The Embers, Branson

November 2026
The_Embers
Camping has its purists, but glamping is winning over the rest of us. When I first suggested a glamping stay in Branson, my husband was skeptical...until he saw the set up at The Embers: king bed, indoor plumbing, even air conditioning. The property encompasses 13.5 acres with 17 wooded glamping sites, including two cabins and 50 RV hook-ups with numerous trees in the front.

As owner Heather Meuer says, “We’ve elevated the experience for those who want a connection with the outdoors.”

Rewind to 2023. Heather and Ryan Meuer stepped onto an abandoned campground and saw potential. Deserted for more than 15 years, it was a disaster, to put it mildly. Two years with considerable sweat equity, they replaced all the utilities, razed rotted buildings, removed trash and reworked the landscape. The Meuer’s documented the transformation on Instagram (@theembersbranson) and officially opened October 2024.

Adjacent to Point Royale Golf Course and about seven minutes from Highway 76, The Ember’s location is convenient, and the experience is even better. We checked into our “treehouse tent” at the camp store and immediately made ourselves at home. The tent itself sat on the second level with a private hot tub on the patio below. We marveled at the totally modern bathroom—all under canvas. The tiny back bedroom that accommodates two additional people (the tent sleeps up to four) served as our closet.

In the evening, we lounged on the second-story deck overlooking the golf course. Dinner was hand-built pizza made at the camp store that sells food, beer, wine and merchandise. We chatted with our out-of-state neighbors who were sitting around their fire pit.

“People glamp year-round because the tents are heated and cooled. Treehouse tents are even popular on winter weekends,” says Heather. “But in extreme weather, we’ll probably close them down in January and February, except for Valentine’s weekend, so keep an eye out for information.”

At the back of the property, a one-mile trail leads down to Table Rock Dam and the fish hatchery. The heated pool remains open March through November, depending on weather, with a rooftop deck overlooking it and an adjacent pickleball court. Also on property, the full-service coffee shop serves beverages made from local Table Rock Coffee Roasters.

Their next endeavor? The Drift Resort, an old trout lodge on Lake Taneycomo, is being completely remodeled, offering boat slips and rentals plus a fishing dock. Phase I is complete and taking reservations. If it’s anything like The Embers, it’s going to be first rate.

For more information, see TheEmbersBranson.com.