What Teepees does

Nomadics Tipi Makers, operating as Teepees (legal entity: Nomadics Tipi Makers, tipi.com), is a privately held, founder-owned manufacturer founded in 1970 by Jeb and his brother Thomy in Neskowin, Oregon, and now headquartered at 17665 Snow Creek Rd, Bend, Oregon. The company designs and hand-crafts authentic Native American Sioux-style tipis in two principal models — the Traditional Model with a standard door flap and the Campground Model featuring a patented Zipper/Mosquito Screen Door (US Design Patent No. US D948,748 S) — along with a Seasonal Travel Tipi (lightweight 10oz), Kids Tipi (8ft miniature), and a deep component/accessory catalog (covers, liners, doors, critter/mosquito guards, rain cap/catcher, ozan, poles, ground floor, wool rugs, pillows, backrest chairs, sand snakes). All canvas is GOTS-certified 100% organic cotton treated with Sunforger finish for water, mold, and mildew resistance, and Lodge Pole Pine poles are sustainably sourced from a multi-decade supplier in Deer Lodge, Montana.

The business runs a direct-to-consumer, sales-led model with no retail intermediaries: customers configure orders via an interactive online Tipi & Art Builder, phone consultation (1-541-389-3980), or email ([email protected]), and receive custom quotes based on configuration, fabric weight (10oz–15oz), size (12ft–26ft), and artwork selection (80+ designs plus fully custom). Revenue mechanics are quote-based one-time sales with a 50% deposit to start production, balance due before painting/shipping, and volume discounts of 5%–12% at 3+ to 20+ packages; special discounts apply to Native American tribal members, reservation residents, and non-profits. Tipis ship worldwide via UPS Ground (poles via freight within US/Canada only), with 3–4 month lead times during peak season (March–June).

The customer base spans individual consumers and families (personal camping, backyard, ceremonial/spiritual use), commercial campgrounds and glamping operators (KOAs, RV resorts, retreat centers — including named accounts such as Ventura Ranch KOA, Mustang Monument, Bison Peak Lodge, Olancha Resort, Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs Resort, and Basecamp Terlingua), Native American communities and organizations (scholarships, elder housing, ceremonial gatherings), educational institutions (Wildheart Nature School, Eagle Wilderness Adventures), and event organizers (powwows, rendezvous). Marketing is content-driven through the website, YouTube setup and model videos, customer-photo newsletter, and photo gallery. The company has been selected to manufacture all tipis for the film "Dances With Wolves" and has scaled to 35,000+ tipis delivered over its 50+ year history.

Name

Teepees

Legal name

Nomadics Tipi Makers

Website

https://tipi.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Nomadics Tipi Makers, founded in 1970 and headquartered in Bend, Oregon, designs and hand-crafts authentic Sioux-style Native American tipis, components, and custom artwork, serving individual consumers, glamping operators, Native American organizations, and event hosts via direct-to-consumer sales worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Canvas Tipis and Outdoor Shelters

NAICS

Textile Bag and Canvas Mills (314910)

SIC

Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600)

akta.pro primary industry

Yurts, Tipis & Nomadic Tents (THAMADAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Outdoor Furniture & Shelter Systems (Tents, Tarps, Hammocks) Retail (CRAMAAAJ)

Keywords

• Canvas tipis
• Glamping shelters
• Tipi manufacturing
• Outdoor canvas shelters
• Native American tipis

Headquarters

HQ city

Bend

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tipi Product Sales: One-time sale of tipis including covers, doors, liners, poles, and accessories. Full packages or individual components available. Orders require 50% deposit, balance before painting/shipping. Prices vary by size (12ft-26ft), model (Traditional/Campground), fabric weight, and artwork complexity.
2. Custom Artwork Services: Hand-painted artwork by talented artists in workshop. Customers can choose from pre-designed covers, combine designs in Art Builder, or request fully custom creations. Includes royalties to Native American artists for featured designs.
3. Kids Tipi Sales: 8ft diameter miniature tipis for children, available plain or with printed silk-screened designs. Can be custom painted. Includes dowel poles or option for local pole sourcing.
4. Accessories and Components: Separate sales of accessories including rugs ($140), pillows ($35 canvas, $22 regular), backrest chairs ($79), canvas organizers ($29), canvas bags ($55), and sand snakes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Teepees (legally Nomadics Tipi Makers) designs, manufactures, and sells authentic Native American Sioux-style tipis in sizes ranging from 8ft to 26ft, available in Traditional, Campground (glamping), Seasonal Travel, and Kids models. The company offers custom hand-painted artwork, individual components (liners, doors, poles, covers), and accessories such as wool rugs, backrest chairs, and ground floors. Products are made-to-order in Bend, Oregon, using GOTS-certified organic cotton canvas treated with Sunforger finish, and ship worldwide via UPS Ground.

