat, onions, and farm-fresh eggs with cheese and cream, or some traditional egg porridge...
Anyway, thanks a million for the reply and all the ideas. If anything else pops into your head, please reach out! I’m seriously considering jumping into this business full-time. If I actually pull it off, you’ll be my very first guest. :-))

Oh, thanks for the invite! 😍
I eat most of this old-school stuff at home anyway (my folks have a garden back in the Hilly Region, my dad makes killer noodles, and my uncle picks mushrooms and feeds the girls...) — we had porcini with eggs last week (my darling and I were laughing because that was basically a 100% homemade feast, from the bread in the wood-fired oven and flour from the mill to the eggs and mushrooms, all the way down to the pickles and beets from the pantry 😍 ) and now I'm getting ready to make some homemade sausage this week... but that is definitely something I'd love to eat when I head out to the country for the weekend (especially considering our main goal is just to relax and chase after wild beasts through the woods and mountains without any hunters or cars around 🙂))

Good luck! 🙂

amberskipper3 said:When you're getting a tourism business off the ground, the most important thing is figuring out exactly who your guests are going to be.
If you're mostly hosting locals for a day or two, they probably aren't looking to get their hands dirty in a field or help you prep winter preserves.
Foreign travelers, on the other hand, absolutely live for that kind of experience. They don't really care about being productive; they just find pure joy in it. There’s this one family from the Netherlands that’s been coming to the Mountainous Region for years just to mess around in the garden and help out with the animals and the farm.
Regarding the rooms and lodging setup—official categorization gives you a clear roadmap of what you need to meet. As for decor and trying to make things look "fancy"—honestly, less is more.
A fireplace is a huge plus, along with that smell of woodsmoke and cooking up local specialties that define the area...

It really depends—I grew up in the city, and before I turned 20, I hadn't even seen a cow in person until I went home to visit a college friend! So yeah, 🙄 it’s true, but that’s just how it is...
I completely agree with everything else mentioned here....
I’ve been looking at things in France lately (their classification system is obviously different from ours), and the houses there are decorated quite asstetically—but they are furnished in a way that ensures a person has everything they need for that specific moment. They offer great value-adds; for instance, they might mention providing homemade food in the kitchen, and suddenly you have a happy guest who will travel all that way just to watch grapes grow or wander down local backroads.

Ultimately, they get to truly relax because the pace of their vacation is dictated by their own tempo and the local offerings, rather than feeling like they're stuck in some urban pizza joint in Washington, D.C. or something similar...🙄

I’m not entirely sure if this belongs under Agritourism—though we are talking about a rural location and a hotel that offers horseback riding and things like that—so if it doesn't fit, please feel free to move it elsewhere.
A situation caught me completely off guard a few days ago. We were driving back from the coast using the old road, and near the area around the NP, we decided we really wanted some lamb for dinner. We pulled up to this one hotel, only to be turned away because they apparently only serve their own guests. 🤷That is literally what the guy at the front desk told us. I mean, there is zero food available for anyone just stopping by. Honestly, how is anyone supposed to succeed in business with an attitude like that? How am I meant to conclude that they are good hosts or even consider booking a weekend stay there if that’s my first interaction with them? I was just so disappointed. I keep seeing all these reports in the news about how the government isn't investing enough, but when owners take this kind of stance, 👎they are really just doing more harm to themselves (kind of like the example brisknomad6 mentioned this past winter).

Jamie Davis17 said:I’m not entirely sure if this belongs under Agritourism—though we are talking about a rural location and a hotel that offers horseback riding and things like that—so if it doesn't fit, please feel free to move it elsewhere.
A situation caught me completely off guard a few days ago. We were driving back from the coast using the old road, and near the area around the NP, we decided we really wanted some lamb for dinner. We pulled up to this one hotel, only to be turned away because they apparently only serve their own guests. 🤷That is literally what the guy at the front desk told us. I mean, there is zero food available for anyone just stopping by. Honestly, how is anyone supposed to succeed in business with an attitude like that? How am I meant to conclude that they are good hosts or even consider booking a weekend stay there if that’s my first interaction with them? I was just so disappointed. I keep seeing all these reports in the news about how the government isn't investing enough, but when owners take this kind of stance, 👎they are really just doing more harm to themselves (kind of like the example brisknomad6 mentioned this past winter).

Look, we can all agree that the issue here is multi-layered and comes from several different angles.
If things had been handled correctly from the get-go, we wouldn't be in this mess—because, strangely enough, 🙄 it would actually make sense for that hotel to have an open restaurant. Or whatever else their actual motivation might be...

The real issue here is that everything is built on shaky ground. It's like trying to paint a chair when you don't even have the money for a single screw or a cushion, or when there's no clear vision of what the chair should even look like or how it ought to function. That's my little allegory for the situation.😍

Jamie Davis17 said:I’m not entirely sure if this belongs under Agritourism—though we are talking about a rural location and a hotel that offers horseback riding and things like that—so if it doesn't fit, please feel free to move it elsewhere.
A situation caught me completely off guard a few days ago. We were driving back from the coast using the old road, and near the area around the NP, we decided we really wanted some lamb for dinner. We pulled up to this one hotel, only to be turned away because they apparently only serve their own guests. 🤷That is literally what the guy at the front desk told us. I mean, there is zero food available for anyone just stopping by. Honestly, how is anyone supposed to succeed in business with an attitude like that? How am I meant to conclude that they are good hosts or even consider booking a weekend stay there if that’s my first interaction with them? I was just so disappointed. I keep seeing all these reports in the news about how the government isn't investing enough, but when owners take this kind of stance, 👎they are really just doing more harm to themselves (kind of like the example brisknomad6 mentioned this past winter).

Maybe they have all-inclusive packages where meals are baked into the price, and they just don't have the setup (or the register system) to handle walk-ins. Nothing too unusual, really.🤷

By the way, even a small farmstead looking to start something like what Harold Jackson32 is planning wouldn't be able to offer food service to non-guests unless they actually opened a restaurant.

Take Sinful Gorica, for example: I was there recently, and most people were basically running for the hills.
It seems like since they first opened, they haven't put a single cent into renovations or upgrades.
The signage just before you hit the restaurant is a mess, the parking lot is uneven and unkempt, and the access for hiking enthusiasts is pretty rough. You walk into the place and practically have to sprint through the dining area hoping to find someone, only to realize—there’s nobody there....

On the other hand, we hopped in the car and went *vroom* right across the border into the Hilly Region, USA: everything is pristine. No overgrown grass, perfectly maintained bike paths, and we pulled into the Amon restaurant in Podčetrtko: a waiter was at our table immediately, and we scored a spot right on the balcony overlooking the scenery. There's even a little mini-golf course nearby. Around here, trying to pull something like that feels like a total scam because instead of people actually gathering, local businesses struggle; they don't have the capital to run their own thing, so they try to band together to approach a Large Market, USA to buy them out, just hoping for a fair price on land without getting ripped off.
They also have hot springs nearby (unlike the ones we have in our Hilly Region)—the difference is night and day, despite being separated by just a railroad track that, unfortunately, isn't running due to Schengen rules. 😠

Did you know that local governments are supposed to collect property taxes from owners within their county, including land tax, which nowadays seems to only apply to vacation homes? Now, I’m not trying to feed ideas to Shuki, but wouldn't it be better to force those crooks to buy land at a fair market price? That way, they’d actually pay taxes to Shuki (instead of how it works now) and create jobs in wellness tourism—which is exactly what our country is built for, whether we like to admit it or not.
Imagine if we had been destined to live in mining towns instead...🙄