Where Ancient Wisdom Meets future energy
Blackberry Hollow Camp
Welcome to Blackberry Hollow Camp — Coming to the Blue Ridge Foothills of Bassett, Virginia in 2031.
A 100% solar-powered, ACA-prepped, multi-season traditional outdoor adventure and overnight summer camp rooted in local heritage.
Two Families. One Shared Legacy.
Blackberry Hollow Camp LLC is the story of a true homecoming and a full-circle legacy.
Our Co-Founder, Andrew Emerson, is returning directly to his roots. We chose our location in the beautiful Blue Ridge foothills of Bassett because Andrew’s family has deep, multi-generational history right here in Henry County. For decades, the Smith River and these timber trails shaped his family's story, and he is returning to run the grounds as our on-site Camp Director.
But our name, Blackberry Hollow, belongs to our CEO, Anita Weyer. Anita was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana—the precise historical site of Kekionga, the grand ancestral capital of the Miami Nation. In the native Myaamia language, Kekionga translates accurately to "Blackberry Bush."
To honor Anita's birthplace and her grandmother's profound, lifelong collaborative work with regional Native American tribes, our camp carries this name as a symbol of protection, community wisdom, and deep historical integrity.
Combined with our token—the Owl—we are bringing these two unique family legacies together to build a safe, 100% solar-powered sanctuary where your children can unplug, grow, and thrive.
The Four Elements of a Blackberry Hollow Summer
• Wild Adventure: Scale our high-ropes challenge courses, fly through the forest canopy on our custom zip lines, and sleep under a blanket of stars in our handmade rustic wood cabins.
• Elite Horsemanship: Learn the true bond of horse and rider. Our seasonal equestrian program guides campers through hands-on stable management, grooming, safety, and scenic trail riding.
• Pristine Aquatics: From open-water swimming safety to tracking paths across the calm waters of Philpott Lake, our paddleboarding, kayaking, and canoeing tracks build lifetime water confidence.
• Living Language & Creative Arts: Through an exclusive, respectful partnership with the Monacan Indian Nation, our campers kick off every week with a unique cultural icebreaker. Cabins collaborate to choose an identity from a glossary of local animals and elements translated into the traditional Tutelo-Saponi language, designing their own custom canvas cabin flags to fly outside their porches.
A Gathering Place for All Seasons
Blackberry Hollow doesn’t sleep when the summer ends. As autumn rolls into the Blue Ridge foothills, our hollow transforms into a vibrant agritourism hub for the entire community:
• The Fall Marketplace & Halloween Festival: Join us for seasonal hayrides, locally sourced autumn treats, and family harvest gatherings. Stick around when the sun goes down for a haunting experience!
• The Winter Holidays Festival: Experience a winter wonderland illuminated under the trees, highlighting traditional local artisans, crafts, and festive community warmth.
• Year-Round Retreats: Our winterized central facilities serve as a premier destination for private corporate retreats, nature-based weddings, and outdoor education groups.
Be a Part of the Journey: Build in Public with Us
We aren't just building a camp; we are building a legacy. Over the next 24 months, we are documenting our entire journey from purchasing our plot of land near Bassett to designing our solar cabins and collaborating with tribal elders.
Join our Founding Families Inner Circle today. You’ll get exclusive behind-the-scenes building updates, early access to priority camper registration, and a locked-in, lifetime discount tier when our first cabin doors open for the inaugural summer cohort.
Secure Your Place in the Hollow
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
General Camp Overview
What is Blackberry Hollow Camp?
Blackberry Hollow Camp LLC is a premium, 100% solar-powered traditional overnight youth summer camp paired with a 12-month community agritourism event footprint located near Bassett, Virginia.
When will the camp officially open?
We are executing a highly disciplined, 4-year phased building and capital accumulation roadmap starting in January 2027 [Context]. Our inaugural active summer camp session will welcome its first cohort of 100 campers per week in June 2031.
Why is the camp named Blackberry Hollow?
Our name is a translation-accurate tribute to Kekionga ("Blackberry Bush"), a historical Midwestern Native American gathering place, honoring a lifelong legacy of tribal collaboration by co-founder Anita’s grandmother.
Why did you choose the Bassett / Henry County area?
We chose the beautiful Blue Ridge foothills of Henry County because co-founder Andrew Emerson has deep, multi-generational family roots in the Bassett area [Context]. We want to celebrate the stunning natural infrastructure of the Smith River and Philpott Lake corridors while driving premium, year-round tourism dollars back into the local economy.
Programming & Operations
What activities will you offer during the summer?
Our summer tracks will feature a progressive wilderness curriculum managed by co-founder Andrew Emerson, including an ACCT-certified high ropes challenge course and zip lines, an elite trail riding program featuring seasonally leased horses, and paddle sports (canoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding) leveraging Philpott Lake.
How are you integrating local indigenous heritage?
We believe in cultural appreciation and real social accountability. We are entering a formal, legally binding partnership framework with the Monacan Indian Nation to natively embed a weekly Tutelo-Saponi language-preservation program into our cabin traditions. Campers will design custom canvas cabin flags featuring authentic regional iconography templates. Furthermore, our bylaws legally lock in a permanent 5% free-of-charge camper scholarship allocation explicitly for youth enrolled in Virginia-recognized tribes.
What are the "Off-Season" activities?
Blackberry Hollow functions as a year-round agritourism destination. In October, we host the public Fall Marketplace & Halloween Festival (featuring a daytime family harvest track with Patch the Scarecrow and a spooky nighttime track with The Hollow Watchman). In December, we host the inclusive Winter Wanderland Festival, featuring holiday light trails highlighting the Winter Solstice, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Christmas traditions, alongside photos with Santa Claus. The facilities are also available for year-round private events and corporate retreats.
Safety, Tuition, & Infrastructure
Who runs the camp?
Blackberry Hollow is managed under a strict matrix structure based on expert credentials. CEO & Chief Financial Officer Anita Weyer commands all banking, real estate, and capital planning. Camp Director Andrew Emerson commands all day-to-day campground safety, counselor recruitment, and programming compliance.
Is the camp accredited?
Yes. All operational guidelines, staff background check protocols, first-aid infrastructure, and counselor-to-camper ratios are designed from day one to clear the rigorous 265+ points of the American Camp Association (ACA) Certification Checklist.
What is the tuition, and how does the waitlist work?
Our stabilized summer tuition is positioned at a premium $950 per camper, per week. By joining our Founding Families Inner Circle waitlist during our Phase 1 pre-launch window, you secure a priority registration slot and are legally grandfathered into our lowest, lifetime tuition discount tier when our first cabin doors open.
Do you offer financial assistance or scholarships?
Yes. We are deeply committed to ensuring that financial barriers do not stand in the way of a life-changing summer camp experience. Blackberry Hollow Camp LLC operates a structured, application-based Financial Assistance Program funded directly by our off-season agritourism events. To ensure our limited campership funds are distributed equitably to families in genuine need, all applicants are required to complete a confidential verification process, including the submission of income documentation for executive review. If your family requires aid, join our free pre-launch waitlist today and check the 'Financial Assistance Interest' box to receive application windows and guidelines.
How does a 100% solar camp work?
During construction, we are deploying a commercial, zero-down Solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) across our cabin and dining hall roofs. A green developer installs and maintains a 30kW–50kW solar microgrid. We purchase the clean electricity at a locked contract rate 15% to 30% below the local utility grid price, completely shielding our business—and your child's tuition—from energy inflation.
Have questions about our multi-season festivals, corporate retreat booking blocks, or priority summer waitlist discount tiers? Connect directly with our founding team at [email protected].
