OPEN HOUSE AT SOAR
Similar to a tour, you will get to see our facilities including the cabins where campers will stay while on base and the dining hall where all meals are served, but during the Open House, you will get to experience a little piece of summer! Kids (and parents too!) will spend time climbing on our rock wall and learning primitive skills like fire building! The day will end with a cook out lunch where families will have an opportunity to connect with each other and spend time with SOAR’s camp directors.
Open House at SOAR is a great way to familiarize yourself with life at camp and help your child feel more confident and comfortable before heading back for the summer!
DETAILS
Our SOAR Open House is Saturday April 29th from 10:00-1:00. A free lunch is included! Please plan to arrive 15 minutes early to allow for parking. RSVP below or visit soaropenhouse.rsvpify.com.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Don’t live in the area? Not only is spring in Western North Carolina one of the most beautiful times to visit, but we also have some pretty cozy accommodations.
Oak Hill on Love Lane The Balsam Mountain Inn
224 Love Lane P.O. Box 40
Waynesville, NC 28786 Balsam, NC 28707
828-456-7037 828-456-9498
www.oakhillonlovelane.com www.balsammountaininn.net
We are also just a 45 minute drive from Asheville, NC!
QUESTIONS?
Give us a call at 828-456-3435 or email our Sidney Setzer at sidney@soarnc.org.
DIRECTIONS
Be advised the road up to the Balsam Base is a narrow gravel road. Please be sure to drive slowly (15 mph) and look out for oncoming traffic.
FROM ASHEVILLE (approximately 45 min from Asheville)
Take I-40 West. Take Exit #27 (Highway 19/23/74)
Following Route 23/74 you pass:
- Waynesville
- Hazelwood
- West Waynesville (approx. 5 miles to Blue Ridge Pkwy)
- Rest Area on Left
- Blue Ridge Parkway Entrance on Right
Directly after the Blue Ridge Parkway Overpass, you turn right onto Rosemount Road. There is a SOAR sign as well. Follow Rosemount Road approximately 2 miles (the first mile is paved, the second is gravel). The gravel section begins with a sharp right turn at Rosemount Cottages. At every fork in the gravel road, go right. The road dead-ends at SOAR’s Balsam Base.
FROM ASHEVILLE AIRPORT (approximately one hour from Asheville)
Exit left out of Asheville airport
Continue straight
Make a left onto I-26 West
Veer to the left onto I-40 West Canton/Knoxville Exit when Interstate splits
Take Exit #27 (Highway 19/23/74)
Following Route 23/74 you pass:
- Waynesville
- Hazelwood
- West Waynesville (approx. 5 miles to Blue Ridge Pkwy)
- Rest Area on Left
- Blue Ridge Parkway Entrance on Right
Directly after the Blue Ridge Parkway Overpass, you turn right onto Rosemount Road. There is a SOAR sign as well. Follow Rosemount Road approximately 2 miles (the first mile is paved, the second is gravel). The gravel section begins with a sharp right turn at Rosemount Cottages. At every fork in the gravel road, go right. The road dead-ends at SOAR’s Balsam Base.
FROM POINTS WEST: (approximately two hours from Knoxville)
Take I-40 East. Exit #27 (Routes 19/23/74 to Waynesville)
Following Routes 23/74 you pass:
- Waynesville
- Hazelwood
- West Waynesville (approx. 5 miles to Blue Ridge Pkwy)
- Rest Area on Left
- Blue Ridge Parkway Entrance on Right
Directly after the Blue Ridge Parkway Overpass, you turn right onto Rosemount Road. There is a SOAR sign as well. Follow Rosemount Road approximately 2 miles (the first mile is paved, the second is gravel). The gravel section begins with a sharp right turn at Rosemount Cottages. At every fork in the gravel road, go right. The road dead-ends at SOAR’s Balsam Base.
FROM ATLANTA: (approximately three hours from Atlanta)
Proceed north on I-85 to I-985. Continue north past Gainesville to the Clarksville area. I-985 merges with Highway 441. Stay on 441 through Clayton and Dillard. Just south of Franklin, NC take the 441 by-pass which directs you around the Franklin area. Continue on 441 through Dillsboro to NC Highway 23/74. Proceed East on 23/74 about nine miles to Balsam.
Just before crossing under the Blue Ridge Parkway, turn left onto Rosemount Road. Follow Rosemount Road approximately 2 miles (the first mile is paved, the second is gravel). The gravel section begins with a sharp right turn at Rosemount Cottages. At every fork in the gravel road, go right. The road dead-ends at SOAR’s Balsam Base.
My Camp Experience
"SOAR provided our son with a wonderful, outdoor-focused camp that had an excellent counselor to camper ratio. The counselors were knowledgeable and had the "right" experience, training and temperament for the campers."
