The Rocky Hollow Horse Camp covers an expanse of over 40 acres. Wade and Veronica Russell, the current owners, have managed the property since 2002 when they first developed the campground. One of the most unique aspects of the property is how it caters to horseback riders and its access to the nearby horseback riding trails. The campground currently has three barns, so guests may stall their horses during their stay. The establishment is situated under a mountain range, which contains several outdoor attractions such as the Appalachian Trail and the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, both of which are recommended by the owners. The campground is open year-round for reservations, though as the establishment can be considered an attraction in and of itself, tourism at the property is closed from November through March due to weather conditions.
Located in the western region of Virginia, Rocky Hollow Horse Camp occupies over 40 acres of land. More than 40 RV sites and 51 stalls are offered for visitors to reserve, plus two cabin rentals and one RV rental. Every site provides water and power; however, two sites are full hookups, and they can accommodate two trailers each. One of the two sites that were previously noted has a covered pavilion, and for the sites that do not have a provided pavilion, several shaded areas can be found throughout the campground. Group lot 1 holds up to four trailers, and group lot 2 holds three and more as needed. Regarding the RV rental, it is fully furnished and can sleep up to four occupants. One of the cabin rentals can house four individuals, while the other can house two occupants. The cabins are also fully furnished, and each contains queen-size beds.
Several additional facilities can be found on-site, namely a main office building, a bathhouse, and a dump station. Veronica, one of the owners of Rocky Hollow Horse Camp, mentions that guests enjoy gathering on the porch of the main office building to socialize with the other visitors who are staying at the campground. The main office building also sells t-shirts, hoodies, hats, decals, and dog bandanas. Currently, the owners are in the process of constructing a clubhouse that can serve as a gathering facility for patrons. Furthermore, one of the most unique aspects of the property is that it provides on-site barns and stalls that can accommodate guests' horses, hence the name of the campground. About 51 horse stalls are available.
A considerable number of outdoor attractions can be found in close proximity to the campground, as the establishment's location is among several state parks and natural land features that can offer recreation to visitors. Wade recommends the Virginia Creeper Trail, which carries guests by van to a train station known as White Top Station. The van is used to transport guests and their rental bikes to the station, where guests start their descent to Damascus, also known as Trail Town, USA. The owners remark that this particular attraction tends to be most popular during the summer and fall seasons. Marion, a city located about 20 miles from the Rocky Hollow Horse Camp, contains several shops and restaurant establishments. Within eight miles is Corner Market and Cafe, a dining option that Wade and Veronia recommend to their guests. Sara's is about three miles away and takes reservations for unique dining. Two other restaurants that the owners direct their patrons to are Shatley Springs and Red Dog Bar & Bistro. Shatley Springs is situated 22 miles away from the campground, and according to the owner, the restaurant had formerly been a healing spring in the late 1800s.
The general demographic of those who visit Rocky Hollow Horse Camp are horseback riders, though the owners comment that they do receive a handful of hikers and hunters as well. Across the street from the campground, the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area covers an expanse of approximately 150,000 acres. Four trailheads are accessible from the campground, which branch out to cover 150 miles of Mount Rogers trails for horseback riding and hiking. According to Wade, one of the property's owners, the Rocky Hollow Horse Camp has "[more] access to the horseback trails than any other camp" nearby. Visitors can also find the Appalachian Trail about four miles from the property. Wade and Veronica, the two owners of the campground, provide patrons with free maps to explore the area.
A few policies are implemented at the campground, and guests are expected to abide by such guidelines during their stay. One policy is the quiet time that starts at 11:00 PM, though Wade explains that most horseback riders go to bed around 10:00 PM, and because of this, the owners rarely need to enforce this policy. Smoking is prohibited inside any of the buildings on the premises. Regarding pets, animals are not permitted to stay inside the cabins, RVs, porches, or inside the bathhouse, and Wade notes that "leash laws" are in place for unruly pets. Wade and Veronica want their guests to "feel welcome, like family." In an effort to emulate such an atmosphere for their guests, Veronica explains that they "practice the golden rule. Treat people the way you want to be treated." Interactions between the owners and their visitors occur on a frequent basis, as mentioned by Veronica and Wade. One previous guest commented on this particular aspect, saying, "I spent a lot of time talking with [the owners] at the office during my stay. They even took the time to help me with my horse when she developed a sore hindfoot."
Events are not currently held at the property, but the owners are hoping to host potluck dinners or bands on the weekends when the clubhouse completes its construction. In the meantime, the owners post the local and weekly events on the Rocky Hollow Horse Camp website, encouraging visitors to attend such events during their stay. Wade and Veronica also have the goal of someday offering discounts, benefits, and activities for veterans, such as free camping for veterans on certain days, for example.
Rocky Hollow Horse Camp is open year-round for reservations, but they generally are closed to tourists from November through March due to weather conditions. Wade notes that temperatures are relatively cooler in the summer, and the average highs usually do not reach above the mid-80s, while some evenings may be cool enough to suggest a sweater near the campfire. June through October is typically when the campground is the busiest, and Wade says that during the fall, a fair amount of tourists come to see the leaves change color.
Since 2002, Veronica and Wade Russell have owned Rocky Hollow Horse Camp, and they are the original owners who developed the campground. The couple was led to purchase for their love of the mountains and their future retirement. They had been horseback riding in the area since the mid-70s, so Wade and Veronica were quite familiar with the surroundings prior to purchasing the acreage. One of the cabins that can currently be reserved was on the premises before Veronica and Wade took ownership. This cabin was constructed with American Chestnut boards that are nearly 18 inches wide, and it had been converted from an old farmhouse that was used by the previous owner. Veronica remarks that from an aerial view, the cabin is shaped like the letter "Y." Veronica and Wade have a few ongoing projects in store for Rocky Hollow Horse Camp. Aside from the clubhouse that is under construction, the owners hope to add more barns in the future. Veronica remarks that one of her favorite parts of the job is being in the mountains and meeting new people who come from various places.
40 Camp Drive
Troutdale, Virginia 24378
United States
Campground
Wade and Veronica Russell
