Above the Fray Glamping, Black Mtn.

I really loved the space and the view—such a great spot for a getaway. Although my weekend was rainy and overcast, which meant no beautiful sunsets this time, I still thoroughly enjoyed the open-air setup. I only used the rain curtains once and was so glad they were available! Sleeping with the breeze flowing through was absolutely lovely. This isn’t a complaint (I'm admittedly not the best planner), but if you're (over 40 and) hoping to do things that require good lighting after dark, such as reading, you’ll want to bring a stronger personal light source. The deck lights are lovely for ambiance, but not quite bright enough for these activities. I really appreciated having a private port-a-john, which was clearly recently cleaned and spotless. I suggest disregarding any reviews that mention a strong smell. Whatever chemical they use is essentially odorless. My visit was a short two-night weekend with one full day tied up by a prior commitment, so I didn’t get to take full advantage of everything the space offers. I’m definitely looking forward to coming back with my dog and soaking in the full experience! Highly recommend!

Brandy B.

11 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· June 2025

Tree House for the Family!

Group trip ·

We loved the tree house experience at "Above the Fray"!! Very clean, everything we needed as far as bathroom, water, and electricity. Beautiful view of the mountains, incredible location/proximity to Black Mountain town. Top 10 experience for the whole family!

Lynda D.

7 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· June 2025

Campsites Can't Get You These Views

With pets ·

Faces South room for 14x14 tent 285

Breathtaking views that you would never find at a regular campsite. Sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset, storms rolling in, birds going about their days: wonderful to just sit and take it all in. Shelter and electricity made things very comfortable while still enjoying the feeling of camping and being outdoors. Appreciated how much extra stuff there was onsite, including tables, chairs, and gravity shower. We had a great time. Will definitely be back.

Rich B.

4 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· June 2025

Great experience, and a very cool concept. Amenities were perfect and as advertised. Really appreciate Doug’s prompt response to questions as well!

Henry A.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· May 2025

This was a lovely place to camp for a weekend! We loved our deck... the view was incredible and we didn't even have to set up a tent! We just rolled out our sleeping bags right on the deck. The 2/3 roof and tarps kept us sheltered from the wind and a little bit of rain on the second night. Also, Black Mountain was a great town to explore and it was only a 10-15 minute drive from the decks!

Kayla W.

2 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· May 2025

2nd Trip - still amazing!

With pets ·

This is our second trip to the glamping decks and we had another wonderful time. It rained pretty heavily the second night and we were completely comfortable and dry on the deck. We didn’t even close the tarps. Having access to electricity is very convenient. It’s so peaceful and beautiful and is becoming one of our favorite places to go for a quick mountain getaway. Our four year old and dogs also had a great time.

Kimberly K.

2 reviews

Recommends

· May 2025

The view from this site is beautiful. Everything you need for a comfy camping experience. Communication was great. Thank you!

Tonya C.

9 reviews

Recommends

· May 2025

Highly recommended glamping shelter

Lovely views at 275.

Loved the views from our semi-covered platform. Having access to electricity and fresh water was very handy. The sheltered portion of the deck helped massively when it got windy and rainy. Located close to many trails (even more when everything opens back up) and not far from the Black Mountain shops and restaurants. Highly recommended!

Ryan G.

2 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· May 2025

With pets ·

Wonderful views and so close to everything! Great spot to get in great hikes and explore downtown.

Katie F.

13 reviews

Recommends

· May 2025

I loved the view at Doug’s land! My only negative view was that the power didn’t work but it ended up being super nice! Thank you Doug! I’ll be back!

Crystal L.

2 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· May 2025

Great place! I absolutely loved the entire concept of this place. We had a great relaxing night on the deck. We will definitely be back!

Brittany T.

2 reviews

Recommends

· May 2025

Definitely a beautiful view. Place was clean and had everything we needed!!

Franklin D.

2 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· May 2025

Camping at Doug’s Southern Sun full roof was amazing! The view is amazing, having a portable bathroom near by and water to shower made it even more amazing! I would definitely camp here again :)

Estrella V.

