As the nation’s largest co-op, REI is a household name. But what many outdoor enthusiasts don’t know is that the outdoor giant occasionally dabbles in real estate — like this recent purchase in Arizona.
REI is the proud new owner of 20 acres of land south of the Grand Canyon. The end goal is for REI to take guests on Grand Canyon camping experiences as soon as spring of 2025.
What are REI Signature Camps?
This purchase will be REI’s fourth investment in the iconic brand’s Signature Camp series. Currently, REI has Signature Camps established in Bryce Canyon, Zion, and Great Smoky Mountains national parks. With the addition of a Grand Canyon Signature Camp, REI will obtain a solid market with some of the most popular national parks in the country.
REI’s Signature Camps are designed for those who want to explore the outdoors with minimal work and maximum comfort. Campers will still sleep in tents and hike around the beautiful terrain, but REI typically provides all the group cooking gear, tents, sleeping bags, guides and handles all of the food preparation. Basically, the Signature Trips are the ultimate curated camping experience — and we are here for that.
What do we know about the Grand Canyon Signature Camp?
The Grand Canyon saw more than 4.7 million visitors in 2023, making it the second most-visited park in the country (behind Great Smoky Mountains). More importantly, the Giant Ditch is a bucket-list item for many Americans, so this new acquisition has the potential to be a very big deal for REI.
As of now, we know that REI purchased 20 acres in the town of Williams, Arizona. If you’ve never heard of it, you’re not alone — we hadn’t either. But this self-proclaimed Gateway to the Grand Canyon looks to be an epicenter for outdoor adventure ranging from fishing and camping to hiking and even wildlife viewing at the nearby Bearizona Wildlife Park. It’s parked on the historic Route 66 and had a population of just over 3,000 people during the 2010 census.
Of course, REI’s new land isn’t smack in the middle of this small community. Instead, the Co-op’s 20 acres sit roughly 40 miles north of Williams and just 20 miles south of the Grand Canyon. When it opens in the spring of 2025, it will be a self-sustaining Signature Camp designed to emphasize sustainability and minimal environmental impact.
Other Recent REI Signature Camp Expansions
REI has been moving and grooving with their Signature Camp series, beyond the Grand Canyon land purchase. Last year, they doubled the size of their Bryce Canyon camp to accommodate the large demand in interest. To date, Bryce Canyon continues to be one of REI’s most popular destinations.
REI also recently added the Bryce Canyon & Capitol Reef duo trip that takes guests through both parks over the course of five days. As the quietest of Utah’s ‘Big Five’ national parks, Capitol Reef is an unknown gem to many visitors yet it’s arguably one of the most beautiful.
