Camp Paradiso is a re-imagining of an Italian immigrant’s extended-stay, circa 1890 American wilderness camp. It was designed for “glampers” young and old alike.
North Carolina has specific historical ties to the Italian culture, including early exploration, mass immigration, and business establishment. Most of the immigration of Italians to America happened between 1890-1910, and though New York was the epicenter of this migration, a significant number of Italian immigrants also moved south. A famous article in the New York Sun urged:
“Go south, Pietro, Paulo and Giovanni!”
In North Carolina, Italians helped convert forest areas to farms. The impact of this immigrant community has been so significant that the Governor of North Carolina has declared October as Italian American Heritage and Culture Month in this state. One North Carolinian noted:
“I remember the stories of the ‘Old Country’ they would tell, and how they worked hard to make America their new home.”
Created in part to honor the legacy of Italian Americans, Camp Paradiso (which had been co-created with the Paradiso family) is a permanent (16′ x 16′) canvas tent with a sheltered porch extension, set up on a timbered platform with slate floors, and period animal hide rugs.
It is nestled into a hillside full of ferns and features a glorious view from the front porch rocking chairs over a brook and on toward the Homestead’s main pastures (where cows and our resident guard donkey graze).
It offers a queen bed with a wood-burning stove, working table, lighting, and the camp artifacts of a late 1800’s Italian immigrant: even a phonograph player (with a collection of Italian artists).
The outdoor firepit accommodates a variety of cooking options. The site interconnects with almost two miles of area trails, suitable for hiking or mountain biking, as well as a nearby pickleball court, community gardens, a working 1800’s blacksmith shoppe, and more.
Step back in time and come visit! (Direct guest reservations only.)
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