Camp Washington-Carver
Camp Washington Carver is a historic mountain camp at 1277 Washington Carver Road in Clifftop, West Virginia, home of the Appalachian String Band Music Festival, five days of contests, concerts, workshops, square dances, camping and vendors. Concerts and contests happen outdoors and the nightly square dances fill the Great Chestnut Lodge, the largest log structure of its kind in the world. Alcohol is banned at the festival, and the parking lot has little lighting, so arrive in daylight.
Before you go
- Indoor or outdoor
- Both: Great Chestnut Lodge for the square dances, with outdoor stages, contests and camping fields
- Official site
- wvculture.org
- Next festival here
- Appalachian String Band Music Festival, Expected late July-early August 2027
Worth knowing before you go
- The parking lot has limited lighting, and the festival recommends arriving in daylight.
- Alcohol and weapons are prohibited at the festival.
- It is rough camping on mountain terrain, with mobility-vehicle, electrical and pre-camping rules that change from year to year.
Festivals here
Venue basics: Parking at the end of the camp road; arrive in daylight · Handicapped parking and a shuttle stop on the festival map · Rough camping on mountain terrain.
Is it for you
Choose it if
- You want old-time string-band contests, workshops and nightly square dances in a historic mountain camp.
- You are happy with rough camping and a dry festival.
Think twice if
- You want a drink with the music: alcohol is prohibited.
- Arriving after dark is your only option: the lot is poorly lit and daylight arrival is recommended.
Getting there and parking
The camp is at 1277 Washington Carver Road, Clifftop, WV 25831 (mail goes to HC 35 Box 5). Approach from Beckley on Highway 41, or from Fayetteville on Highways 19, 60 and 41, then take Old Clifftop Road to the camp sign.
Parking is at the end of the camp road. The lot has limited lighting and the festival recommends arriving in daylight. The festival map marks handicapped parking, RV parking and a shuttle stop.
Accessibility
We don't yet have confirmed information about accessibility at Camp Washington Carver. The venue's own pages are the place to check: wvculture.org.
Camping
This is rough camping on mountain terrain, in the camping fields of a historic camp with a bathhouse and restrooms. Camping is part of the five-day festival, which also runs pre-camping controls and mobility-vehicle and electrical rules that are updated from year to year.
Food, water and what you can bring
The camp has a dining building alongside the lodge.
Festival-specific · Appalachian String Band Music FestivalThe festival rules prohibit alcoholic beverages and weapons.
Sound and sensory
The programme is old-time string-band contests, workshops, nightly square dances, flatfoot dancing and outdoor concerts.
A little history
The camp opened in 1942 as the first 4-H camp for African Americans in the United States. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 and officially renamed Camp Washington Carver, and the West Virginia Culture Center now runs it as a mountain cultural arts center. Great Chestnut Lodge is the largest log structure of its kind in the world.
The Appalachian String Band Music Festival draws more than 3,000 musicians and string-band music lovers, and camp events bring more than 10,000 people a year. The state announced the festival's return after the 2021 cancellation, and the 2026 edition is a five-day gathering of contests, concerts, workshops, square dances, camping and vendors.