North Carolina Town Bans Campgrounds & RV Parks
The small town of Waynesville, North Carolina is no friend to RV camping aficionados. Officials just banned all campgrounds and RV parks from developing anywhere within the town’s jurisdiction. The ban comes after a proposal for a luxury RV park at Laurel Ridge Country Club.
Why the campground ban?
According to The Mountaineer, town leaders unanimously passed the ban. They cited that “the commercial nature of campgrounds and RV parks aren’t compatible in residential neighborhoods.” The town held a public hearing on the proposed change at their last board meeting. Soon after, they voted to enact the ban.
“It can’t just be ‘We don’t like campgrounds.’ It can’t be a snobbish attitude toward campgrounds without a clear justification of why campgrounds don’t fit into town,” said Byron Hickox, the town zoning administrator.
“You have more people coming and going, traffic, noise, the lights,” said Alderman Chuck Dickson. Other town board members advised there are plenty of areas outside of town for those looking to go camping in their RV.
Find Camping near Waynesville, North Carolina
There are, in fact, quite a few options for campers outside of town. Waynesville is located in western North Carolina, just 40 minutes from Asheville and the Great Smoky Mountains.
Some of the closest options to Waynesville include Lake Junaluska and Riverhouse Acres RV Campground. However, there are dozens more campgrounds within just a short drive. You can find RV parks and campgrounds nearby with a quick search on RV LIFE Campgrounds, RV LIFE Trip Wizard, and the RV LIFE App.
You may also want to visit these amazing campgrounds nearby in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
Pat Richter says
prima donna attitude!!!!
Kevin says
Dig a little deeper. Do local hotels have much of a say in their local politician’s decisions? Follow the money; and the pockets that money ends up in.
Drifter says
In that case my needing a campground is not compatible with spending money on ANYTHING in their town!
Steven W Foth says
I second the motion and travel extensively in that area. Will go out of my way to avoid Waynesville, NC.
friz says
I understand they said “we do not want your money”.
Roger Becht says
I say RV travelers avoid spending any time or especially money in this town. They don’t want us, they don’t want the money we spend in grocery stores and restaurants.
Patrick Granahan says
This area is littered with campgrounds. Maggie Valley a town that boarders Waynesville is wall to wall campgrounds and huge RV Parks all servicing the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Could be Waynesville doesn’t want to become another Maggie Valley campground farm!
Slim says
You want to talk about prima donna attitude just read the comments. Bunch of sensitive Sallys.
Ted says
There is nothing in Waynesville, NC., that I want to visit anyway. No big deal. Artist mentalities don’t seem to be interested in the luxury RV community money. No problem. I’ll camp in Tennessee.
L. Scott McKoin says
I spend a lit of time camping in the area. I’ll be sure to vote with my wallet and not spend a dime in Waynesville in the future
Gary says
Guess us Campers should not go into Waynesville shopping
as it looks like we are not wanted.
Philip says
As an RV’er, I agree totally with the town’s action.
Kent says
I would suggest if you stay in a campground near that town, take all your business to neighboring towns that are more welcoming.
Gayle says
Agree
Sam Arnold says
AGREED!
OngoingFreedom says
Philip, agreed. Their town, their choices. I’m an RV’er, but more importantly I am a libertarian-leaning conservative. Towns should be able to make their own rule, businesses too.
I don’t take offense to these actions.
Joseph Oravec says
I have no problem with the town making choices. But, understand every choice made has consequences bad or good. I how ever do NOT agree with some statements made here that suggest that the RV community is somehow “White Trash”..And this Bias is nothing new. That is why the Tin Can Tourist were founded in 1919, that same snobby attitude prevailed way back then, towards RV’ers.
OngoingFreedom says
“I have no problem with the town making choices. But, understand every choice made has consequences bad or good.”
Totally agree.
Neil Glenn says
I don’t take offense, it’s THEIR town, after all. But I DON’T have to spend MY money there, either! Their loss!
Jim says
Who needs Waynesville, there are plenty of other places to see and spend your money in that area.
Gayle says
Absolutely
Vin says
After camphosting for 3 years, I totally understand the decision. Who wants to camp in town anyway?
Maryann Guhl says
It’s nice to have a town without RV campgrounds close by.
I agree with the council and I hope they can keep their town as a regular clean community.
AL says
I’m with Jim I can spend may money elsewhere
Gayle says
Agree 100%
John Carey says
Remind me not to spend a dime in that city.
ken says
I assume that there are no other businesses in this town (big box stores and such) that attract other riffraffe besides RVer’s. How do they deal with the “traffic” that they create? Regardless, Waynesville Now has a big red X over it on my NC state map and not a dime of my money shall it see whenever I’m in NC.
Splitshaft says
It is there town and they can exclude anyone they want. Some small towns don’t want outsiders and the trouble they cause. I won’t miss what I never knew.
Gayle says
What makes you think RV’s cause trouble? You are right their town and they can make the rules but know what you are talking about before you start being rude!
Douglas Allis says
No idea what really prompted this decision, but it sounds like they were afraid of being overwhelmed by development and did something about it. Not sure it was a great idea though.
