Behind the Stays Netflix Fame, Rock-Star Roots, and a Treehouse Empire: The Bolt Farm Story
Meet Tori Bolt — Co-Founder of Bolt Farm, a celebrated nature retreat in Whitwell Tennessee, offering 23 meticulously designed villas.
In 2016, Tori and Seth Bolt embarked on a bold adventure, building their first luxury treehouse—an intimate project that began as a handcrafted wedding gift. What they didn’t know then was that this creative labor of love would spark a new era in experiential hospitality.
Long before the surge in unique stays and experiential accommodations, the Bolts were leading the way, crafting spaces that balanced the serenity of nature with the sophistication of high-end design. It wasn’t long before their work caught the attention of Netflix’s The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals, a feature that helped position Bolt Farm as a pioneer in the luxury glamping space.
Seth Bolt, a longtime member of the Grammy-nominated band Needtobreathe, brought a unique perspective to the design process. Years of touring and experiencing hospitality across the spectrum informed the couple’s meticulous approach to guest experience. The result? A collection of stays where every detail, from heated marble floors to handcrafted interiors, is intentional, offering guests a haven for rest, connection, and inspiration.
In this episode, we explore:
- How their first luxury treehouse laid the foundation for Bolt Farm’s success.
- What it meant to be featured on Netflix and how the exposure transformed their brand.
- The journey from a small collection of unique stays to a full-fledged wellness resort with a seven-day-a-week spa and curated dining options.
- The couple’s vision for expansion, including discussions around franchising and strategic partnerships that maintain their signature level of quality and charm.
- Lessons from balancing bold creativity with operational excellence as they scale.
Tori and Seth’s story is one of creativity, resilience, and innovation. From their first treehouse to their plans for nationwide expansion, this episode is a testament to what’s possible when you dream big and create with intention.
This episode is brought to you by the Short Term Rental Forum hosted by IMN!
Join me this January 15-16 at the Miami JW Marriott for the premier Short Term Rental Forum hosted by IMN—the industry leader with over 30 years of experience! I'll be speaking at the forum, and you’ll have the chance to network with 400+ top investors, operators, property managers, lenders, and tech providers in the Short Term Rental space.
It’s the must-attend event of the year to elevate your business strategy and connect with the industry's best. You can use code BTS for an extra 15% off this lowest available rate. Register now at events.imn.org/str25 – I’ll see you in Miami!
Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.
Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at joinjourney.com/alliance.