Family-friendly glamping near Bessemer City

I loved the camping spot, view, hiking overlook trail ans spa! Had an amazing time! Needed a quick reset to be in nature without much stress or Hassel and this did the trick! The owner is super sweet! This is my second time staying here!

From the public observation area, to the short steep hike to another overlook. From the extremely warm showers and to the absolute wonderfulness of the spa. Clean portajohns and multiple trash cans. This campground offers so much in relaxation. William is very kind and was able to answer any questions quickly, even the dumber ones we had while putting together what was what at our yurt location. We rented MTG 5. In walking the grounds, we would have selected 1, 3,4, 2 and then 5 in that order. 1 gives you the very best view but you are near the common area which can get very populated at sunset. That was actually kind of cool to have the whole village come together to stand in awe. 5 was ok but it was slanted more than any other site so we were unable to play with many things we brought for entertainment. It was a great weekend though. Perfect weather. There are whippoorwills on the property and if you have not experienced them, they can be a challenge as they sing their song with some fervor and consistency. But we went and bought ear plugs which totally did the trick. Google tells me those birds will sing until July. So be prepared if you are a light sleeper. But the yurts were comfortable and sleep was easy The spa is 100% worth renting. You are isolated and while on the platform you experience yet another wonderful view. The cedar smell of the sauna really lifted my spirits. The warmth of the tub. The heater. The shower. Everything was thought about. 10/10 for the spa.

3 nights at Gold River / camp + cabins

We were looking for a quick weekend camping spot and the Starlight Hills Dome was perfect! After we saw the pictures online we just had to check it out. It was perfect and exactly what we were looking for. Can’t wait to come back another time!

T.Rill, my travel companion with my walking stick

Cindy

2 weeks ago

A lovely, family friendly and adult friendly campground. I glamped in the boho Bonita tent, which was charming and comfortable. There is a bit of traffic noise from the road, which subsides at night. The creek was cool and fun to wade in. I didn’t find any gold but took a few rocks home with me. 🤫 Bathrooms very clean! Would stay again.

I’ve been to Starlight Hills Campground several times now for tent camping, and have absolutely loved every trip. The location is perfect—super accessible but still gives you the full experience of being in the mountains. It strikes an ideal balance between convenience and that rugged, in-the-woods feeling that makes camping so special. For our most recent trip, I wanted to do something a little different, so I booked MTG3, one of the campground’s yurts. We were blown away by how well-equipped it was and how cozy it felt. The view from the site was incredible—truly something special to wake up to. Whether you’re looking for traditional tent camping or a more elevated experience like the yurt, Starlight Hills delivers. Highly recommend!

We brought our kids here for Mother’s Day and it was overall a great experience. We were excited that they offer a sauna so we reserved that for 2 hours. The hot tub was wonderful and very hot however the sauna wasn’t hot enough to make anyone sweat. If you are in it for the sauna on a cold day then I would reconsider, however if you’re in it for the hot tub then go for it! Beautiful look out views. Hot showers that were very clean. William was a great host.

Colby

Great spot. Well run. The glamp site are really cool.

This experience was exactly what we were looking for when we wanted a peaceful, beautiful place to reconnect with our daughters away from the digital world. We had a blast! We will definitely come back and will tell our friends.

Colby

Weekend Trip to Take a Hike on a Wild side! Camping

Very fun and peaceful! Land is beautiful. Glamps are definitely worth it.

Beautiful location, very secluded. We loved it there.

Kimberly

Beautiful scenery, peaceful place to come and get away

Vaclav

We had a great time at Starlight Hills, the views both during the day and at night are incredible and we really enjoyed the privacy our site offered.

Weekend Trip to Take a Hike on a Wild side! Camping

I've been camping for all 40 of my years on this planet and this was the best camping experience I've ever had. I'm usually the primative camping type but my GF along our dog and I were on a road trip from Minnesota and I wanted to find the best campsite with the best view of the mountains while we were down there, despite not having any of our gear with us. I'm absolutely convinced that we found it. Everything was easy to find when we showed up and we had the whole place to ourselves since it was a Monday into Tuesday. When we arrived our tent was unlocked and ready for us, and the firewood already stacked next to the pit. We literally got out of the car and went straight to the hammocks and enjoyed the view. I specifically booked the only clear-sky night of the week and was rewarded with one of the top 3 sunsets I've ever seen. Absolutely phenomenal. William eventually came to check on us and make sure we found anything, what a friendly guy!! We BS'd for a little bit while he played with our dog and I loved every second of it. It felt like such a privilege to be in such a beautiful place with an amazing host. William, we can't thank you enough! Definitely hope to make it back one day. My only regret is only staying for a single night. What an absolute gem.

The spot is so beautiful and we felt like the only people in the world! Adil kindly provided us with bedding when we forgot ours at him. He’s a great host and we very much enjoyed our stay

2 nights at Starlight Hills

Such a beautiful property and so well-designed! Even better than the photos convey. Each yurt, along with the cabin, offers its own gorgeous, unique view and level of separation from other sites. The tent sites probably offer the most privacy if that’s what you’re after. The vista from the picnic/BBQ area is also so beautiful and peaceful. The amount of work the owners have put into their campground is very evident, and I’m grateful they share it with the public. Less than a half hour to South Mountains state park which has begun its phased re-opening post-Helene (hooray!!). Definitely hope to return someday soon!

Weekend Trip to Take a Hike on a Wild side! Camping

We loved this site, the area, and the amenities- it was a great camping experience and cannot wait to go back!

Kyva

April 2025

5 nights at Starlight Hills

I don’t know where to begin! Such an amazing experience! The host is fantastic!! 10/10 highly recommended! Definitely will be back! Thanks again Will.

My family and I had a great experience at Starlight. Exactly as pictured. William is very attentive and met with us at our site shortly after we arrived to greet and give us some information about the grounds. While walking the grounds, you can really grasp the vision William has for Starlight as he is consistently expanding and improving the campground. It was our base for enjoying the area. From hiking Catawba Falls to adventures and rapids at the U.S. National Whitewater Center! Another great family vacation in the books!