Camping Murphy Peace Valley KOA Campground in Southwest North Carolina
Camp North Carolina: I’m talking with Matt today. He’s the Owner for Murphy Peace Valley KOA Campground in North Carolina. Matt, why don’t you get started by telling us how long the campground has been there and how you got involved with it?
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Matt: Sure. The campground has been here about 18 years. I purchased it about a year ago, and the former owner was actually my best friend, growing up. So that’s kind of how I got into it.
Camp North Carolina: Very cool. Is he still around in the area though? He can drop by and check it out still.
Matt: No, back in Pennsylvania.
Camp North Carolina: Okay. What types of camping do you offer there?
Matt: We’ve got 57 full hook-up RV sites. We have four deluxe cabins. And we’re right on the valley river. So, we have riverfront cabins, riverfront RV sites, and tenting also in the river the runs through here. There’s fishing, tubing, swimming pool, laundry and bathhouse, full playground for the kids, and a big pet play area. Folks bring dogs and let them off and run around.
Camp North Carolina: Okay. What are the most popular activities for the guests there?
Matt: We’re only about twenty minutes from world-class whitewater rafting, so we get a lot of folks. They come and they want to go rafting. We also have great motorcycle riding throughout this area, so we get motorcycle groups that come and stay for a week or two and ride all the roads in the mountains here. We’re just outside Smokey Mountains and lot of bike roadways. Bikers like up in the mountains. Here, at the Park, activities would be tubing, fishing, panning for gold, swimming, or just sitting around the campsite, sitting around the fire.
Camp North Carolina: Nice. So, it sound like the Murphy Peace Valley KOA Campground is a pretty good fit for someone who is an outdoor enthusiast and maybe even a little bit of an adrenaline junkie going through them. Plenty of activities out there.
Matt: Yeah, there’s plenty to do, but also if you just want to come and sit and relax, like I said, we’ve got campsites right on the river. People can sit out, sit around a fire. They can sit and read a book. We have Wi-Fi in the Park. They can sit and be on the computer and email their friends. And so, you can either stay here and relax or go out and see the area.
Camp North Carolina: Perfect. Two more questions for you, Matt. If you were going to spend just one hour at Murphy Peace Valley KOA Campground, how would you spend your time there?
Matt: Fishing.
Camp North Carolina: Fishing. What do you like to fish for?
Matt: Fishing. This river – they stock it four or five times a year with trout. And you can fly-fish. You can get right down in the river. So that’s what I’d do. A lot of people go down and look for gold or go run their dog, or just sit on the back patio of one of the cabins and look at the river.
Camp North Carolina: Very cool. And last question: if you could spend just one night at the Murphy Peace Valley KOA Campground, which specific campsite would you choose and why?
Matt: Well, I’d just want to be anywhere from Site 32 to 39, because they’re all on the river. So, I guess the best one of those would be 39. It’s on the end. It’s the largest. But any one of those, you’ll be a back in your camper and open your canopy and river goes right by you. So, anywhere in that area.
Camp North Carolina: Awesome. Thanks for the tip. And Matt, thanks for taking some time out of your day to tell us about Murphy Peace Valley KOA Campground in North Carolina.
Matt: You’re welcome. Thanks a lot.