Developers are asking Montgomery County leaders for a special use permit to construct a new campground on 225 acres of land to attract more visitors to our area. The request is being made by Todd Priest and Thomas Oravetz (Gap Mountain Brushdown LLC). The property is currently owned by Brewster A. and William Paul Griffith.
Last week, they told members of the county’s board of supervisors this project would enhance camping opportunities, something that is needed to attract more visitors to the area for the “outdoor experience.”
The site is located on Gap Mountain along the Montgomery and Giles county line. Only 36 acres of the property is proposed for full development. The entrance will be to the southeast corner of the property adjacent to Norris Run near the intersection of Big Falls Road.
The campground is designed for a “back-to-nature” experience with campsites and cabins in wooded areas with plenty of space between sites. Trail systems will allow visitors to explore the property. Plans also call for part of the property to be used for “forest farming” for plants like ramps and ginseng.
Fifty-one camp sites are proposed for Yurts or canvas tents, 30 primitive camping sites with no water or electricity, 20 small cabins, seven 2-bedroom cabins, two 4-bedroom cabins, seven bathhouses, a camp store, an activity barn, and a large pavilion.
Parking areas would be dispersed throughout the property. Developers say up to seven employees could be on-site once the project is up and running.
The overall buildout would be in phases, and the county would have to approve a special use permit for the project.
The developers said they are striving to be a net-zero, eco-campsite with one of the major goals to be environmentally sensitive to both the land and to wildlife. The presentation of the project to supervisors included areas specifically designated for wildlife habitat.
Several adjacent homeowners have expressed concern over the increase in traffic along the road.
Kendrick Harrison said Norris Run Road, which would serve as an entrance to the property, is too narrow to accommodate RV’s and pull-behind campers. This is due, he said, to tight turns and low-overhead branches requiring the entire length of the road to be altered to safely accommodate these vehicles.
Supervisors will discuss the special use permit request at an upcoming meeting, but so far no decision has been made.