Product overview

Nomadics Tipi Makers offers authentic Native American Sioux-style tipis as its core product line, comprising Traditional Model tipis with standard door flaps, Campground Model tipis with patented Zipper/Mosquito Screen Doors for glamping use, Seasonal Travel tipis in lightweight 10oz fabric, and Kids tipis as 8ft miniature replicas. The product portfolio centers on customizable canvas tipis with comprehensive component options including covers, liners (6ft and 9ft), doors (flap, zipper/screen, summer screen), Critter Guard, Mosquito Guard, Rain Cap, Rain Catcher, Ozan, poles, ground floors, and accessories (rugs, pillows, backrest chairs, sand snakes). All tipis feature hand-painted artwork customizable via the Tipi & Art Builder online platform, with over 80 pre-designed artwork options spanning pictograph animals, shaman figures, shield designs, and liner decoration strips, plus full custom artwork creation services. The company operates on a made-to-order basis with sizes ranging from 8ft (kids) to 12ft-26ft for adult tipis.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Traditional Model Tipi Sioux-style tipi with standard 3'9" door opening and door flap covering. Features the basic three-pole design following Native American Great Plains cultures. Available in 13oz and 15oz fabrics for seasonal and year-round use, in sizes 12ft-26ft.
• Campground Model Tipi Glamping-adapted tipi featuring a larger door entrance (4'7" for 12-18ft sizes, 6ft for 20-26ft sizes), patented Zipper/Mosquito Screen Door with velcro attachment, and Critter Guard mesh protection at the bottom hem. Designed for campgrounds and rental use with lockable privacy screen.
• Seasonal Travel Tipi Lightweight traditional model tipi made from 10oz Sunforger treated organic white army duck fabric. Designed for temporary weekend or week-long setups at powwows, rendezvous, or camping. Available in travel sizes 12ft-18ft only. Sold at cost with no profit margin.
• Kids Tipi 8ft diameter miniature replica of full-size Sioux tipis, standing approximately 7ft high. Features functioning smoke flaps and lacing pins identical to adult tipis. Made with Sunforger treated 100% organic cotton army duck. Can accommodate six children for play or two adults for summer overnight stays.
• Tipi Covers Canvas covers available in Traditional or Campground models. Fabric options include 10oz lightweight army duck, 13oz army duck, and 15oz cotton (100% organic). Includes reinforcements at stress points, peg loops, smoke flaps, and pinning face areas.
• Tipi Liners Interior insulation covers available in 6ft (5'6" vertical height) and 9ft (8'3" vertical height) sizes. Three-section design with velcro connection creating continuous seal. Functions for warmth insulation, air draft creation between liner and cover, and privacy. 6ft recommended for 12-18ft tipis; 9ft for 20-26ft tipis or winter use.
• Tipi Doors Available in Door Flap (trapezoid-shaped canvas for Traditional models) or Zipper/Mosquito Screen Door (for Campground models). Summer Screen Door Flap option provides increased airflow while blocking insects. Zipper door includes 15-gauge marine grade zippers and tan colored polyester netting screen.
• Tipi Poles Sustainably harvested Lodge Pole Pine sourced primarily from Montana, with some from Warm Springs or Umatilla Reservations. Available in various lengths and quantities per tipi size. Freight shipping within US and Canada only. Company plants one tree seedling per pole sold.
• Critter Guard and Mosquito Guard Tan colored tightly woven polyester mesh protection. Critter Guard sewn onto bottom reinforcement of tipi cover, stretching beneath poles for tight ground fit. Mosquito Guard sewn onto right smoke flap seam with ribbons to wedge between poles and cover, covering smoke flap opening.
• Rain Cap and Rain Catcher Exterior Rain Cap is 9ft or 12ft round fabric circle with loops for rope attachment to trees or stakes. Interior Rain Catcher features 28" diameter plastic water heater drip pan in canvas pan, reducing incoming rain by approximately 80%. Includes drip spout with clear plastic tube for water redirection.
• Ozan Interior Awning Interior awning extending from top of tipi liner forward into tipi for heat retention in cold climates. Features 6" fabric flap that drapes over backside of liner creating seal at top connection point.
• Ground Floor Sturdy polyethylene tarp in black/white with circular cut matching tipi diameter. Functions as moisture barrier with option to add carpet padding and carpet on top for cozy interior.
• Backrest Chair Native American-style backrest with internal aluminum frame, 2-1/4" contoured foam sitting pad, and heavy cotton duck canvas covering in light tan. Designed to cradle back shape for comfortable seating during meetings or council gatherings.
• SW Wool Rugs SW Wool Rugs are 4ft x 6ft, 1/4" thick tightly woven wool made in India with various designs.
• SW Wool Pillows SW Wool Pillows are 18" x 18" with 100% wool front, canvas back, and velcro closure with synthetic pillow filling.
• Canvas Pillows Canvas pillows sold individually as tipi interior accessories.
• Canvas Bags and Organizers Canvas bags and organizers for tipi storage and interior organization.
• Sand Snakes and Door Snakes Sand Snakes are 6ft canvas tubes filled with sand/gravel (approx. 30 lbs) for weighing down liner bottom. Door Snake is 3ft long custom invention filling space between door poles with flap covering door opening beneath.
• Set-Up Accessories Package Includes 1/2" sisal cover rope, synthetic liner rope, wooden lacing pins, 1ft plastic stakes, staking cords, and smoke flap cords. Also includes detailed set-up instruction booklet and decorative posters with quotes from Chief Seattle and Sitting Bull.
• Pre-Designed Artwork Tipi Covers Fixed-price tipi cover designs including Canyonlands, The Shaman's Dreams, Ceremonial Design, Buck and Doe's, Geo Design, Wild Horse Meadow, The Four Directions, and Anasazi Inspiration. Also includes Native Artist creations with royalty payments to artists. Available in Paint or Antique Wash styles.
• Custom Artwork Creations Custom design service translating customer ideas, pictures, logos, or dreams onto tipi canvas. Artists can incorporate specific pictures, animals, logos, or objects into standard or custom artwork layouts. Includes custom artwork agreement and hourly consultation option.

