Creekside Mountain Camping in Gerton, NC: Rustic Stays Near Chimney Rock

Creekside Mountain Camping Introduce

Nestled in the beautiful mountainous region of Western North Carolina, Creekside Mountain Camping in Gerton offers a rustic and conveniently located option for those looking to experience the great outdoors. For North Carolina locals seeking a straightforward camping experience with easy access to popular natural attractions, this campground provides a basecamp amidst the scenic beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. This article aims to provide a clear and factual overview of Creekside Mountain Camping, helping you decide if it’s the right fit for your next adventure in the Tar Heel State.

Creekside Mountain Camping caters to campers who prioritize location and a natural setting. While it may lean towards a more traditional, less amenity-rich camping style, its prime position near beloved North Carolina landmarks such as Chimney Rock and Lake Lure is a significant draw. It’s a place for those who enjoy the simplicity of outdoor living and are willing to embrace a more unpolished experience in exchange for proximity to stunning natural wonders. This overview will detail the campground's location, the services it offers, its features, and ultimately, why it might be suitable for certain local users looking for an authentic mountain camping experience.

Location and Accessibility

Creekside Mountain Camping is situated at 2800 Gerton Hwy, Gerton, NC 28735, USA. Gerton is a small, unincorporated community located in Buncombe County, North Carolina, known for its scenic mountain setting and close proximity to some of the state's most iconic natural attractions. This location is arguably one of the campground's strongest assets, making it highly accessible for North Carolina residents looking to explore the region.

The campground's address places it squarely in the heart of a popular tourist corridor, particularly for outdoor enthusiasts. It is exceptionally close to two major North Carolina destinations: Chimney Rock State Park and Lake Lure. Chimney Rock, with its iconic granite monolith and stunning panoramic views, is just a short drive away, offering excellent hiking opportunities and natural beauty. Lake Lure, a picturesque man-made lake known for its recreational water activities, including swimming, boating, and fishing, is also within very easy reach. This immediate access to such prominent attractions means campers can spend less time traveling and more time enjoying the natural wonders of Western North Carolina.

For accessibility, Gerton Hwy (US-74A) is a well-traveled route connecting the Asheville area to Lake Lure and points east. This ensures that campers can easily navigate to the campground from various parts of North Carolina. While the immediate surroundings are rustic and mountainous, the convenience to major roads and popular attractions makes Creekside Mountain Camping a practical base camp for exploring the beautiful Hickory Nut Gorge area and beyond. This excellent location is a primary reason many choose to stay at Creekside, valuing proximity to adventure over extensive on-site amenities.

Services Offered

Creekside Mountain Camping provides basic camping services, focusing on providing sites for RVs and possibly cabins, with certain communal facilities. Based on customer reviews, the following services are generally available:

RV Campsites: The campground offers sites for RVs, some of which are located by the creek. These sites are equipped with electricity and water connections, though guests should be aware that hookup placement may vary and an "extra long electric plug in cord" might be necessary.
Cabin Rentals: At least some cabin accommodations are available, as indicated by a review for "cabin number 10." These cabins provide a more sheltered overnight option, though the comfort level of beds and cleanliness may vary.
Communal Bathrooms/Showers: The campground includes communal bathhouse facilities with showers and toilets. However, reviews suggest these facilities may be "very dirty and very outdated," with issues like stall doors not latching. Prospective campers should manage expectations regarding the condition of these amenities.
Swimming Pool Access: A pool is available for guest use. While the pool itself was noted as "clean enough," there is an absence of chairs or tables, so guests are advised to "bring your own" seating.
Front Desk/Office: There is a front desk or office where guests check in. Customer interaction with staff has been mixed, with some finding the "front desk was very helpful + nice," while others experienced an "older man in the office was very short and mean with his answers."

It's important for potential guests to note that the campground appears to offer a more rustic, less maintained experience, where the condition of facilities may not meet modern expectations. Campers should be prepared for potential inconsistencies in site hookup placement and the overall upkeep of shared amenities.

