In 1916, 1919 and again in 1922, Mrs. George Vanderbilt hosted a camp for local kids at Biltmore Estates. The boys learned about corn and forestry and the girls learned cooking on portable kerosene stoves. This was the beginning of 4H clubs around Asheville.
The land Swannanoa now stands on was part of an agricultural farm experiment station. When the lodge was completed in 1929, the doors to camp were open. The earliest camp fee was only $1 and the campers brought their own food for the week. There was no state money at the time for cabins so each county in the district was was challenged to raise funds for their own shelter. Counties raised money with boxed suppers, dances, skating parties, fiddler's conventions, popularity contests, selling refreshments at events and profits from their projects. Rowan County held "hen parties" where the admission was a hen or a dozen eggs. The "proceeds" from the party were them taken to market and sold for $150...enough to build their own cabin!
Upon arrival to camp, each camper had to make their bed by stuffing straw in bags. There was no electricity or indoor plumbing until years later. Lighting was from the fireplace, kerosene oil lamps and lanterns. The common way of transporting campers was in open body trucks with a bed of straw in the back. The pool was a mix of stones and morter that was infront of the Lodge. (See picture above) The back wall of the pool still stands behind the flag pole today.
In 1930, nearly 3,000 boys and girls from 45 counties attended camp at Swannanoa. In 1939, Ned Tucker was the Camp Director and 8 new cabins were built.
Not long after the cabins were built, camping at Swannanoa halted. During World War II, the Camp was converted to an Army Hospital and German POW Camp. The cabins were torn down and POW barracks were built. Prisoners with trade skills were allowed to work and some projects included building the back two wings of the Lodge, the stone patio and outdoor stone oven.
After the war, Camp resumed. The barracks were replaced with the current cabins we have now. In 1960 a new pool was added. In 1984 the Cherokee Cabin was given to us. In early 2005, the staff house burned causing the camp to cease programming.
But that didn't stop us! We are currently in the process of building a new Staff House and will be open for resident camp this summer. You can see the progress of the staff house by clicking on the drawing below. It will take you to our blog that is updated weekly.
We are trying to bring the history back to Swannanoa. If you have any pictures or old traditions that you remember, please let me know!
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