Yearslong promises of ‘luxury lodging’ fade as Oculis Lodge property is listed for sale
The future of a proposed glamping resort in Whatcom County appears grim after the partially developed property was listed for sale this week.
The Oculis Lodge was an Indiegogo crowdfunding project branded as the “ultimate luxury lodging in the Cascade mountains,” to be built on a 2.16-acre parcel in Glacier, at the base of Mount Baker. However, the project quickly drew sharp criticism from locals skeptical of its feasibility. Meanwhile funding backers expressed frustration as promises by the developer went unmet and the project hit repeated delays.
The project’s founder, Youri Benoiston, initially anticipated the project to be complete in early 2024 with about 30 700-square-foot, private dome structures. Three months into 2025, only one of the domes is complete.
In July of 2024, Benoiston submitted documents to Whatcom County to gain approval for the second phase of the project’s development — the construction of six additional domes on site.
The property was listed for sale on Redfin on March 18 for $725,000. That sale price includes the existing dome along with an exterior deck, jacuzzi, sauna and fire pit, according to the listing description. The “concept plans” for the six additional domes are listed as being available for sale separately, the listing states.
More than 1,700 backers helped fund the project with more than $1.2 million through the Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign that ended in December 2022, earning the project the title of “most funded lodging in Indiegogo history,” according to the Indiegogo website.
Backers, who were guaranteed priority reservations at the lodge, have been requesting refunds over the last two years as delays dragged on. In late 2023, Benoiston denied these refund requests, claiming the funds were “actively contributing to the creation of the lodge.”
In updates to backers in the middle of 2024, Benoiston claimed some priority reservations at the first dome were finally being honored and said he was “exploring expedited options to accommodate the few who wish to exit and seek reimbursement.”
Still, many backers said they never saw refunds or had the opportunity to stay in the dome. With news of the sale now hitting backers, many are expressing concern about whether they will ever see their money returned.
“I’d like to make it clear that if the funds from the sale of the property are not used to provide me a refund that I will be filing a small claims court complaint and will be happy to assist every backer in doing the same :) Youri please respond to your backers here with what your plans are for the sale of the property,” said Oculis Lodge backer Paul Fielding on the project’s Indiegogo webpage.
“I smelled something fishy when their updates became fewer and farther between,” said Suzanne Heid, another backer.
“Yep I was a 3 day investor and tried to be patient and kind due to the hiccups but come on…. My first and last time investing, especially on this platform. Wonder how we can start a group? Might give us a bigger voice if we figured out how to band together to get a REAL apology and a refund,” said backer Stephanie Giusto.
Benoiston has yet to respond to inquiries from The Herald about his decision to list the property for sale or whether he intended to use the money from the sale to refund backers.
This story was originally published March 19, 2025 at 2:38 PM.