Features / Highlights

Creekside Mountain Camping, while noted for some areas needing improvement, does offer several features and highlights, primarily driven by its location and natural setting:

Excellent Location: The most significant highlight of Creekside Mountain Camping is its prime location. It offers "Good location to Chimney Rock and Lake Lure," making it an ideal base camp for exploring these popular Western North Carolina attractions.
Creek-Side Sites: Some campsites are located "by the creek," which offers a pleasant and scenic natural setting. This allows campers to enjoy the sounds and views of a flowing creek, enhancing the outdoor experience.
Natural, Rustic Setting: The campground provides a raw, natural camping experience amidst the mountains. For those who prefer a less manicured and more authentic outdoor feel, this rustic charm can be appealing.
Swimming Pool: A pool is available for cooling off during warmer months. While lacking seating, the presence of a pool offers a recreational option on-site.
Basic Utilities at RV Sites: RV sites offer electric and water hookups, providing essential services for RVers, albeit with some noted irregularities in connection placement.
Cabin Options: For those without an RV or tent, the availability of cabins provides an alternative form of accommodation, offering a roof over one's head in a natural setting.
Potential for Improvement: While current conditions indicate a need for updates and better maintenance, the underlying location and natural elements offer potential for a significantly improved experience with future investments.

It is crucial for prospective campers to manage expectations regarding the overall condition of the facilities, as reviews frequently point to the campground being "very unkept" and "very dirty and very outdated" in communal areas and cabins. The primary highlight remains its proximity to major natural attractions.

Contact Information

For those interested in inquiring about Creekside Mountain Camping, including site availability or cabin rentals, please use the following contact information:

Address: 2800 Gerton Hwy, Gerton, NC 28735, USA
Phone: (828) 625-4257
Mobile Phone: +1 828-625-4257

Prospective campers are advised to use the phone numbers provided to directly communicate with the campground. Given the mixed reviews regarding staff interaction and facility conditions, direct conversation is recommended to clarify any specific concerns, confirm current availability, and set realistic expectations for your stay. It's always best to have the most up-to-date information before making your reservation, especially if you have particular needs regarding site hookup placement or facility cleanliness.

Conclusion: Why this place is suitable for locals

Creekside Mountain Camping in Gerton, NC, while having areas that could benefit from improvement, holds a specific suitability for locals within North Carolina, particularly for those with particular expectations and priorities for their camping experience. Its primary appeal lies in its location and its capacity to serve as a convenient base for exploring renowned regional attractions.

Firstly, the campground's excellent location is its undeniable strong suit for North Carolinians. Being "Good location to Chimney Rock and Lake Lure" means that residents who want to quickly access these popular state parks and recreational lakes will find Creekside incredibly convenient. For those who prioritize spending their time hiking, boating, or exploring the natural wonders of the Hickory Nut Gorge rather than lingering at a highly amenitized campground, Creekside offers precisely that direct access to adventure.

Secondly, for local campers who appreciate a more rustic and less manicured outdoor experience, Creekside Mountain Camping might fit the bill. The "unkept" nature and "outdated" facilities, while disappointing to some, might be acceptable to those who are simply looking for a basic spot to park their RV or pitch a tent, with the focus being entirely on the surrounding natural environment. The creek-side sites, when available and properly hooked up, offer a charming natural element that enhances the feeling of being truly immersed in the mountains.

In essence, Creekside Mountain Camping is most suitable for adventurous North Carolina locals who are primarily seeking an affordable and conveniently located launchpad for exploring Chimney Rock and Lake Lure. It caters to those who are self-sufficient, perhaps have extra-long hookup cords, and are willing to overlook the dated or less-maintained aspects of communal facilities in favor of immediate access to the stunning natural attractions of Western North Carolina. If your priority is the great outdoors and proximity to iconic landmarks, Creekside Mountain Camping could serve as a pragmatic option for your regional adventures.

