The following is a report from RVtravel.com.
At the Mountain River Family Campground in western North Carolina, the tranquil North Toe River usually steals the show. Lately, it’s been the campground’s guests who are in the spotlight.
A week ago, Hurricane Helene completely destroyed this wonderful RV campground. Since then, RVers from across the country who have enjoyed the campground in the past are stepping up. They’re helping in a unique and compassionate way.
This peaceful campground turned into a nightmare last week as Hurricane Helene swept through, leaving devastation in its wake. The storm transformed the once serene campground into a chaotic scene of destruction.
Suzanne Garland, whose family owns the campground, couldn’t believe her eyes when she returned after the storm. “It was like a tornado had torn everything apart and scattered the pieces,” she said, still in disbelief. The storm left nothing untouched — every building and piece of infrastructure was wiped out.
Sadly, the hurricane’s toll has been immense, with over 225 lives lost across six states, including 114 in North Carolina alone.
For Garland, returning to her family campground amid the devastation brought an overwhelming sense of loss. Yet, as she sifted through the wreckage, she felt a glimmer of hope. “It was like the campground was calling out to us, saying, ‘I’m still here. Don’t give up on me.’ It felt like a reminder that it could be rebuilt,” she explained.
In the days following the storm, the family contemplated leaving everything behind. But, as the sun rose and bathed the valley in light, they realized they couldn’t walk away.
“It was like the light was pushing through the darkness, reminding us that we could rebuild,” Garland said. “Right then and there, we knew we couldn’t give up.”
In an unexpected turn, support began to pour in from previous campground customers. People who had once enjoyed the campground started booking reservations, not with the intention of visiting, but to offer financial help.
Folks messaged Mountain River Family Campground with heartfelt words like, “I know we can’t come, but we want to help.” Dozens of people paid for vacations they knew they wouldn’t ever keep. This outpouring of kindness warmed the Garlands’ hearts.
Running Mountain River Family Campground has always been a labor of love for the Garlands. From managing the camp store to landscaping and even cleaning the bathrooms, they handle it all themselves. A quick scroll through their Instagram page shows a family deeply committed not just to their campground, but to each other and their community.
In the face of so much destruction, the Garlands are determined to bring their beloved campground back to life, knowing that with the support of their loyal customers and their own hard work, they will rise again.
Check out or follow the campground’s Facebook page for updates.
If your heart goes out to all those suffering from the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene and you wonder how you can possibly help, here are some suggestions.
Read the report from RV Travel here.