2 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· April 2025

Absolutely gorgeous! We loved our stay. The view was beautiful. The camping deck was solidly constructed and had nice features like the tarps that can be pulled for shade or rain. It is also just a short drive to great restaurants and a grocery store. The port-a-potty was extremely clean. We can’t wait to stay again next year.

Sara R.

5 reviews

Recommends

· April 2025

Perfection!!!!!

With pets ·

This was our second visit to Above the Fray - it was beautiful, and so relaxing! We had a great time! In Black Mountain, there is a coffee shop called The Dripolator- we had a Frappe and a smoothie - the staff was so nice and our drinks were delicious! We tried to do a drive on the Blue Ridge Pkwy but it's still a mess from hurricane Helene. I'm glad the area is recovering, as this is an absolute gem of a vacation destination! We skipped drinking our bottled water because the water Doug provides is better than bottled! We brough an air fryer this year and ate like royalty haha! Our pup had fun, but beware blood sucking ticks - he had six dug in so we went to Ingles and got flea and tick med. It worked perfectly, no more ticks on him. I had one crawling on me, but I am not on tick med lol. Thanks again, Doug for this wonderful vacation destination. We will be back again next year!

Erin O.

2 reviews

Recommends

· April 2025

Wonderful sunsets and facilities!

Wow, what a unique and beautiful spot. I thoroughly enjoyed my weekend. As a hiker and backpacker, while not exactly roughing it, this was a much needed break from the routine. I was even serenaded by the whippoorwill last night in my hammock before turning in. I will be coming back again! Doug you have a truly amazing place! Respectfully, Dave

Dave P.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· April 2025

With kids ·

Beautiful setting. Well kept. Private. A nice way to camp/glamp. Would absolutely stay here again if we passed through the area again.

John G.

4 reviews

Recommends

· April 2025

With pets ·

Doug supplied water, a private toilet and a portable shower. It was crazy windy during our visit, but the shelter helps to provide some protection. Sad that we missed animal sightings, but enjoyed the song of the wipperwills in the early evenings.

Angie R.

2 reviews

Recommends

· April 2025

Amazing Camping Spot!

Group trip ·

This place was perfect! We were a group of relatively first time campers, and this was just the place for that. Amazing views, convenient and clean porta potty, and double gates for extra security. The gates also made it perfect for our dog - she had the time of her life! The location was also very convenient. We would definitely visit again!

Lyla B.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· April 2025

Amazing spot with Amazing views. Would definitely recommend this place.

Andree G.

2 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· April 2025

With pets ·

Im usually more of a primitive camper, but at the end of a long trip, it was really nice to have some shelter. And what a view! Easy to manage dogs here with the door and gate. Highly recommend as a great place to just relax!

Michael S.

4 reviews

Recommends

· March 2025

It was beautiful scenery, dog friendly and quiet. Great place to relax and leave stress behind for a few days.

Jason C.

11 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· March 2025

Healing Recharge

With pets ·

Beautiful view and great idea for solo camping and feel of safety with locked door and fenced off walkways. Considering the road is being repaired because FEMA finds finally arrived- prepare for short delays which cannot be avoided. Also, die to road in- spot pots haven’t been pumped and just don’t look down and hold your breath. But- again- truck can’t possibly get there safely IMO- But- the view and the quiet (I had no fellow campers during my stay- and extended twice just because it’s so healing’ My lab and I weathered some strong winds, but never felt unsafe. Whippoorwills sing you to sleep and wake you early in the morning. Sky shows lots of things I can’t see at home due to light pollution. Just a perfect place to get away from all the things that are negative and worrisome. This place is healing. In the middle of all the hurricane related destruction, there is still good and peace if we look for it. I found it on Black Mountain.

Michelle D.

2 reviews

Recommends

· December 2024

This is the second time staying here. I love it so much! Had some rain and wind overnight but the tarps kept it all out!

