Who attends Gemstone Oasis?

Our inaugural year brought together a combination of existing friend groups from around the globe, as well as just down the road. We welcome humans of all ages and stages, and families of all kinds—biological, chosen, and everything in between. Camp is a space for open-minded, fun-loving people who embrace kindness and inclusivity. If you’re bigoted, ageist, anti-LGBTQ+, intolerant, or generally allergic to joy, please sit this one out.

Where is camp?

The ultimate outdoor retreat, Camp Pinnacle is nestled on 126 peaceful and pristine acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Hendersonville, NC, about 25 minutes south of Asheville Regional Airport. It features a 20-acre lake for swimming, boating, paddle boarding and fishing, miles of private hiking and bike trails, playing fields, sport courts, a ropes course, bonfire, as well as plenty of beautiful places to relax outside. Use this pin to reach the main entrance (the location on Google Maps is a service entrance).

How does lodging work?

Lodging is offered in rustic, summer camp-style shared bunk houses, with co-ed bath houses. Cabins have windows screens, darkening shades, electricity, and squeaky doors.

Lodging will be assigned based upon registration, compatibility, and childcare needs. Please indicate bunking requests when registering. Most cabins sleep 12 people, but some cabins can hold up to 28 people.

We have very limited availability for field camping, and will prioritize campers with special needs. Please email us to inquire.

How will meals be served?

All registrations include a meal plan, which begins with dinner on Friday night and ends with breakfast on Monday. Meals will be prepared with locally sourced produce and served buffet style. The Camp Pinnacle team is happy to accommodate dietary restrictions with advance notice, please include details when registering.

You are welcome to BYO beverages (no liquor or glass per camp rules!) and additional snacks/food. In our first year most folks found they didn’t need much in terms of food as meals are plentiful! Please be aware of critters and store food carefully.

What should I bring?

Check out our handy-dandy packing list!

We can do whatever we want, right?

Negative! Please read the camp rules, which you will need to sign before attending. Your directors want to chill hard (and get our security deposit back), so please be a good neighbor and especially mind these most important guidelines:

  • No guns, pets, liquor or glass bottles.

  • No smoking - if camp finds just two cigarette butts, we lose our deposit!

  • Kids 12 and younger must be under adult supervision at all times.

  • Please be discreet with any “scooby snacks” that aren’t kid-safe.

  • Observe all waterfront rules and respect our awesome lifeguards.

  • Camp does not provide medical staff. Please play safe, and look out for each other. There will be first aid kits in the gym and dining hall, and there are two emergency rooms nearby: Pardee and AdventHealth.

Can camp accommodate my accessibility needs?

Please email us and we can discuss your needs in more detail with Camp Pinnacle.

How will I get updates about camp?

We will continue to update this website and send email updates as camp approaches. You can also join our WhatsApp Group for pre-camp connections with fellow campers! This is a great place to ask general questions, find partners in crime for your talent show vision, or source a ride. If you get too many notifications, just mute the group chat and check updates when you wish. Cell service is limited at camp.

How do I pay?

After you register, we will email your total and payment details. Payment via check, Venmo, or Zelle is preferred, but we can also accept credit cards with a fee. We operate this camp as a crowdfunded community offering in our spare time, so please be diligent about payments and patient with communication timing. If you need a payment plan please register, then email us.

Can I invite friends?

Yes! Please email us if you’d like to invite friends or family to join your cabin.

Can my pets come?

Pets are not allowed at Camp Pinnacle, with the exception of service animals.

What if I have to cancel?

This is a community crowdsourced gathering that requires size-able nonrefundable payments to our host camp. Therefore, camp registration is non-refundable. If you have a particular hardship, email us and we’ll see how we can help.

Is there cell service/wifi at camp?

Cell service is limited and wifi is not available for general use. In 2023, we found cell service was available near the camp entrance.

Parents enrolled in “Night Watch” will have wifi access for the purpose of communication with sitters, but we ask you not use it for downloads, etc. as bandwidth is very limited. Download those playlists and plan to unplug!

Can I come for the day?

We may have some day passes or single night availability depending on registration, which would be released closer to camp. Our goal, however, is to create a weekend-long community of friends with the majority of guests here for the entire weekend.


What airport do I fly into?

Camp is less than 30 minutes from Asheville Regional Airport (AVL), one hour from Greenville-Spartanburg Airport (GSP), two hours from Charlotte Douglas Airport (CLT), and three to four hours from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta (ATL). We welcome you to use the WhatsApp Group to find shared rides.


Do I need a rental car?

While you may desire a car for regional exploration, you can also use ride-share services or carpool to camp and remain onsite throughout the weekend. In 2023, we found most people stayed at camp all weekend and did not need a car except for arrival/departure. We’ll have a shared what’s app group for connections prior to camp and as the main means of communication during camp.