MRFC=HOPE
Life Lessons Series: The Epitome of Perseverance and Hope.
Highway 221 North leads me to the mountains of North Carolina. It’s not the usual way we come here but this is my first solo trip, and I took a little detour. The life lesson here is that sometimes, in life, you are given detours AND you need to take a little detour.
Along my route, I saw the typical roadside landmarks of mountain towns – old, dilapidated barns forgotten by time but still displaying the painted quilt patterns on the side, signs for farms and little hillsides with little pine trees and little patches of wildflowers. The winding road with the drastically reduced speed limits is a reminder to slow down, even before I arrive at my destination for that very purpose.
The road is also a stark reminder of the ravages of Hurricane Helene. Long stretches of grey asphalt are broken up by dark, black sections of asphalt – you know, the “new” road that had to be replaced because of flooding or landslides – or both.
There are remnants of those landsides along the side of the highway too – large patches of copper colored land, most often with tall trees, felled, with the tops facing the road. Some of those longer stretches of copper colored land are covered with grey rock or straw but they still stand out as a stark reminder of the power of water that caused a landslide. Especially because the land around these spots is lush with the greenery of the forests.
There’s a sign along the roadside that says, “Lula Belle and Scotty Wiseman” and I make a note to research that. Turns out, there’s a “Blue Ridge Music Trail” and this couple is part of the history of music here in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Every time I’m riding or driving in the NC Mountains, I like to play a little game I call “local or tourist” – I mean, I know I’m a tourist, but I’ve driven these roads enough that I’m not gripping the steering wheel with both hands, white-knuckling my car up and down hills and through the switchback turns. Yup, those are usually the people who are driving these roads for the first time. I send a little mental note out into the Universe asking them to relax and enjoy the drive, it gets easier the more you do it.
Along my drive, I notice many bridges are still in the process of being rebuilt, too. And entire homes and businesses – such is the case with Mountain River Family Campground (MRFC).
A visit here was my detour on my way to a few days in Beech Mountain, NC. It wasn’t a visit to stay there – although one day I will – it was a visit to personally thank the family for sharing their story.
Their story is not just replacing their homes, and their business but rebuilding their entire property. They lost everything when the North Toe River flooded during Hurricane Helene and took everything, they owned along with it downriver.
“As many of you probably know by now, MRFC was completely destroyed by the historically catastrophic flash floods on September 27th, 2024 caused by Hurricane Helene. We lost our business, our home & our family belongings & heirlooms. We are fighting as a family to navigate this tragic situation we have been put in. We are fighting to bring back Mountain River Family Campground.” ~excerpt from the website
PHOTO credit: MRFC website.
About a year or so ago, I was introduced to MRFC through a local friend and “liked” their Facebook page. MRFC is their go-to place when they take their travel trailer camping in the mountains for family vacation. I’ve seen photos of my friend’s family and friends camping alongside the river – enjoying river activities like floating lazily along the current on those donut-shaped inner tubes. When Hurricane Helene ravaged the NC Mountains, Suzanne – one of the owners of MRFC – took to Facebook to video-document what they were witnessing firsthand. Her videos were a heartbreaking first-hand account of the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. (You can google to watch her video from 9/28/2025 – the day after the flood).
That little river running alongside the campground had swelled to “100 Year Flood” height and took everything in that campground away. Yes, everything.
Although Suzanne and her family had evacuated to a nearby school, – their buildings, cars, merchandise and everything else that was at the 60+ site campground was lost to the swelling and current of the river. I promise that unless you’ve seen or witnessed the devastating damage that the power of water can do, it’s almost unbelievable.
I know that power of the water. I’ve seen firsthand in my hometown community what the power of water can do –
Once, through Hurricane Florence that caused our big lake to flood and the Dam collapsed. Secondly, in September of 2004, when we had Potential Tropical Cyclone 8 come through our county. Each time, roads collapsed, houses were flooded, and the power and force of water was absolutely unbelievable to witness. Even with all the destruction, we didn’t lose everything. I have no idea what it’s like to lose everything.
