Abrams Creek Center

We had good service, and the stray cats around were friendly. I stayed in cabin D, which was a little run down. The operators seemed a bit older and may have a hard time keeping up with it. Still, I’d definitely come back, just to a different cabin.

The trees leaning over big boulders looked like they could fall onto the barn shed at any time, and their roots were on top of the rocks. Inside, the place felt pieced together with whatever was available to cover the walls. The walls were badly warped, and one outlet had a burned cover with a hole above it from what looked like an earlier fire. The wiring also looked patched together, and in my opinion it didn’t look like a licensed electrician had done it. The old, stained bed was lying on the downstairs floor. The microwave was worn and peeling, and so were the table and chairs. Wasps in the porta potty stung me while I was using it. The photo showed a long bathroom with sinks and a shower, but the porta potty by the cabin wasn’t that. The tiny grill they provided sat on the ground. The manager said we had to buy his wood and couldn’t use the wood on the ground because of disease, even though it was the same kind of wood and trees. It felt like he was just trying to make money off people. The owners need to redo these cabins and have the electrical work done by a licensed electrician. If this place got a full inspection in another city, I think it would be shut down. $100 a night for a homeless campground.

Our campsite, #3, was lovely and spacious, and hearing the creek was really relaxing. The sites differ a lot in size and privacy, so check the campground map on their website and add any requests in a note when you reserve online. The campground is on the western side of a mountain ridge, so it gets a lot of rain, mostly in the evenings and overnight. Bring rain gear and waterproof your tent if you’re camping. Abrams Creek has a gorgeous natural setting, with many sites along the creek in a hemlock forest, tumbling water, mossy boulders and plenty of swimming holes. The facilities are basic, and the showers and port-a-potties could be cleaner. Staff were friendly and helpful. I can’t speak to the cabins.

I came for a five-day retreat and ended up staying another six weeks. The land and the people were absolutely amazing. Life is good.