Mama Gertie's Hideaway
15 Uphill Rd, Swannanoa, NC 28778
Last summer we wanted to take a trip to Asheville, NC and camp all the way down. Mind you we're coming from southern Maryland. Several weeks before departing Maryland, we stopped at one of the local truck stops to grab a laminated travel map and overheard a couple of RVer's talking about mamas campground. All we heard was praise and decided we would have to check this campground out.
Calling ahead to reserve a site (tent camping) we had a very limited selection to choose from, but the host assured us there was enough space within a secluded area of the campground. While on the highway towards Asheville, we noticed signs directing us right to the campground, so that's was easy.. but what waited ahead of us..
Hills and more hills.. Not suited for man nor beast. the hills within the camping area really took a toll on our knees and back.. mind you the tent camping was several meters away from any bathroom.. so walking down the bath house was easy.. the hard part was walking back up the steep hills afterward.
Two other issues crept up while camping there, 1st, while sitting in our chairs either early morning or late afternoon.. we heard this thumping noise and what seem to be allot of bark on the top of our tent.. turns out we just so happen to have set up tent under a squirrels feeding area and they were dropping their left overs all over us. death from above as we called it..
Later that night we were very well entertained by a young lady who camped two site above us. "Smelly Cat" as we later referred to her as, based on the (song from Friends) decided to play her guitar as well as her flute at 10:00 pm est.. If it wasn't for the fact that the camping area was so hilly with sharp hidden curves entering and exiting the campsites, the squirrels bombarding us for several hours and not having our deposit refunded because of these issues.. Just makes me wonder how this campsite is even staying in business.
Then realizing, Wait a Minute, We're out of our element..*slaps forehead* this isn't a typical tent camper campground, moreover it was an RVer's heaven with even more sites on the way. So if you're a tent camper or a weekend hiker, avoid mama's "RV" Campground.. I stress RV for a reason. The whole time we were there, we felt out of place and stuck out like a sore thumb. Next time, We'll make sure we select a tent campers campground instead of an RV park..
Two Thumbs Down..
