Natural Bridge, Virginia, Campsites, Most Popular

Part 2 of a series of posts introducing Thunder BRidge Campground, LLC. Camping information is available at https://www.hipcamp.com/en-US/discover/virginia/thunder-bridge?pic=%7B%3Alocale%3D%3E%3A%22en-AU%22%7D&fbclid=IwAR1Ivs1DxhbUy7dODjGwdEgaJue3CSfuCoAa9O3-XjKJUJDEbX8c5FrUtBk 

One of our campers commented that Thunder BRidge Campground is "soon to be the most popular!" Another wrote, "[t]here's no feeling of being on top of each other even if the place was packed full." And this--"Listening to the stream every night was a great way to fall asleep."

While the Thunder BRidge campsites are large and private, campers who want to meet and greet will find the Pavilion open and inviting. The screened area, seen in the above photo, includes five large antique picnic tables, a few easy chairs, and plenty of space for reading, writing, playing games, snacking, and visiting. One corner houses the "Camp New Hope Museum," a goldmine for budding naturalists who want to touch, examine, or simply look at things previous campers found on the property. A bulletin board in another corner posts photos of campers from many years past. Campers may spin the tops of a Skittles game or try their hand at a game of cornhole. Just outside lies a horseshoe pit--please bring your own horseshoes. Outside entrances (at the far end in this photo) provide access to restrooms and showers.

A campsite, Woodpecker 5, sits about a hundred feet northeast of the Pavilion. It offers Thunder BRidge's standard gravel tent pad, fire ring, picnic table, and forest floor space for additional tents. As a camper has commented, "Each site is unique from the next...." This one adds a roof over the picnic table (or campers could shift the table outside and camp under-roof if they prefer).

Campers who want even more privacy away from our gravel roads might enjoy walking a little distance (about 350 feet) to Bunny 5 after parking their car near the Pavilion. Bunny 5, formerly known as Raindrop, has the distinction of being the oldest campsite at Thunder BRidge and offers lots of space. The State campground inspector exclaimed, "I would have expected four campsites back here." The East Fork of Elk Creek runs nearby. 

Camping in Natural Bridge, Virginia

 

Part I of a series of posts introducing Thunder BRidge Campground, LLC. Camping information is available at https://www.hipcamp.com/en-US/discover/virginia/thunder-bridge?pic=%7B%3Alocale%3D%3E%3A%22en-AU%22%7D&fbclid=IwAR1Ivs1DxhbUy7dODjGwdEgaJue3CSfuCoAa9O3-XjKJUJDEbX8c5FrUtBk

When you turn onto Artists Loop and enter Thunder BRidge Campground, a cluster of buildings greets you--history still in the making. In 1933, unemployed young men came here as part of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and began constructing four barracks to become their home away from home. As time passed, they added on--a dining hall, a gymnasium, cottages, storage space, and much more. After the CCC ended 9 years later, the property became a correctional facility for boys in the National Training School, a federal government program for troubled kids. About 1964, the facilities became home to boys in the Virginia state correctional system. 

Both of these programs reformed juvenile corrections. The "guards" did not carry guns and no fences enclosed the property. Instead of simply incarcerating problem youth, the Natural Bridge Juvenile Correctional Center taught them skills so they would return to society as productive citizens. As you walk around the complex, you'll find the auto shop, woodworking shops, masonry shop, kitchen, classrooms, a reading room, a library, and maybe, if you look closely enough, a barber shop. A bulletin board near the entrance to the gymnasium bears the title, "Thunder Ridge High School," home of the "Timber Wolves."

What will Thunder BRidge Campground, LLC do with all these buildings? The answer remains to be seen. The owners picture a cultural art center, where artists work in studios open to visitors and offer workshops. Five artists currently maintain studios here. Perhaps the gym will become a performance venue? Maybe the pasture will host music festivals? We welcome your ideas.

RV campers promptly turn right to drive past the auto shop, masonry shop and Youth Industries buildings, a stretch that resembles a Western movie set. Tent and cabin campers continue straight, through the pasture (ballfields), into 64 acres of woods, toward the Pavilion--a gathering spot and home to restrooms and showers. 

On the way, you'll find the first campsite (Bunny 2), at the old climbing wall. Some day we may resurrect the zip line that ran from the top of the wall across the road to a tree long gone. The second campsite, Bunny 3, sits near the Pavilion. Handy to restrooms and showers, this site contains the knot-tying station, part of an old ropes course, remnants of which you'll find if you explore the woods. 

Tune in soon, for a continuing description of Thunder BRidge.

Camping, Natural Bridge

My family opened Thunder BRidge Campground just in time for the Memorial Day weekend. All of our available tent sites and the three screened cabins filled quickly. 

One of our first campers commented on our HipCamp site, "New campground, soon to be the most popular!" Check it out: https://www.hipcamp.com/en-US/discover/virginia/thunder-bridge?pic=%7B%3Alocale%3D%3E%3A%22en-AU%22%7D

Another camper insisted, "Adam's primitive sites were awesome!! We camped at Bear 1 and will definitely return for a future camping weekend....The sound of the babbling creek was so peaceful at night....Highly recommended!!"

Situated at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains and bordering the Jefferson National Forest, Thunder BRidge offers scenic, large, primitive campsites in the woods for those who want to experience camping at its finest. Many of the sites border Elk Creek. A large pavilion offers indoor gathering space, bathrooms, and warm showers.

Our 100 acres was originally a camp built by the Civilian Conservation Corp in the '30s and early '40s. It then became a juvenile detention center and Big Brothers/Big Sisters camp, which closed in 2009. The tent and cabin sites are in the forest, away from the buildings that once comprised the boys' camp and CCC camp. 

Campers are welcome to explore the CCC buildings, some of which now house artist studios. If you're an artist, musician, craftsperson, or writer who would like a space to create while you camp, let us know in advance and Thunder BRidge will be happy to try to accommodate you. 

The neighboring Jefferson National Forest property offers Belfast Trail and The Devil's Marbleyard, the most popular hike in the area, as well as access to the 70-mile Glenwood Horse Trail. And just beyond the Belfast Trail you will find the Straw Pond, a famous swimming hole. 

A short drive takes you to: The Natural Bridge, wineries, breweries, a cidery (Halcyon Days), Virginia Gold Orchard, Natural Bridge Zoo, Safari Park, Dinosaur Kingdom, Appalachian Trail, Blue Ridge Parkway, James River, Wilderness Canoe, Virginia Horse Center, Washington and Lee University, Virginia Military Institute, and historic Lexington. 

After laboring on this project for a year, we love arriving at our studios, to the peaceful, good vibes of the property. Then, as we enter the forest, quiet, respectful campers and the sweet smell of campfires make all our hard work worthwhile.