Quantifiable outcome

• 35,000+ tipis delivered to happy customers
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• One Tree PlantedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Collaboration to plant one new tree per pole sold on indigenous land. Supports Nomadics' commitment to sustainability and environmental giving.
• Red Cloud RenewablecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019100% Native American run and operated non-profit organization on Pine Ridge Reservation. Nomadics partnered to plant ponderosa pine, cottonwood, and fruit tree seedlings on sacred sites and reservation land. This partnership represents the company's commitment to environmental stewardship and Native American community support.
• Warm Springs Community Action TeamminorOthersNomadics gives ongoing contributions to Warm Springs Community Action Team as part of their land acknowledgment and community support efforts.
• Lakota Peoples Law ProjectminorOthersOngoing financial support and donations. Hosted Chase Iron Eyes and Danny Paul Nelson during Standing Rock movement. Partnership includes internship program for Native American teens at their McLaughlin teen center.
• Native American Rights Fund (NARF)minorOthersActively supported organization fighting to enforce treaty agreements and protect Native American rights, water, mineral, and wildlife resources on reservation lands.
• 1% for the PlanetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of global network of businesses pledging 1% of annual tipi sales to environmental non-profits. Connected to global network working to make the planet healthier.
• Green AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCertified by Green America which demands sustainable and environmentally healthy business practices. Organization educates on topics of healthy living.
• Pole Supplier - Deer Lodge, MontanacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFamily-owned pole yard in Deer Lodge, MT supplying Lodge Pole Pine trees. Owners have become personal friends over decades, sharing same integrity and love for trees, tipis, and native culture.
• Scott Cory - Ventura Ranch KOAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVery loyal customer and owner who collaborated with Nomadics in 2015 to create the Campground Model, brainstorming improvements to standard tipi design including larger door entrance, sturdier zipper door, and critter protection.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• REI Co-op: US outdoor retail cooperative that sells tents, camping gear, and outdoor lifestyle products. Comparable to Nomadics as a major US outdoor/camping retail channel, though REI does not sell authentic tipis—it represents the broader outdoor retail ecosystem where alternative shelters compete for the same buyer dollars.
• Under Canvas: US luxury glamping operator with multiple resort properties using safari-style tents. Comparable to Nomadics as a major glamping industry player driving demand for premium canvas shelters in the same commercial customer ecosystem.
• Collective Retreats: Luxury glamping resort brand operating upscale tented accommodations across multiple US locations. Comparable to Nomadics as a buyer-side actor in the commercial glamping shelter market the company serves.

Direct peers

• Pacific Yurts: Established Oregon-based yurt manufacturer (founded 1978) producing circular fabric shelters for glamping, cabins, and residential use. Comparable to Nomadics as a long-standing US Pacific Northwest-based canvas shelter manufacturer in adjacent product categories.
• Tentipi: Swedish manufacturer of Nordic-inspired tipis (kåta) for glamping and event use. Directly competes with Nomadics in the boutique tipi/shelter category with similar made-to-order canvas shelters serving glamping operators and individual buyers.
• White Duck Outdoors: US-based canvas tent manufacturer offering bell tents, wall tents, and yurts for glamping and outdoor hospitality. Comparable to Nomadics in canvas shelter manufacturing, DTC retail model, and target customer base of glamping operators and individual campers.
• Colorado Yurt Company: Colorado-based manufacturer of yurts, wall tents, and canvas cabins for glamping and residential use. Comparable to Nomadics in custom canvas shelter manufacturing serving the boutique outdoor lodging and individual cabin/yurt buyer segments.
• Autograph Tents (Africa): South African safari tent manufacturer supplying high-end lodges and glamping operations. Comparable to Nomadics in custom canvas shelter manufacturing for commercial hospitality customers in the safari/glamping segment.
• Shelter Systems: California maker of yurts and dome shelters sold direct-to-consumer for camping, glamping, and outdoor living. Comparable to Nomadics in custom fabric shelter DTC model and overlapping individual/educational buyer segments.

Emerging players

• Life in Tents: Boutique bell tent and glamping shelter supplier serving event, wedding, and rental markets. Comparable to Nomadics in DTC canvas shelter sales with overlapping event and individual buyer segments, though focused on bell tents rather than tipis.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=z8aU1b7hnOE

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Teepees