Henry Hollingsworth says
We had been enjoying going to Waynesville when we go to Maggie which is numerous times a year! But no longer since those of us that have a Motorcoach is not welcomed.
John R says
We purchased into a NC Golfing CC community that added a Luxury Motor Coach resort section. The 20 or so lots that are being developed are the only recent building in this community, and the coach owners have brought new revenue to the club that was having difficulties. A second phase has just kicked off and looks to be as popular as the first. When their club closes and their real estate loses value, the light may finally come on but by then the RV community will have found another location.
Michael Haney says
As a camper and small city controller, I understand why they do not want an RV Park in their city. Many small towns do not have the modern infrastructure to support the extra, sewer volume, water demand, and electrical load for active RV Park. As a camper, I have stayed in one or two intra city parks and was not impressed by the atmosphere. (I have seen a few campgrounds like one in Baker, NV, that have had a small town grow up around a campground). What I do not like is being treated like a indigent transient because I am pulling a camp trailer behind my Cadillac.
Gayle says
Agree
Charles Parker says
We stay at Stonebridge RV resort in Maggie Valley, and go into Waynesville to shop. Some of the people living in Waynesville are too liberal for me, I avoid them when I can. It seems that every time the city council meets, they come up with new rules. RV’rs bring lots of money to an area with not much else to help their economy.
Mimi says
I camp at Waynesville, NC, every year. It is a delightful town & attracts a lot of tourist & people who love the outdoors. They seem to have a art scene, excellent restaurants, festivals & a street dance on the weekends, etc. There are several nice, large campgrounds just on the outskirts of town. As a camper with a 40 foot motor home, I would not want to maneuver down tight city streets & camp in a neighborhood. That is not what camping is all about!
Gayle says
We agree with that but they didn’t have to be rude about campers!
jimmyT says
I’m familiar with Waynesville and that area. Nice area, lots to do. My personal preference is to camp more in nature rather in town. There are a lot of campgrounds in the area. If you want to camp in town go to Maggie Valley or any of a dozen other places. You can even go to Asheville . I’m from Florida, like many of you I’ve traveled a bit. I’ve seen where Zoning Regulations have helped and where they’ve hurt a community. I say, good luck.
Raymond B Clark says
It’s nice to know they can afford to pa$$ on our dollar$
There is a NC beach town that doesn’t allow RV’s to park in city limits. Since we don’t have a toad behind our Class C we no longer can shop there or go out on the charter dive boats leaving from Morehead City.
Tom P. says
As a resident of North Carolina I have camped in several of the campgrounds around Waynesville. I would not want to drive an RV in their town as they do have a traffic problem with all the people moving there.
Joseph Oravec says
So, this is one of those payback is hell things. OK, fine Waynesville Banned RV parks. Well, the folks using those RV parks can also ban Waynesville. Not using ANY of the towns businesses for anything they need. When Gas Stations, Supermarkets, Clothing Stores, Antique Shops, and Restaurants start losing business town leaders will start hearing about it from the towns commerce folks. This is why some small towns created small FREE RV sites near a city park. Leaders know that RV’ers would buy things from town businesses and help local mom and pop shops with their bottom line.
Robin says
Interesting…. There is a proposed RV resort right up the road from me. Locals are fighting it. I can understand why. It’s a quiet, rural area. That’s a lot of traffic. But truth be told, there is also huge gas and oil development going on and this area and is fast becoming an industrial crap hole. Not sure anyone would want to camp next to gas wells belching noise and exhaust. I have little desire to park my Class B in town except on rare occasion. I think folks have the erroneous impression that economic development has to look like miles of new pavement, suburbia sprawling like cancer and endless strip malls. I applaud little towns that say, “No” to poor planning.
Pat OConnor says
Having met many fellow RV’ers over the years, and read other accounts of RV’ers shenanigans, it does not surprise me this decision was made.
Dana Shields says
What is the difference between a campground an an RV Park? Tents?
If i buy undeveloped property and put up only a pole barn to store/occupy an airstream, is that considered a campground?
Has anyone ever visited Waynesville? This is no great loss to the RV community.
Linda says
I am not going to comment on what the town has decided. I am just replying to the question above that asked “has anyone visited Waynesville?”.
We have visited Waynesville quite a few times during our trips from Florida to North Carolina. We have always stopped and shopped there because the locals have always been friendly and helpful.
In fact, twice, the Walmart encouraged us to stay overnight. The first time, someone who worked there noticed we had been in the parking lot changing a tire in the heat. He said, “stay the night, you need the rest.” The second time, an employee came out in the rain and told us to stay because “it’s raining to hard for ya’ll to try to and leave in this”. Then, a local auto parts store invited us to stay in their parking lot overnight while they ordered the brake parts we needed.
Yes, we were spending money at these establishments; however, I don’t think this was reason for their hospitality. They were just good people.
We have only met gracious people on our trips to North Carolina.