Creekside Mountain Camping Photos

Creekside Mountain Camping Location

Creekside Mountain Camping

North Carolina Henderson County Gerton Gerton Highway

2800 Gerton Hwy, Gerton, NC 28735, USA

Creekside Mountain Camping Reviews

Very disappointed in the condition of this campground. The spot we had by the creek was nice but if we would not have had an extra long electric plug in cord we would not have had electricity. Where the outlet is normally on the drivers side of the camper, it was on the opposite side, along with the water connection. The older man in the office was very short and mean with his answers to our questions, like we were bothering him. The showers and bathrooms were very dirty and very outdated. The doors to the stalls did not even latch. The pool looked clean enough but there are no chairs or tables there, so bring your own. The whole place is very unkept. Good location to Chimney Rock and Lake Lure.
May 28, 2024 · Dawn Lummus
I stayed here for one night back in June and that was more than enough. The cabin (we stayed in number 10) had ants crawling all over the place (even into the bags we put on the table to avoid them), beds were so uncomfortable(reminded me of the beds you would see on jail shows), and it looked liked they hadn’t properly cleaned the cabin as we found a child’s toy under the bed and a pacifier in another. The front desk was very helpful + nice and the location is great! I would suggest to management do a good cleaning and invest in some more comfortable beds.
Aug 21, 2023 · Katy L.
Ended up deciding not to stay since we would be camping right beside a ledge on uneven ground with our 1 and 2 year olds, was also told the pool would be open before we got there, it was closed. So we told them it wouldn't work out for us, then was told that would be fine and we will be refunded, all was good. Although, after a few days realized no refund, called them to make sure it went through on thier end but was told we should have picked out a different spot instead of telling them it wouldn't work out.. had we have known that was an option we would have stayed. Do yourself a favor and AVOID this place and the liars who reside there!!
May 28, 2024 · Jessica Duncan
What we thought was going to be a nice camping trip turned into a nightmare. There were spiders and spider webs everywhere, the room itself didn’t look like it had been cleaned in a while and we found bed bugs! They were infested, in the cracks of the walls, they came out when the lights went out, my mama was bit 10 times before we found them. They were in the curtain of the window, they were everywhere. We ended up having to wake the owner up in the middle of the night to get our money back and drove home at 4am. I have a baby so it was not a pleasant trip. This was awful, they were big so they seem to have been there for a while. The bath house was disgusting and looked like it had not been cleaned in so long just filthy, i feel sorry for whoever did have to use the bath house. I would post pics but my sister has them on her phone. This was awful.
Aug 04, 2023 · Alea Pennington
First I would like to say, the area this campsite is in is so beautiful and worth the drive but the good experience starts and stops there. My wife and I reserved a few days for tent camping, realized it was going to rain one of the days and decided to upgrade to a cabin. We got the smallest cabin they had for a more outdoorsy feel to our trip and we understand bugs are very prevalent while camping but the cabin genuinely looked like it hasn’t been cleaned in months. The bed was disgusting, there was cob webs in every crevice on the room. And the bugs, The amount of bugs INSIDE the cabin was disgusting. I feel if you have paying guest the least you could do is spray the inside of the cabin so your patrons have an enjoyable experience. I’m lucky that we still had our tent, so we payed for a cabin but ended up tent camping. We decided to cut our trip short so my wife could actually enjoy her birthday. When we went to the office to tell the lady up front we were checking out because of the bad conditions and her response was “well you only had today left anyway”. The rudest owner I have ever met. She then proceeded to say “well I’m sorry” while rolling her eyes at my wife and I. Maybe they know the conditions are disgusting and that’s why they have “no refunds” plastered all over the place. I won’t even get into how disgusting the bathrooms were. If you’re considering this campsite, maybe bring your own RV so it’s actually enjoyable. Other than that please don’t waste your money.
Sep 29, 2020 · Kamryn Sanborn