It says "climber only campground", but you don't need to prove to anyone that you climb. I think they just put that sign up there to let visitors know that its not a place to go to be noisy and obnoxious all night long; there are quiet hours that are typically well respected, beginning at 11pm.
This isn't a fancy campground, but it has everything you need for primitive camping, and many people park and sleep in their class B RVs.
There is only a community fire pit - you can't have fires next to your tent.
Here are some of the cool things at this campground.
Great breakfast, lunch, and dinner at their on-site restaurant.
Yoga/stretching room - had a ping pong table in it earlier this year, but was not there when I went a couple weeks ago.
Slacklines, to work on your balance.
Sand volleyball court - not the nicest sand, but it works.
Half basketball court.
Plenty of grass for throwing your ultimate frisbee around.
Its dog friendly.
There are usually people with instruments.
There's a lounge under the restaurant where you can use the internet and charge your devices.
The climbing gear shop has nice clothing and a bunch of odds and ends. My friend got nail clippers in there, and I usually buy a pair of climbing pants when I visit. They are just good all around pants you can use for many different sports. I also wear them to work. They are expensive, but they will last you a decade or more.
I've been here 3 times this year. May, September & October.
I should have gotten one of their little cabins…they look cozy and they are right next to the primitive camping.
I checked in after hours and its a little confusing as to where I can park my car back here. I am next to a sign that says cars aren't allowed beyond this point, but I see another group who have their car… beyond said point. There's a water spigot behind the sign, so perhaps its just meant as a warning so drivers don't crash into it.
The sound of people's wood cracking in their fire is stressing my retired greyhound dog out, but he's never been around camp fires before.
Place seems nice enough in general.
They have a little dog park… that's cool.
And I have two bars of 5G service through T-Mobile.
I'd stay somewhere else. Its not ideal for visitors, except that you may be able to park very close to the beach.
You'll get sand in your tent if you're in spot five or spot six.
Be careful coming here and accepting spot number 5 or 6 if you have a 2 wheel drive vehicle.
I gave this place 3 stars still because of how close you are to the water. If it was not for that feature I would give it only 1-2 stars.
Its not a bad spot, but $28 is a little high when you're just using a tent. you can't see the ocean from your camping area, but its a 3 minute walk there. When I came here I thought we'd be allowed to tent camp (without having a fire) anywhere on the beach, so the need to pay a fee was a let down.
T-Mobile DOES have service on most of this island, as I am writing this review from the camping area.
Bugs were not an issue.
I'm tent camping. The lady in the welcome center was in a rush to get out of the building and go work in a next-door diner so she didn't have time to answer any questions about this campground. I paid $30. There's a beautiful place to walk my dog along the water. White sand beach. The site itself has hookups if you need them. It has a picnic table, a fire ring and plenty of space for my vehicle and tent. I'm about 15 feet from the water. Nice view.
I'm currently in the primitive camping area in a tent next to my vehicle. I have not seen any signs about cost or payment, but I got in late last night, around 10pm on Saturday night in mid-October. The RV sites looked pretty full, but there was plenty of space in this primitive area which is next to the RV sites. I did not see any numbers or designated parking spaces, so I just sort of guessed. So far, no issues.
Update: In the morning, a man in a golf cart drives around. He collected $10 from me and gave me the code for the bathrooms/showers. The showers are nicer than expected, but not fancy.
There are some endangered birds in cages outside the showers. Check out the owl and the hawk!
there are bathrooms and tap water, but no electrical or showers. you park right next to your tent. you can walk down to the gauley river. you may see many white water rafters here for this reason.