If you woke up inside the new Urban Cowboy Tent at Collective Retreats and had to guess where you were, New York City would probably not be your first answer. The red Pendleton fabric, saddle blanket rugs, antique lanterns, old canteens, and chandelier made of antlers overhead make it feel like somewhere wooded and considerably farther away—maybe a cabin upstate, or a particularly well-designed camp out West.
Then you unzip the canvas and see the Statue of Liberty across the water, the World Trade Center in the other direction, and ferries moving through the harbor: It’s a pretty wonderful way to realize you are still in New York. The singular seasonal tent is the newest accommodation at Collective Retreats Governors Island; reservations opened August 17 for stays through November 2026.
The 325-square-foot tent is expected to return for the 2027 season, adding Urban Cowboy Lodge’s very specific take on Western Americana to Collective’s existing collection of simple yet spruced up canvas tents and suites. Out of the 29 accommodations at the retreat, you’ll want to book this bad boy for a truly fun, transformative, and one-of-a-kind experience—completely made over by Urban Cowboy’s signature Western-styled design.
Just last week, I checked into the tent
Just last week, I checked into the tent myself after leaving the office and taking the ferry from Lower Manhattan. The scenic ride takes about eight minutes, and a golf cart picked me and my partner up when we arrived at the island. I’ve stayed at Collective Retreats before, and I’ve also stayed at Urban Cowboy in the Catskills, so I was especially curious to see how the two would translate together.
Collective has the setting, with canvas tents, open grass, harbor breezes, and the feeling of being away (without going very far), while Urban Cowboy has the design language: Western lore, cool vintage furnishings, a little bit of cowboy camp, and a whole lot of personality. The new tent brings the two together in a way that feels majorly different than its neighbors, not only at the retreat, but in all of New York City.
Inside the Urban Cowboy tent
The new Urban Cowboy tent is a retreat for two, with one comfy king-size bed and an en suite bathroom. Out front, the private deck’s red Adirondack chairs with patterned pillows face the water, making it a great place to start the morning with coffee in hand. Above the entrance, a pair of horns hangs over a small plaque reading “Camp Cowboy.” Inside, a Pendleton Harding–patterned fabric wraps around the walls and ceilings and continues onto the custom upholstered headboard.
El Paso saddle blanket rugs cover most
El Paso saddle blanket rugs cover most of the floor, while 1920s canteens, old books, a deconstructed vintage camera, and a little bear statue fill the room. I have an affinity for anything remotely Western, and happily consider myself a cowgirl at heart, so I was immediately into the design. What kept the tent from feeling like a collection of cowboy props was the tasteful curation of vintage pieces.
This is very much what Urban Cowboy’s aesthetic is all about: Lyon Porter, Urban Cowboy’s cofounder and creative director, designed the tent through Cowboy Creative, while Kevin Jacob Design worked on custom elements including hand-painted stencil work, signage, and the mounted antlers. The poetically placed vintage finds wereand Elephant’s Trunk
One of the most picture-perfect pieces in the tent is the antique, patinated French cast-iron soaking tub, positioned toward the harbor so that Lady Liberty is directly in view. A vintage-inspired speaker hangs above it, and a nearby chair serves as a base for handcrafted bath products from Species by the Thousands, as well as a little rubber duckie with a cowboy hat on (the perfect touch).
While there aren’t windows, open the outer canvas
While there aren’t windows, open the outer canvas flap, keep the screen zipped, and let the light pour in. Given this tent is one of the closest ones to the water, the harbor appears almost as part of the room. The proper bathroom is tucked in a separate but adjoining tent towards the back. The space is bigger than I thought it might be—home to a standing shower, big mirror, and toilet.
The western lore continues here with (yes, more) antlers; the coziest, tribal-pattered robes; and one of my favorite pieces: a framed desert landscape that hangs across the shower and looks like a scene right out of New Mexico. Food and drink at Collective Retreats
We started the evening with a drink at Sunset Terrace, also home to sweeping city views, before heading to Three Peaks Lodge for dinner.
The restaurant overlooks the harbor, where orange Staten Island ferries pass by. Order the crudo, a cheeseboard to share, the heirloom melon and prosciutto salad, and chicken entrée, along with a bottle of wine to bring back to your tent. (The in-tent Yeti cooler comes in handy here.)
Along with its oversized Jenga and cornhole, the retreat’s Great Lawn has firepits where guests can roast sweet s’mores in the evening.
Because of the rain, we missed the usual
Because of the rain, we missed the usual setup, but the team thoughtfully plated them for us as dessert. In the morning, head to Three Peaks for a casual breakfast buffet with hard-boiled eggs, bagels, pastries, coffee, and more. → For more options of where to eat and drink on Governors Island, check out our full guide to the island. What to know before you book
If you visit on a warm day, not to worry—the tent’s air conditioning works well, and was especially welcome after walking around in August humidity.
But do note, this is still a tent, so sound travels. A boat parked out front played music for a while during the night (earplugs are provided, I simply failed to use mine). I do wish we had received a quick walkthrough when we arrived: The lights were unplugged and took some figuring out, and one outlet sits awkwardly near the middle of the room, so watch your step and perhaps ask for some guidance right away.
The logistics are easy enough, though, and employees regularly pass through the property in golf carts, so it was simple to get help when we needed it. The next morning, with an early ferry to catch, we called for a golf cart and made it to the landing with time to spare. You can book the Urban Cowboy Tent online through the Collective Retreats website. Bookings for the tent are open now for weeknight and weekend stays until the end of November 2026.
The team has already promised its return next
The team has already promised its return next year, too—with the tent available for bookings all season, from May through November 2027. More stays on Governors Island:
If you missed the booking window for this particular tent, you can get a glimpse of the experience at the two properties that birthed the collaboration. At Collective Retreats, there are 29 container suites and glamping tents available from May to November.
If you’re looking for a classic-cool Catskills getaway, Urban Cowboy Lodge, in the woodsy town of Big Indian, is never a bad idea.
Source: www.cntraveler.com
