Owned And Operated By Longtime Best Friends, Wrong Way River Lodge & Cabins Is A Unique Urban Campground In Asheville, North Carolina
By Beth Price-Williams|Published April 01, 2024
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Beth Price-Williams
Author
A professional writer for more than two decades, Beth has lived in nearly a dozen states – from Missouri and Virginia to Connecticut and Vermont – and Toronto, Canada. In addition to traveling extensively in the U.S. and the U.K., she has a BA in Journalism from Point Park University (PA), a MA in Holocaust & Genocide Studies from Stockton University (NJ), and a Master of Professional Writing from Chatham University (PA). A writer and editor for Only In Your State since 2016, Beth grew up in and currently lives outside of Pittsburgh and when she’s not writing or hanging out with her bunnies, budgies, and chinchilla, she and her daughter are out chasing waterfalls.
As local travel experts, we know what travelers are looking for when it comes to finding the perfect accommodations for their next trip. To compile our lists, we scour the internet to find properties with excellent ratings and reviews, desirable amenities, nearby attractions, and that something special that makes a destination worthy of traveling for.
We all have our own definition of friendship, but there are probably a few things on which we can agree. A good friendship means inside jokes that leave us snorting with laughter while others look at us in bewilderment, calls or texts that sometimes say not much at all, and a certain comfort in knowing we always have someone to count on, no matter what happens. Then there are those moments in a friendship that, at the time, seem so simple but turn out to be life-changing. Shelton Steele and Joe Balcken were kicking around a soccer ball, chatting about their mutual love of the outdoors, when that defining moment arrived, and it led to something pretty special: Wrong Way River Lodge & Cabins, an urban campground in Asheville and one of the best small businesses in North Carolina.
Interested to learn about other unique American small businesses? Our Small Business Spotlight series highlights the often-overlooked work of small business owners across the country, from Maine to Southern California.
We all come to a crossroads in our lives when we’re ready to make a change. Both Steele and Balcken, friends for more than two decades, were at a turning point on that day when they were kicking around the soccer ball.
Steele was leaving the craft beer industry while Balcken was exiting the corporate world. Each wanted to incorporate more of the outdoors into his life, building on a love of the outdoors and experience as a whitewater raft guide.
Living in Asheville, known for its "unconventional, outdoor-centered personality," means a natural love of the outdoors, but the longtime friends saw the city was missing something: lodging that offered a comfortable place to stay and the chance to reconnect with the outdoors and each other.
Taking the best features from today’s most popular types of accommodations -- including the efficiency of Airbnbs and the nostalgia and simplicity of campgrounds -- Steele and Balcken founded Wrong Way River Lodge & Cabins in North Carolina, right across the street from the French Broad River Greenway.
"The core mission of Wrong Way is to connect guests with the transformational qualities of the outdoors through comfortable accommodations, convenient access, inspiring experiences, and a little local culture," Steele says.
"Wrong Way offers guests the chance to get outside of the home (and their heads) and rediscover what matters."
Sixteen A-frame cabins, each offering the comforts of home, create this urban campground but, unlike a hotel or an rental, Wrong Way provides an easy way to become a part of the community of travelers via the two-story River Lodge, a communal space that welcomes all guests.
Guests can choose from a standard or deluxe cabin. Reminiscent of beach houses, the standard cabins sit between 12 and 16 feet above ground; you’ll park your car right below your cozy home away from home.
Deluxe cabins are a bit more secluded, nestled near a meadow and offering a large back deck; the private balconies of the standard cabins overlook the river and greenway.
Arguably the center of life at Wrong Way, the River Lodge has something for everyone. Grab a drink or a bite to eat at the café, The Canteen (the name was chosen to give those nostalgic feels), stock up on souvenirs, or just kick back, relax, and connect with other travelers.
After a day of exploring outdoors, join other travelers around the fire pit, where you can roast marshmallows or enjoy a cold beer. Both are available in the River Lodge.
The Wrong Way River Lodge & Cabin owners are focused on eco-friendliness, too, achieving that goal in a variety of ways.
You might notice, for example, that there aren’t any water bottles in the River Lodge. Instead, there’s a filtered water fountain, where you can fill up your reusable bottles.
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This one-of-a-kind urban campground in Asheville, North Carolina, provides an ideal launching point for exploration. It’s just one mile from the River Arts District and Haywood Road (the main street of West Asheville) and three miles from Downtown Asheville and the South Slope Brewing District.
Wrong Way makes it easy to plan those long-anticipated adventures, too, by partnering with area businesses that offer such experiences as whitewater rafting, ziplining, forest bathing, and mountain biking.
"We also intend to build a company that is values-driven, eco-friendly, and makes a positive impact on the guests, staff, and community," Steele says.
Many thanks to owners Shelton Steele and Joe Balcken for sharing the story and history of Wrong Way River Lodge & Cabins for the 2024 Small Business Spotlight. Learn more and support this iconic North Carolina outdoor destination by visiting the Wrong Way River Lodge & Cabins Facebook page.
Of course, Wrong Way River Lodge & Cabins is one of many amazing businesses in North Carolina that’s doing great things in the state. If you have another business you’d like to see profiled on Only In North Carolina, please nominate them for a chance to be featured. And be sure to follow Only In North Carolina on Facebook and Instagram to stay in the know on the state’s events, restaurants, local businesses, and hidden gems.
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