Lodging
Blue Ridge Discovery Center offers three different types of overnight accommodations: Bedroom Suites; Dorm Rooms; and Primitive Camping. These accommodations provide a comfortable place to relax, reflect, and rejuvenate during the exciting Naturalist Rally weekends. With your room, you also have access to our one of a kind Natural History Library and lounge along with nature trails throughout campus.
All reservations are for Friday and Saturday nights.
Please see the BRDC Cancellation/Refund Policy that applies to all reservations.
Linens are not provided with the room. Please bring your own linens or sleeping bag and pillows. If you wish for us to provide linens, please also add Linens to your cart!
Bedroom Suites and Studio Apartment
The third floor of the historic schoolhouse features king and queen bedroom suites along with a studio apartment. These luxurious rooms have their own private bathrooms, naturalist reading nooks, and in the case of the studio apartment a full kitchen. Each room is decorated with heritage furniture and artwork emphasizing an important local species. An accessible bedroom suite is available on the first floor.
Bunk Rooms
On our second floor we have dorm rooms that can sleep 58 guests in bunk style housing. Each room can sleep 2, 4, or 6 guests and features a private bathroom along with an individual heating & cooling unit. Linens can be provided based on need or quests can bring their own pillow, sleeping bag or sheets & blanket. Mattresses are twin XL size. Exiting out of the second floor is the quest favorite two story slide. Each room offers a unique educational experience by featuring a locally important species.
Primitive camping
Our 10 site - 15 person capacity primitive campground offers guests an outdoor alternative for overnight accommodations. It features a fire circle and is supported by showers and bathrooms in the Field Station.
Natural History Library
Our curated Natural History Library houses over 1,300 books dedicated to the natural sciences of the region. In this library you will find rare, historic, and local publications along with our collections of maps, artifacts, rocks, insects, furs, and more. Books are available for use by BRDC members and guests. A large meeting table along with a reading lounge make this one of the most attractive guest hangouts.
Nature Trails
With nearly a mile of nature trails on the BRDC Campus and the adjacent Forest Service properties there is plenty of opportunity to explore during down time. The trails engage with an educational rain garden, a frog pond, a constructed wetland, Big Laurel Creek, Della’s Branch, and native plant landscapes. These trials feature wildlife support (bird houses, cover boards, insect burrows, debris piles, perches, etc..) along with interpretative signs. Bring your binoculars and field guides when you take a meander on our trails.