DutchmenSport
Senior Member
Campground Host Needed October 2026 at Pilot Mountain State Park, North Carolina.
I am currently at Pilot Mountain State Park in North Carolina for the entire month of August 2026 as the camp host again. The park is in need of a campground host for the month of October 2026 and so far, have not been able to locate anyone willing to fill the position.
This is my 4th year as a camp host at Pilot Mountain. I was camp host August 2022, July and August 2023, July and August 2024, I skipped 2025, and returned again for August 2026.
As I’ve shared in past posts, this campground is an all-primitive campground, except for the camp host site which has full hook-up (and 50 / 30 / 20-amp electric RV hook-up) which will accommodate any size RV or camper with any number of slide-outs. The thing that makes this campground so fabulous is the fact there are no street lights, no electricity on any camping sites except the host, the entire campground is on a ½ mile loop, the main gate to the park is locked at 10:00 pm every night, there is very little traffic, and did I mention it’s quiet and very-very dark at night with no lights anywhere except the 2 bath houses that have a soft glow, hardly noticeable. It’s heavily forested, on the side of a mountain, and secluded.
There is no pay involved, but a campsite with full hook-ups is offered in exchange for the position. Park staff is very, very supportive, and are long term employees. There are 2 rangers that actually live on the park property, one being the park manager. There are 5 rangers (all qualified to carry weapons), and several others on-staff for maintenance.
The duties for the host are pretty simple and straight forward. Sell firewood, check-in incoming campers after 5:00 pm (at your own camper or catch them at their campsites when they arrive), check-in any walk-in’s after 5:00 pm, keep campsites clean which includes cleaning firepits after each site is vacated. The fire pits are all built on concrete slabs, easy to clean off. There is no “bathroom” duty at all. But an occasional check of the bathrooms for supplies and cleanliness is appreciated. Hosts do not clean the bathrooms at all. And a golf cart is provided…. Which saves a LOT of walking!
It does take a bit of physical stamina though, to do the host position though. Because the campground is on the side of a mountain, nothing is level here. Good shoes are a must! If you want some good exercise, you can exhaust yourself here, if you want!
Over all, it’s an easy gig.
Mount Airy is the larger of 3 towns in the near-by area. Mount Airy is the childhood home of Andy Griffith. Everything in Mount Airy is “everything” about The Andy Griffith show. All kinds of shops, stores, eateries, even a re-created jail and Wally’s Gas Station. Pilot Mountain (the town) is nearby and has a grocery stores and eateries, including “Aunt Bee’s” restaurant. Pinnacle is the closest little “burg” and has a charm and delight all it’s own. Of course, in the television show, “Mayberry” was mimicked after Mount Airy and “Mount Pilot” was mimicked after “Pilot Mountain” (the town). In retrospect, I find it interesting that in the Andy Griffith show itself, the actual mountain, “Pilot Mountain” is never mentioned or even alluded to. Only the town “Mount Pilot” which is a play on the town “Pilot Mountain.”
If interest in American Indian heritage, the Sauratown Mountain range (Pilot Mountain, Sauratown Mountain, and Hanging Rock) was first settled by the Saura Indians. And of course “Tom Dooly” was hung near here also. (Hang down your head, Tom Dooly. Hang down your head and cry….)
If I’ve wet your whistle and you have an interest, please call the park office at 336-444-5100. Ask for Nick Bowman, who is the Camp Host Coordinator. And he will give you more information and how to apply.
Here’s a link to their web site:
Pilot Mountain State Park: Home | NC State Parks
As I stated above, I have been to Pilot Mountain as a Camp Host 3 previous times. Below are links to the postings I made on the Montana Owners Club Forum about each of my previous visits. I have several attached photos on these links if you don’t want to read the entire dialog, (which can get long winded).
Anyway … Camp Host needed for October, 2026 at Pilot Mountain, North Carolina near Mount Airy. If you enjoy seclusion, I think this is the right “gig” for you!
My previous posts:
I have finally reached Nirvana! (August 2, 2022)
I have finally reached Nirvana!
Is it still “Nirvana”? (August 16, 2022)
Is it still "Nirvana"?
Nirvana 2023! (July 5, 2023)
Nirvana 2023!
Nirvana Report – 2 weeks in (July 15, 2023)
Nirvana Report - 2 weeks in
Nirvana 2023 coming to an end. (August 30, 2023)
Nirvana 2023 coming to an end.