Especially, when your home and business – your very livelihood – is wiped away through no fault of your own.
So, in the hours immediately following Hurricane Helene, when Suzanne did live videos from the campground, and my friend confirmed this was the campground they frequented,
I was heartbroken.
In the days and weeks and months that followed, I watched almost all of the videos that Suzanne did with updates on the campground. Their story of perseverance, overcoming devastation and the generally “all in” help from the local community as well as people from all over the country is a story that it not just of inspiration, but a story of Hope.
Photo from the MRFC Instagram page.
Mountain River Family Campground (MRFC) = HOPE
In the days and weeks and months that followed, they would find some of the items and have them either returned to the campground, or in the case of clothing (merch) that was found, sold and auctioned to raise money for their rebuilding.
My HOPE in humanity was strengthened when Suzanne decided to auction off clothing found in the creek bed. After multiple washes and assurance that the items were clean, although showing signs up rips, tears and stains from their trip in the rivers current, she posted the items with a description, sizing and price.
When the bids for things like a sweatshirt started coming in at $100, $200, $300 and more, I knew I was out of the bidding, but I also knew that humans, in general, are good and decent people.
They weren’t just bidding hundreds of dollars for a sweatshirt; they were helping to pay for the rebuilding of MRFC.
In order to provide more opportunity for people who couldn’t bid hundreds of dollars, there was a raffle. An example of a river rescued item is here.
Although I was outbid during the auction and didn’t win any of the raffles I participated in, there was another way to help – just purchase an item from the camp store.
I decided that the best item for me was a MRFC coffee mug to add to my collection. I often drink coffee while writing at my home office desk and all of my mugs have some sort of inspirational or encouraging message. For me, this one is both.
There are various items available for sale through the camp store online if you would like to purchase and help support the rebuilding process.
As I followed the rebuilding story on social media, I made a mental note that “one day, I will visit there.”
When I was planning my “reading, writing, resting” sabbatical/vacation, I knew that my drive here could take me along Highway 221 North, and I could take a little detour.
I sent a message to the Facebook page asking if it was ok to come just for a visit, was welcomed to do so and let me assure you that if someone’s story inspires you, it does BOTH people a world of good to meet in person,
I have to admit that I was so busy paying attention to a large portion of road that went from gray to black and trying to figure out if the bridge in front of me was new too, that I drove right past the campground. Because, just to my left, I saw the Mountain River Family Campground sign, and then the marker of the height of the river water and realized I was driving over the exact same bridge that the river had rushed across, it gave me chills.
A quick U-Turn and a drive into the campground brought me to the front office where I met and chatted with Suzanne’s mom and dad (Kim and Mike). When Suzanne came over to us, I couldn’t help but get emotional when I saw her – I mean, if you know her story, you know that she’s been through literal HELL and back – and here she was, standing before me. She’s the kindest, sweetest spirit of a person you’ll ever meet though and I’m grateful for her time to meet and chat with me.
Seeing the rebuilding of the campground firsthand alongside the remnants of the devastation that happened in the flood is an unnerving sight. To SEE a giant shipping container and then HEAR the story of how that container was picked up by the water and carried by the current OVER the same bridge I drove across was surreal.
I found out on my visit there that their insurance claim was not only denied, but the company dropped them as clients. They lost everything, through no fault of their own and received ZERO insurance payout. So not only did they lose everything, but they have no insurance money to rebuild either.
My HOPE in the example Suzanne and her family have showed with grace and compassion as they navigated rebuilding what was lost, gave me pause to know that when I have a hard day, it is this example that I remember. NONE of my hard days are like the MRFC hard days and whatever it is I am going through; I’ll get through it. Hopefully, with the same grace and compassion.
My HOPE in community – not just the locals but people from all over the United States who have come with their heavy equipment and physical labor to help build back the campground sites so the family can start welcoming campers back was astounding to watch.