Wendy O.

18 reviews

Recommends

· November 2024

Had another great stay at Above the Fray! Had no problems getting to site and the deck is in great shape post hurricane. This deck in particular is great when it’s colder out because of the sun exposure. Curtains helped with the wind and little bit of rain that we got.

Casey W.

5 reviews

Recommends

· October 2024

Dammmit Helene

It’s hard for me to write a review because my fear is I’m the last person who had the opportunity to stay at this amazing spot. I was booked 9/23/24-9/27/24. Hurricane Helene was coming and I wasn’t worried about a bit of rain, but I listened to my gut and packed up that Wednesday. Thank goodness. AMAZING view. Everything you needed was right there. You could even sleep without your tent if the weather permitted. No fires of any type are allowed, as this mountain caught fire decades ago. Bring your coffee pot and a hot plate and you’re good! The drive up is easy. I made it with my Mitsubishi Outback. Parking is very limited. The view! Unbelievable. Peaceful. Private. I don’t know how the platforms fared but my hopes are everyone and everything is okay and everyone can experience this amazing location.

Marisol S.

11 reviews

Recommends

· October 2024

Special Spot

What a great spot with amazing views. 15 min drive into town and what a special town Black Mountain is. It rained the whole time I was there but the covered deck and curtains kept me dry. I was camping here a day before the Hurricane Helene floods came through, it rained a lot but it was peaceful to listen to the rain on the metal roof. I hope the site is still there and everyone was safe.

Tia S.

2 reviews

Recommends

· September 2024

Awesome Stay in the Mountains!

With kids ·

We loved this place! We came on Fri Sept 20th and left Sun Sept 22nd of 2024. It was 4 of us - 2 grandparents & 2 teenage girls, & a small dog. Entrance is on a gravel road, it was a bit steep but not bad at all. View from deck was beautiful. Our van was very close and conveniently parked. Place was clean & has a roof & electricity, big plastic table, 6 chairs, and many other things convenient for camping. There was enough water provided by host to use for 2 days. Place is also 20 min to downtown Black Mountain. We set up 2 tents, one for us and 2nd one for the girls. However, my granddaughter chose to sleep in a hammock. We made a mistake by taking our big 10x12 tent for ourselves; it hardly fit between the wall of the deck and the columns that are in the middle of it. The girls’ tent was smaller (8x8) and it fit well. There is enough space under roof for at least 2 tents but none of them should exceed 8 ft. Other decks were similar. They are at a comfortable distance from each other. In the morning we made pancakes (we brought an electric 2-burner and an electric kettle) and left to Catawba Falls (about 30 min drive and very popular). Hike is pleasant and is of easy/intermediate difficulty (depending on trail) & waterfalls are breathtaking! We visited River Arts District (Mark Bettis gallery was beautiful!) & ate at Duck Taco (so delicious and reasonably priced). We stopped at Black Mountain & ate at Kildare Ice cream shop. The next day we picked apples at Skytop orchard.

Tatiana Z.

9 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· September 2024

With pets ·

Doug had everything imaginable to Make this camping experience elevated. I spent 5 nights at site 279 with my dogs and had the most incredible time. It’s VERY private and little to almost no traffic because it’s off of a one way dirt road quite high up. I had hummingbirds visiting me daily and even saw either a coyote or a red wolf(I’m still not sure which it was!)run across the road up into the woods. The porta potty was beyond clean and was actually cleaned during my stay! I felt extremely safe and so immersed in nature that I was so excited every day to get back up to my site. It’s far enough that it’s secluded but still 15-20 mins into downtown black mountain. There were 5 5 gallon water jugs filled with freshwater, an amazing foldable cot that I spent a ton of time reading, a table, string lights, a huge lockable container to keep things in(think sealed food items) and ample room to walk around on the deck. So grateful for a truly beautiful experience, thanks again Doug!!

Emily D.

1 year on Hipcamp

Not recommend

· September 2024

Reeked of portapotty chemicals

With pets ·