Graham County Travel & Tourism (North Carolina) has been working to reopen Cable Cove Campground, which the National Forest Service has left closed due to low usage and deteriorated facilities, flooding danger, and lack of electrical power.
According to a report, Graham County Commissioner Dale Wiggins, chairman of the Travel & Tourism Board, told the board at its May 12 meeting they had been in touch with the Forest Service, Wildlife Commission, Duke Energy, and the Tennessee Valley Authority.
Travel & Tourism Director Daniel Allison said the process is in its early stages, and the participants are still brainstorming.
Wiggins stated that the biggest issue is getting electricity to the campsite.
“It’s a lofty goal, but I think if we work hard, we can get there,” Wiggins told the board. “I think it’s a worthwhile project.”
One possibility is to ask Duke Energy to extend a power line from the Eagles Nest Road area west to Cable Cove Road, but it would require cutting down the trees on National Forest land. A more costly alternative is to bury a power line that reaches Cable Cove Road.
The 26-site Cable Cove campground is widely thought of as stunning, but usage has been low, and the facilities are deteriorating.
With occupancy rates of just 17% over the course of ten years, the average annual fees of about $9,500 barely cover the cost of the removal of trash, restroom clean-up, and landscaping.
The facility has more than $184,300 in deferred maintenance needs. Everything from old picnic tables to cracked pavement cries for attention at the old facility. An estimated amount of $350,000 is needed to pay for maintenance needs and also to install new restrooms to address health and safety concerns and to comply with accessibility requirements.
The drinking water system, restrooms, and restroom wastewater system do not meet current health and safety regulations, and Forest Service guidelines and campground amenities do not meet current accessibility requirements for persons with disabilities.
The lack of electricity at the campground makes running of water systems a constant issue, making it challenging to get campground hosts to assist in monitoring the fragile potable water and wastewater systems, the Forest Service said.
Another reason for the campground closure is the potential for flooding. A floodplain analysis indicates that approximately 50% of the existing campsites are located within the 10% annual chance floodplain, meaning that a flood event has a 1 in 10 chance of occurring in any given year.
According to the National Forest Service, Cable Cove Campground is located about 15¼ miles from Robbinsville on HWY 28 North, about 3 miles from Fontana Dam.
This story originally appeared on The Graham Star.
Have you heard the fantastic news about Cable Cove Campground? They’re not just fixing up the place, but adding eco-friendly amenities and fun activities like guided hikes and stargazing. It’s going to be epic!