The Ash Grove Mountain Cabins and Camping is located in Brevard, North Carolina, and is currently owned by Esther and Mark, and their two kids, Chloe and Leo. This family has been running the property since 2019 when it was purchased from the previous owners. Esther and Mark have focused on keeping the spirit of Ash Grove growing and strive to make their business a place where guests can come and relax while enjoying the nature surrounding them. The property has cabins, campsites, and RV sites. The premises is heavily wooded and has multiple activities on the property, from hiking to horseshoes. The Ash Grove is located just a fifteen-minute drive to a variety of other activities available as well.
Ash Grove Mountain Cabins and Camping is located in Brevard, North Carolina. The property is currently owned by Esther and Mark, who run the business with their two kids, Chloe and Leo, and their dog, Maggie. The family has been running the property since 2019 and has continued to grow on the business established by the previous owners. The property contains campsites, RV sites, and cabins. There are three cabins, the Woodspirit’s Retreat, Dogwood Den, and the Hickory hideaway. All three places are fully furnished with a full kitchen and bathroom and can be described as a rustic mountain cabin style. The Dogwood Den and Woodspirit’s Retreat are one bedroom with queen-sized beds, while the Hickory Hideaway has two bedrooms, one with a queen-size bed and the other with two twin beds. The cabins include basic amenities for patrons, including coffeemakers, fresh linens, air conditioning, heat, books, games, and a screened porch with either a swing or rocking chair. There are twelve tent sites in total; four are Techno Tent Sites with water and electricity. The Techno Sites can either accommodate a tent or an RV and are not as secluded as the others. There are two unique shelter camping options available, The Elf Shelf and The Gnome Home, which are raised, wooded platforms with overhead roofs for camping. There are five total designated RV sites. The campground is suited for smaller RV’s or trailers, the maximum length allowed is 32 feet. The sites do not include sewer hook-ups, but they do have 20 and 30 amps and water hook-ups. Three RV sites allow vehicles to pull through the grounds, while two must be backed into the designated spot.
All accommodations include picnic tables and firepits or charcoal grills for cabins. The land is heavily wooded, with trees ranging from samplings to mature oak trees 50-70 years old. The property is fourteen acres large and has about a mile of walking trails for patrons to explore. The edifice is centrally located relative to multiple tourist destinations. More than 250 waterfalls can be found and explored within thirty minutes of the property. There is a small waterfall feature on the property and activities such as horseshoes that patrons have access to use. There is also a large central bonfire pit for everyone to use and a small playground. An additional feature for guests includes a building designated with toilets, hot showers, and laundry facilities. There is also a small store on site that provides the necessities, specifically for camping, such as fire starters and lighters, and camping supplies.
The Ash Grove Mountain Cabins and Camping is open year-round, having a draw to the property for every season. The staff advertises the winter as a "Winter Romance,” where you can come and stay in the cabins and sit around the light of a gas log fireplace or enjoy a bonfire in the colder weather. The wintertime is generally slower, which makes staying during this time more secluded and private. Next is the “Spring Awakening,” during which the fauna and flora start to grow again. “Summer Adventure” time draws most guests to Ash Grove, especially in July, the busiest month for the business. The summer offers ideal conditions for outdoor activities such as hiking, water sports, and mountain biking. Last is “Colorful Autumn,” where the changing of color is in full swing. During this time, the thick foliage on the property turns from a rich green to red, gold, and orange. The business does an annual Halloween celebration where they have a cabin and campsite decorating contest. Winners are given a free night's stay at the Ash Grove.
“Go green with Ash Grove” is a motto implemented by the business in hopes of having a significant impact on the environment. Esther and Mark have taken steps by replacing light bulbs with LED bulbs, using non-toxic, biodegradable cleaning products, lights on timers and sensors, and water-efficient fixtures. It is encouraged to bring a reusable water bottle to reduce trash and so that those staying at the property can taste the advertised clean mountain water.
The culture of Ash Grove Mountain Cabins and Camping is created partially through the seclusion of the property. The owners want their establishment to be a place for guests to get away and enjoy their surroundings. The business’s mission statement is “Ash Grove Mountain Cabins and Camping is dedicated to providing our guests with a relaxing getaway and a place to enjoy the spiritual quality that nature provides. We treat our guests like family and are committed to furnishing everyone with a welcoming environment. We strive to make our guests’ stay so pleasant that they will not want to leave, but when they must go, they will take a bit of Ash Grove’s peace and spirit with them.” One way the owners create this atmosphere is through enforcing quiet hours. Quiet hours are between 10:00 PM and 8 AM; the owners will walk through the property in the evening to ensure the policy is being respected. The owners live on the property to help keep the quiet nights and strive to be there for patrons when needed. Another guideline given by the owners is the control of dogs, which are allowed on the property, even in the cabins. Esther and Mark ask that guests have complete control over their animals, specifically by having them on a leash.
One of the most significant policies of Ash Grove is that they do not tolerate intolerance. The owners welcome all guests regardless of age, race, sex, disabilities, religion, etc. Personal connections are significant to Esther and Mark, the owners. They strive to establish a safe connection with patrons when they step on the property by greeting them and taking them to the rented site while showing them around the property. Over 50% of those who stay at the Ash Grove Mountain Cabins and Camping are repeat guests, some having stayed at the establishment for years. The owners invite visitors to sit around a fire and visit if desired. Esther and Mark have set the goal of providing a place where guests can come and unplug from the world and feel safety, peace, and tranquility.
Many of those who have stayed at Ash Grove Mountain Cabins and Camping have said that they enjoyed the nature on the premises and in the surrounding area. A high percentage of guests come to participate in outdoor activities such as those found in the Dupont State Forest, the Gorges State Park, and the Blue Ridge Parkway. All of these locations are within a relatively short drive from the Ash Grove. Activities at these parks and forests include exploring mountain wildlife, visiting a fish hatchery, and mountain biking. Esther and Mark’s favorite places to visit are Davidson River Outfitters, Headwaters Outfitters, Oxbow River Snorkeling, and PARI, a former NASA tracking station. Some activities are dependent on the season, such as golfing and skiing.
The Ashgrove Mountain Cabins and Camping property has strived to serve people of all walks of life since the 1970s. In the ’80s, the land was privatized and sold to locals. The previous owners, Mark Henry and Steven Dugard, owned the establishment for seventeen years. It was during past ownership that the cabins were built and added to the premises. The current owners, Esther and Mark, bought the property in 2019 and have been running it with their two kids, Chloe and Leo, and their dog Maggie ever since. After the change of ownership, Esther and Mark decided to preserve the spirit of Ash Grove created by the previous owners. The owners asked Steven and Mark to stay on the property for three months after they sold it to them for the purpose of teaching them how they ran the business.
Esther and Mark try to actively search for new ways to support and participate in local and global communities. They have done this by being supporters of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). The owners also support the Connestee Fire Rescue, Blue Ridge Public Radio, and the Friends of Dupont, all of which are local organizations. They have also impacted their property by adding features and amenities that are sometimes a necessity for patrons, such as upgrading the WiFi system, making it so those who stay with them can stay connected with work, school, etc. Other changes include updates to the infrastructure, hardware, new roofs, a new television, and exterior water faucets.
749 East Fork Road
Brevard, North Carolina 28712
United States
Campground
Esther and Mark
Mark Henry and Steven Dugard
