Secluded stargazing tents and a glass-walled restaurant on a historic high-country ranch surrounded by the Kaibab National Forest.
Backland is a luxury eco-resort situated on 160 acres of private land entirely surrounded by the Kaibab National Forest, roughly 20 miles southeast of Williams, Arizona. Founded by Jeremy Budge, a former developer for Under Canvas, the property opened in September 2022 on the historic footprint of Moose Ranch, a 1921 homestead originally claimed by Clyde Moose. Sitting at an elevation of 7,000 feet, the resort offers a cool escape from the desert heat, combining deep seclusion with carefully designed modern comforts. Budge and his team have focused heavily on ecological restoration, using regenerative land management practices to heal the soil from decades of historic overgrazing, even planting native milkweed plots to support migrating monarch butterflies.
The accommodations consist of just ten custom-designed, climate-controlled luxury tents spaced generously across the meadow to ensure absolute privacy. Each insulated structure features panoramic windows, private en-suite bathrooms with ecological toiletries, and private decks that look out toward the ponderosa pine forests and distant peaks. The standout accommodations are the Stargazing Skylight Suites and Grand Sky Suites, which feature a massive, 16-foot-wide glass skylight positioned directly above the king-sized bed, allowing guests to fall asleep under some of the darkest, clearest night skies in the Southwest. For families or small groups, the Grand Sky Suite accommodates up to six guests and includes a cozy built-in bunk bed fort that doubles as luggage storage when not in use.
At the heart of the property is a glass-walled lodge and restaurant where guests gather for chef-prepared, seasonal meals served alongside a warm fireplace. Outside, a spring-fed pond features a sandy beach area equipped with kayaks and fishing gear, providing a quiet spot to spend a sunny afternoon. The resort also offers a tented spa situated under the pine canopy, walking trails that wind through the property, and nightly bonfires where guests can roast complimentary s'mores while gazing through the resort's high-powered telescope. By keeping the guest count low and focusing on high-end, low-impact hospitality, Backland provides an intimate connection to the high-country landscape without sacrificing the refined details of a luxury hotel stay.
Book a Stargazing Skylight Suite to watch the constellations from bed through the 16-foot glass skylight, and don't miss the nightly complimentary s'mores by the campfire.
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