Kenneth Terry says
Times have changed . I’ve been full-timing in my 42′ fifth wheel out west and the trend is cities like Pueblo, Colorado, Colorado Springs, are changing their ordinances prohibiting rv from parking anywhere but in an rv Campground. Cities are treating us as homeless trash this is a growing trend nationwide I understand both sides of the issue and I feel it’s their town , they can do what they want just like we can they don’t want us then we don’t need them. Happier trails to all.
Norma Peters says
We have visited the Smokey Mountains for years and there are so many campgrounds in the area to choose from all over the area. The town is small and I think it’s not a good place to have an RV park. It’s hard enough on their small streets to park a car let alone having RV’s driving around in the town. We have often shopped both there at Walmart and the Walmart in Sylva, NC. There are beautiful campgrounds all around so there really is no need to have them inside the city limits. I agree it would be very difficult for RV’s to get around in that small town. I will still shop there when going back to the Smokey Mountains.
jimmyT says
People this our nature. A cycle of life. We want something until we get it then it’s no longer important. A child and that special toy that ends up in the bottom of the toy box. Motorcycle week has been the biggest income event for Daytona Beach for decades. Now they complain and get the police to harrass the crowds in an effort to discourage them from returning. This has benefitted Ormond Beach and Flagler. Money is important until you’ve got it. Then other things become a priority. This is a cycle of I want it, I have it, it is no longer as important . Camping is an adventure. There is so much out there to discover. There are at least a million other towns that are just as nice. So spread the love and visit one of them next trip.
Larry says
Don’t they have a big paper mill in that town? Maybe it shut down years ago?
Patrick Granahan says
No paper mills in Waynesville.
I did see one in Sylva about 20 miles away. There is a box board and packaging materials plant (Evergreen) in another town nearby. Not a big deal.
Randy Clodfelter says
As much as I love the area, and visiting as often as possible, if they don’t want tourists dollars, then I will gladly oblige them and never visit Waynesville again.
Larry says
Thanks, Its been a while since down there. I knew I saw a paper mill somewhere in that area..
Beechbaby says
We just spent a month in this area. The problem started with someone looking to add an RV park without making any “rules” regarding the age or physical conditions of the RVs. And it was to be located in a popular residential part of town.
We RV fulltime and love it! However, before we sold our home we had a neighbor that routinely parked their RV in their driveway with no regard to the laws on our city. We got lucky selling our home but it would have been a huge issue had we not. Nobody wants a RV parked in their HOA ruled neighborhood. Nobody. Whether you have a $300,000 home or a $1,000,000 home.
The issue started when the town of Waynesville realized that they had no direction on their books for RV parks. Where they could be established, what was required mechanically or how many people they could have come in. All they did was establish a legal boundary regarding the location of the park. Period. If you spent big money on your home you really wouldn’t appreciate a park that had no restrictions on the number of people or the age of the rigs.
There’s plenty of parks in the area that are really great. Plenty of things to do up there and really no need to “dog on the town” because they’re trying to come to a neutral agreement.
John Halko says
I doubt the city leaders are campers; a LUXURY RV park within a county club sounds pretty swanky. The cost of RV’s at that type of park might exceed the average home price in NC; the RV’rs would not be riffraff and would probably spend big bucks at local merchants.
On the other hand, its understandable if the town is concerned about traffic, etc.
Henry says
Traffic means revenue. Our town is a haven for snowbird ropers. Trucks, trailers, live-ins, animals, traffic, traffic, traffic. Our hotels, restaurants and shops prosper like never before, and our taxes stay low. The traffic can be a pain, but we all recognize what it means. The Waynesville city fathers are missing a bet here.
Paul says
This would be a great way to limit competition if you were an RV Park owner in town and this law was not retro-active. I would question whether it could legally be enforced retro-actively anyway.
friz says
Nice town Waynesville. If I lived there, I would not want me there either. Go somewhere else where they want/need your dollars.
Steve says
I am on a local planning commission and we just approved a campground. It is my understanding that you have to have at least one zone for adult-type stores so how can you ban campgrounds? I can see how they may be a conditional use or only allowed in certain zones. If a city doesn’t want campgrounds then I won’t be staying and shopping there. It isn’t a boycott, it is just how it works.
Dave Densmore says
The key here is “Residential Neighborhood”. It doesn’t sound like this is on the outskirts of town, and it would’ve resulted in RVs on residential streets. Would you really want a parade of RVs rolling down your street Friday through Sunday? I wouldn’t. It’s easy to get upset and not spend your money there when it’s not your neighborhood.
Speaking of “Follow the money”, since this article is a year old, “recent” is relative. I remember reading an article (maybe this one) about this awhile back. A good way to get some advert dollars in for campground locating apps.
I don’t see the problem with folks parking their decent looking & functional RV in their driveway. Cheaper than having to rent a place for it, easier to do maintenance, keep the batteries charged and keep an eye on it. I wouldn’t want to live in a place that didn’t allow it. Too uppity for me.
Ray Shepherd says
As an RVer I have no problem with their decision to keep there town, quite and peaceful. I myself live in a small town and I would vote the say way if this came up locally.