We are the Eric and Josie Neilson family that lives and farms north of Fleet in east-central Alberta. We are a family of five, with all of our three children now grown up. Like virtually all farms today in Alberta, we are busy with both on and off farm jobs and appreciate having our kids helping out as they can. In 2012 we exchanged some summer pasture for my older brother’s herd for three heifer calves.
Two of these became the matriarchs of our herd of cattle, affectionately known as Chocolate and Blondie. We had several daughters of those two cows in our herd, and over the years we grew our herd into about 50 cows. Starting in 2019, we sold and delivered grass-fed grain-finished beef directly to customers across Alberta. In early 2023 we made the decision to sell most of our cattle in order to focus more on the glamping side of our business.
The Cabin is our flagship glampsite, but why did we build it? In 2003 our family built a cabin on the coulee with a spectacular view of the coulees and the surrounding landscape in anticipation of wanting a family meeting and recreation place after the rest of the family had moved away from the original home location. In 2004, plans changed as we decided to build our home on Josie’s parents home quarter, only one mile or so from the cabin. This left the cabin on the coulee mostly unused near the middle of a whole section (one square mile) of land. In 2019 we decided to renovate it into a beautiful glamping site, and it was available to rent starting 2020. We now have plans for four more glamping sites on our land!
At Cabin on the Coulee Farm, our mission is simple: to offer unforgettable glamping experiences where guests can find peace and quiet, deep connection with nature, and comfortable, affordable escapes that feel within reach for everyday Albertans.
Living in today’s world is complicated. It can be stressful, demanding, and draining. We want to give our guests an opportunity for some soul work. All are welcome. This can mean different things for different people, but we believe that time away to reflect, recharge, and renew is important to all.
Our world view is Christian and feel that these words spoken by Jesus in Matthew 11:28 reflect what we want for our guests: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
Restoration through recreation happens naturally when you immerse yourself in the land. Our family farm in east-central Alberta overlooks a stunning 200-acre coulee, offering endless opportunities to “re-create” yourself outdoors—hiking the coulees, relaxing in the shade on a warm afternoon, gathering around a campfire, or gazing at stars in one of Alberta’s darkest skies.
From the original two-story rustic log cabin (built in 2003 and transformed into our flagship glampsite) to the new Coulee Yurt and Grouse House bunkie added in 2025, each site blends comfort with authentic prairie wilderness.
We’re also committed to affordability. Many glamping options—especially in the Rockies—feel out of reach for regular families. While we cover our costs and continue investing in the property, we intentionally keep rates as accessible as possible so more people can experience this kind of peaceful getaway. It’s not about the cheapest option; it’s about making meaningful nature escapes available to everyone who needs them.
Glamping is a blend of the words glamorous and camping. Glamping is a style of camping where guests are treated to some unexpected amenities, like a comfortable bed, on or off grid electricity, running/heated water, indoor plumbing, or high speed internet.
We call our short term holiday accommodations glampsites and we aspire to be the home of the Low Density Glamping Guarantee. This means that all of our glampsites are guaranteed to be very private, where your view of other glampsites is obscured by trees or is a minimum of 400 m (0.4 km or ¼ of a mile) away.
