Filmed in Western North Carolina, Diane Keeton, Kathy Bates and Alfre Woodard star in the new “Summer Camp” comedy.
Asheville, NC (May 16, 2024) – Travelers craving outdoor adventure this summer can set up base camp in Asheville, North Carolina – a region with a storied summer camp legacy and the film location of “Summer Camp,” in theaters May 31. The uproarious comedy stars Diane Keaton, Kathy Bates, Alfre Woodard and Eugene Levy as friends who reunite at their childhood camp. Similarly, travelers driven by nostalgia or FOMO (fear of missing out) can live out summer camp experiences of their own in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
From luxury glamping accommodations and thrilling white water paddling, to elevated campfire cuisine and made-local gear, Asheville offers adventures for every style of camper.
Lights, Camera, Action! Retrace Celebrity Stops, On and Off Camera
The Asheville area has been a summer camp destination for generations, owing to its natural beauty and access to the outdoors. It’s home to two of the most-visited National Park Service units – the Blue Ridge Parkway and Greak Smoky Mountains National Park – and the world’s third-oldest river, the French Broad. Fittingly, “Summer Camp” producer Dori Rath selected to film in Western North Carolina after researching more than 200 summer camps across the U.S.
Visitors can recreate one scene in the film when the stars dawn life vests and paddle through rapids with Nantahala Outdoors Center. The local tour operator offers guided paddling, zip lining and mountain biking excursions.
Off camera, Diane Keeton was spotted in downtown Asheville, wandering through contemporary exhibits at the Asheville Art Museum, shopping at The Marquee, and sipping a cocktail at District 42, a stylish bar inside the Kimpton Hotel Arras.
Good Night, Campsite: Camp-inspired Stays Don’t Compromise Comfort
Gone are the days of stiff bunk mattresses and sleeping on solid ground. Cozy camp accommodations in and around Asheville ensure a good nights’ rest, while offering the allure of sleeping close to nature.
Guests sleep comfortably under canvas at Pisgah Glamping at Lake Powhatan. The site’s weatherproof tents comfortably sleep four, and include a queen bed with soft linens, capabilities for charging electronics, as well as a personal picnic table and fire pit. In West Asheville, Wrong Way River Lodge & Cabins offers 16 modern A-frame cabins overlooking Carrier Park. New this May, the luxury airstream campsite AutoCamp Asheville beckons guests with the soothing sounds of the river, about 20 minutes north of downtown. The property features a general store and kitchen, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.
For a truly enchanting experience, retreat to Earth and Sky Dwellings, where whimsical Hobbit holes and tree houses offer a one-of-a-kind escape, amidst the stunning backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Choose Your Own Adventure: Summer Camp Activities Abound in Asheville and Beyond
A summer camp itinerary would be incomplete without an adventure – and the post-trip bragging rights that come with it. For water recreation, visitors can kayak, paddle or float on the French Broad River with French Broad Outfitters, Zen Tubing and Wai Mauna SUP Tours. Groups can have a floating dance party with River Raves, including a floating dance floor and a live DJ.
Ropes courses, ziplining and ATV excursions await at the Adventure Center of Asheville. For adventurers seeking a slower, meditative pace, Namaste In Nature offers yoga hikes, forest bathing and micro-retreats, perfect for a relaxing gals’ getaway in the woods.
For the campers feeling nostalgic for craft-making, several studios in the River Arts District offer workshops in jewelry, fiber arts and ceramics.
Camp Cuisine: Toasted Marshmallows and Wood-fired Catering Offer Elevated Dining Adventures
Asheville's culinary scene brings the best of campfire cooking to the table. Indulge in the nostalgia of s'mores and campfire tales at Crave Dessert Bar, where their s'mores special includes a tabletop fireplace, transporting you back to those carefree summer nights under the stars. The crackle of hardwood and the aroma of grilled delicacies evoke memories of communal campfire feasts at Asheville Proper, a downtown restaurant specializing in live-fire cooking.
For a taste of Asheville's outdoor heritage, venture to Burial Beer’s Forestry Camp. The soulful, rustic wood buildings originally served as barracks for Civilian Conservation Corps., who constructed the Blue Ridge Parkway as part of Roosevelt’s New Deal. The Southern fish camp tradition is the inspiration behind Good Hot Fish, a new fast-casual eatery by James Beard finalist Ashleigh Shanti. The menu features fresh, sustainably caught fish and traditional Affrilachian fare, like red peas and stewed greens.
Adventurous foodies seeking to incorporate wilderness into their meal can reserve unique dining experiences with local chefs and foraging guides. Food for Adventures specializes in back country cooking and offers catering to campsites, as well as cooking classes and edible plant tours. Argentine Chef Guillermo VonFoerster, of Fuegos Grill & Catering, prepares live-fire cooking demonstrations and catering, using locally sourced meats, fish and produce. Foraging guide No Taste Like Home offers a forage-to-table tour where participants can have their foraged delicacies prepared at one of several local restaurants.
Camp Fashion: Local Outfitters and Boutiques Serve Fresh Outdoor Looks
Whether hiking a trail or navigating a sidewalk, outdoorsy fashion is inspiring runways this season. Local outdoor retailers, like Second Gear, Curtis Wright Outfitters and Black Dome Mountain Sports, in Black Mountain help complete any summer camp ‘fit. Fly fishing fashion meets tattoo artistry at Crooked Creek Holler, an apparel shop owned by local tattoo legend and fishing enthusiast Danny Reed.
From hiking boots to clogs, Tops for Shoes has been outfitting Asheville for three generations at its downtown boutique. For a Diane Keeton-inspired look, Boutique LP and Rite of Passage specialize in comfortable, slow fashion statement pieces that suit the casual luxury aesthetic.
Need S'more Adventure?
From hiking guides to waterfalls, Explore Asheville can help visitors curate the ultimate Camp Culture itinerary. Visit ExploreAsheville.com.
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About Asheville
Asheville is where unrivaled natural beauty and bold creative expression meet. Tucked away in the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains, the city is steps away from some of the world’s most biodiverse forests and the tallest peaks in the East. For generations, Asheville has nurtured and inspired a compassionate community that’s deeply rooted and ever evolving – just like the ancient French Broad River that runs through it.