Nirvana, year 3 (July 11, 2024)
Nirvana, year 3
Taken today walking the trail on the top of the Big Pinnacle:
I am currently at Pilot Mountain State Park in North Carolina for the entire month of August 2026 as the camp host again. The park is in need of a campground host for the month of October 2026 and so far, have not been able to locate anyone willing to fill the position.
This is my 4th year as a camp host at Pilot Mountain. I was camp host August 2022, July and August 2023, July and August 2024, I skipped 2025, and returned again for August 2026.
As I’ve shared in past posts, this campground is an all-primitive campground, except for the camp host site which has full hook-up (and 50 / 30 / 20-amp electric RV hook-up) which will accommodate any size RV or camper with any number of slide-outs. The thing that makes this campground so fabulous is the fact there are no street lights, no electricity on any camping sites except the host, the entire campground is on a ½ mile loop, the main gate to the park is locked at 10:00 pm every night, there is very little traffic, and did I mention it’s quiet and very-very dark at night with no lights anywhere except the 2 bath houses that have a soft glow, hardly noticeable. It’s heavily forested, on the side of a mountain, and secluded.
There is no pay involved, but a campsite with full hook-ups is offered in exchange for the position. Park staff is very, very supportive, and are long term employees. There are 2 rangers that actually live on the park property, one being the park manager. There are 5 rangers (all qualified to carry weapons), and several others on-staff for maintenance.
The duties for the host are pretty simple and straight forward. Sell firewood, check-in incoming campers after 5:00 pm (at your own camper or catch them at their campsites when they arrive), check-in any walk-in’s after 5:00 pm, keep campsites clean which includes cleaning firepits after each site is vacated. The fire pits are all built on concrete slabs, easy to clean off. There is no “bathroom” duty at all. But an occasional check of the bathrooms for supplies and cleanliness is appreciated. Hosts do not clean the bathrooms at all. And a golf cart is provided…. Which saves a LOT of walking!
It does take a bit of physical stamina though, to do the host position though. Because the campground is on the side of a mountain, nothing is level here. Good shoes are a must! If you want some good exercise, you can exhaust yourself here, if you want!
Over all, it’s an easy gig.
Mount Airy is the larger of 3 towns in the near-by area. Mount Airy is the childhood home of Andy Griffith. Everything in Mount Airy is “everything” about The Andy Griffith show. All kinds of shops, stores, eateries, even a re-created jail and Wally’s Gas Station. Pilot Mountain (the town) is nearby and has a grocery stores and eateries, including “Aunt Bee’s” restaurant. Pinnacle is the closest little “burg” and has a charm and delight all it’s own. Of course, in the television show, “Mayberry” was mimicked after Mount Airy and “Mount Pilot” was mimicked after “Pilot Mountain” (the town). In retrospect, I find it interesting that in the Andy Griffith show itself, the actual mountain, “Pilot Mountain” is never mentioned or even alluded to. Only the town “Mount Pilot” which is a play on the town “Pilot Mountain.”
If interest in American Indian heritage, the Sauratown Mountain range (Pilot Mountain, Sauratown Mountain, and Hanging Rock) was first settled by the Saura Indians. And of course “Tom Dooly” was hung near here also. (Hang down your head, Tom Dooly. Hang down your head and cry….)
If I’ve wet your whistle and you have an interest, please call the park office at 336-444-5100. Ask for Nick Bowman, who is the Camp Host Coordinator. And he will give you more information and how to apply.
Here’s a link to their web site:
Pilot Mountain State Park: Home | NC State Parks
As I stated above, I have been to Pilot Mountain as a Camp Host 3 previous times. Below are links to the postings I made on the Montana Owners Club Forum about each of my previous visits. I have several attached photos on these links if you don’t want to read the entire dialog, (which can get long winded).
Anyway … Camp Host needed for October, 2026 at Pilot Mountain, North Carolina near Mount Airy. If you enjoy seclusion, I think this is the right “gig” for you!
My previous posts:
I have finally reached Nirvana! (August 2, 2022)
I have finally reached Nirvana!
Is it still “Nirvana”? (August 16, 2022)
Is it still "Nirvana"?
Nirvana 2023! (July 5, 2023)
Nirvana 2023!
Nirvana Report – 2 weeks in (July 15, 2023)
Nirvana Report - 2 weeks in
Nirvana 2023 coming to an end. (August 30, 2023)
Nirvana 2023 coming to an end.
Nirvana, year 3 (July 11, 2024)
Nirvana, year 3
Taken today walking the trail on the top of the Big Pinnacle:
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