Help Creekside Mountain Camping Recover from Helene

For nearly 40 years, my father, John "Trip" Eckhardt, has been welcoming visitors to “get away from it all” at Creekside Mountain Camping in North Carolina’s Hickory Nut Gorge. During that time, thousands of guests have stayed at our location on US Hwy 74A between the towns of Bat Cave and Gerton to experience the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the place we love to call home.

I currently live in Houston, TX, but usually visit the campground a couple of times a year. We would stay in one of the cabins by the creek, and my children would get to run and play in the same places that I did growing up. Just a few weeks ago, my family confirmed plans to visit my father, brother, and grandmother for Thanksgiving. That all changed the morning of Friday, September 27th, when the rain and winds from Hurricane Helene turned our tranquil creek into a raging river. Fortunately, everyone at the campground was able to move to higher ground away from the creek, and there were no injuries.

We are thankful to the local first responders who helped provide supplies and coordinate helicopter evacuation for campground guests and nearby residents. Like many of our neighbors, both upstream in Gerton and downstream in Bat Cave, Chimney Rock, and Lake Lure, we are now left with significant property damage and more questions than answers.

All funds raised will be used to begin the process of cleaning up from the storm and provide for temporary housing while we wait for infrastructure to be restored.