I cannot even begin to imagine the mental and physical strength it takes to rebuild from literally ground zero.
To get the brain and the heart in sync with each other to make the decision to stay and rebuild rather than walk away and start over somewhere else. But I am reminded of the Bible verse, “Faith as small as a mustard seed” (Matthew 17:20) and somewhere, somehow that Faith is alive and well at MRFC.
During my visit there, I saw flowers blooming, campers relaxing and there’s a general sense of peace and calm there. It’s truly amazing what they have rebuilt in the ten months post Hurricane.
If you look closely at the tree in this photo, you can see the waterline mark from the flood. Note the change in color from about halfway up from the trunk.
It’s one thing to watch a rebuilding process happen on a Facebook page through photos and videos. It’s a totally different experience to see it in person. It’s almost difficult to describe how to feel heartbroken and hopeful all at the same time.
I imagine that must be what it feels like to rebuild a life from such a tragic and devastating life – to hold both feelings simultaneously in your heart. I suppose too that the feeling of HOPE must be the stronger of the two on a day-to-day basis – almost like you have to choose HOPE every moment of everyday in order to keep forging ahead on a plan to rebuild.
Well, yes, that makes sense – always choose HOPE.
HOPE is this video of the rebuilding process.
“Mar 14, 2025 Mountain River Family Campground rises up after Hurricane Helene that ravaged Western North Carolina on September 27th, 2024″
The GOOD news is that the Facebook videos and photos have gone somewhat viral, reaching all across the United States and Internationally! People from all over have donated time, equipment and money to help with the rebuilding of the campground. People have lent their expertise and “I know a guy/gal” networking to help navigate the “red tape” of rebuilding what was lost. Suzanne and her family have been a wonderful example of thoughtful advocation and reasoning for getting things rebuilt.
She’s also been honest when the days are hard and that’s an important part of the story. Rebuilding anything is hard and there will be hard days, hard weeks even.
The lesson here is not let the hard days turn into despairing days. There’s always a new day.
It’s inspiring to see first-hand the campsites rebuilt, people renting those campsites and while there’s still a long way to go in the rebuilding progress, there’s a plan. Slowly and steadily, the plan is coming together. I have no doubt that one day, Mountain River Family Campground will be rebuilt to its former glory and enjoyed for generations to come. Heck, being there inspires ME to buy an RV or Travel Trailer (I’ll add that to the “one day” list) just to go and stay there!
As I was getting ready to leave, Suzanne’s mom invited me to take a drive around the campground and visit the spots alongside the river. It’s very quiet and peaceful there along the river and hard to imagine that in the rains of Hurricane Helene the water was several feet over my head. As I was standing there along the riverbank, I understood the logic and the heart of rebuilding this place – this was home, and home is a special place.
As a resident of North Carolina, I know there are many, many stories of people who are rebuilding after Hurricane Helene.
There’s rebuilding that will never be done, rebuilding that will take many years and then there are days when it seems “recovery” is happening at an astonishing pace – like, at the time if this writing, even new sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway are opening!
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been drawn towards the stories of people who work towards overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds. The story of Mike, Kim, Suzanne and Jared is no different. MRFC is a story of HOPE, it’s a story of a place in a community that not only should be rebuilt, but it also needed to be rebuilt. It is in the rebuilding that people find HOPE and everyone that passes through that campground will find a place of peace, a warm welcome and be inspired by their story.
Special thanks to Kim for the MRFC sticker – it’s been applied in its rightful place among my other favorite places of inspiration, peace and calm:
If you own an RV/Travel Trailer and are looking for a place to visit on your trip to the NC Mountains, please check out MRFC. Even if you don’t travel there, please read more information on how you can the family and the rebuilding process HERE.
Follow the story on social media:
Instagram page
Facebook page *This is a NEW page as of June 13, 2005. The old page was hacked.
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