Hot Springs NC

We left Bracey VA in our rear view mirror headed to the mountains of NC as it was still warm and we didn't want to go south too soon.  Our first stop was Hildebran NC just outside of Hickory at Indian Springs Campground.  This was a small family owned place with 26 sites, half of which were workers or permanents.  The owners were supper friendly and they kept the campground very neat.  No charge for my truck or trailer which is always a plus!

We camped here for 3 days settling into vacation mode.  One cool spot that we checked out was the Henry River Mill Ghost Town where the Hunger Games was filmed. 

 It was built as a planned community with its own textile mill, dam, water and fire-protection systems, and company store. Today most of the village's original buildings remain sited along a small gorge of the Henry River.

In 1904 Michael Erastus Rudisill laid out the mill and village on a 1500-acre tract, chosen for its hydro power potential.  In its early years, the mill operated 4,000 yarn-making spindles. By the time it shut down in the late 1960s, the mill had 12,000 spindles and produced fine combed yarn for lace. Only 21 of the original 35 worker cottages remain today and the mill burnt down in 1977.  The entire movie was filmed in NC.

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One of Marks instructors Michael Witt from RV school told us of a nice mountain town 30 miles north of Asheville called Hot Springs, so that's where we setup camp for a week. 

We camped at the Hot Springs Resort and Spa right along the French Broad River.

 Hot Springs has been a resort destination since the early 1800's renowned for its healing mineral springs and scenic mountain setting.  

The campground is right in town so we walked everywhere.

The Mountain Park Hotel was built in 1886, a higher-temperature spring was discovered, prompting the town's name from Warm Springs to Hot Springs.  The Mountain Park was one of the most elegant resorts in the country during its heyday.

The hotel burned in 1920, two other hotels were built on the grounds both of which succumbed to fires, and the town was nearly forgotten as a tourist destination.

But today it is recognized as Best Small Mountain Town by Blue Ridge Outdoor Magazine.  Rafting, tubing, mountain biking, motorcycle riding, zip lining and of course hiking the famous Appalachian Trail.  The trail runs right though town and this is the only place that it happens in the 2,100 miles.   

After all that activity you can enjoy soaking in a hot mineral bath in secluded outdoor tubs.  We did and it was awesome!

The first couple of days it was rainy but after that the weather was perfect with high 70's and 50's at night making it just right for campfires.  

Tuesday we rode the bike on "209 The Rattler" and that evening we met our friends Mike Witt and Denise Meyers for dinner at the Spring Creek Tavern located right on Spring Creek.  It was nice catching up with them and talking about the RV Repair business.  

The next day we hiked Max Patch and had a picnic lunch on top.

At an elevation of 4,629 feet, it boasts a 360-degree view of the Appalachian Mountains including the Blue Ridge and the Smokies.  The Appalachian Trail crosses the top of the grassy bald which was once cleared for pasture land in the 19th century.  

Not a great picture as some dark clouds were rolling in but a camera just can't do justice to such beautiful scenery.

My birthday was on the 14th and my gift was Zip Lining!  Our friend Mike help build the zip line course at French Broad Rafting & Ziplines in Marshal NC.  So on Thursday I soared through the trees on this awesome new course, I had a great time!  Then on Saturday Mike who is also a rafting guide for this company took us on a trip. 

It was such a perfect day to be on the river and we felt special as it was just the 3 of us in our raft.  This was my first time whitewater rafting and I can tell you it won't be my last time!  

Thank you Mike you are a great guide and we had a wonderful time!

Todd and Ellen from RV school where in the area on Saturday so we all met for dinner and had a wonderful time catching up.  As a matter of fact they will be in Florida this winter just north of us setting up their business as well.  Safe travels to you both and see you soon!

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When we left Bracey VA we had a little problem with fruit flies, well it turned into a big problem.  So this is how I solved it.  Apple cider vinegar with a drop of dawn, cut a corner out of a baggie (just a small cut, big enough for flies to get through), put cut corner in glass 1" above liquid and then put rubber band around the top.  Change the mixture daily and after a week they were completely gone!  Thank God.  

But now that the fruit flies are gone we have a problem with stink bugs!  While in Hot Springs the rig was covered with them and they keep popping up.  It's always something but I'd rather deal with them and not be worrying about painting the outside of the house!  It's life on the road grande.

Be sure to check out my handmade custom sterling silver stacking rings at 

Wandering Designs

Thanks for following our travels!