Wedding DJ at Camp Highlander in Horse Shoe, NC

The Space

Camp Highlander sits on 240 acres atop Forge Mountain in Mills River, North Carolina, about fifteen minutes from Asheville. Founded in 1957 by Ben and Polly Wax, the camp operates as a residential summer program for ages 6 to 16 but also hosts private events and retreats. The central 40 acres house the main cabin areas, dining hall, and core activity spaces. A separate boys cabin area and girls cabin area are situated on opposite sides of the property for operational separation.

The dining hall serves as the gathering center. A gymnasium, pottery barn, and arts and crafts barn provide indoor activity spaces. The waterfront includes Mills River access, lake and pond activities, and an in-ground competition pool added in 1991, one of the first at any camp in the area. A stables area serves the camp’s ten horses that run over 800 trail rides each summer. The property is built for activity, not as a blank event space: every building on the grounds exists because the camp uses it for programs.

Capacity & Layout

The camp serves 260 to 300 campers per summer session, which means the property is designed to handle that volume comfortably. Cabin units hold up to ten campers and at least two counselors, establishing the scale of the property’s subdivision. The dining hall is the main gathering space. The gymnasium and barn spaces offer breakout options.

For overnight events, cabins are assigned to your group, and the property’s separation of boys and girls areas can be used tactically for logistics. The waterfront, stables, and recreational facilities mean guests can engage with activities beyond the main event, which extends the event across the full day or weekend rather than concentrating it into a few hours.

Amenities

Cabins include sleeping areas with shower, toilet, and electricity, heated in winter. The dining hall serves meals or can host a catered reception. Restroom facilities are distributed across the property. Parking is available on the grounds. The property includes all the recreational equipment of an operating camp: archery range, climbing wall, ropes course facilities, waterfront equipment, stables and horses available for riding.

WiFi connectivity is available. The property is accessible for those with mobility needs. This is a full-operation facility, so meals, activities, and evening programming are all built into the overnight experience if you choose to use them.

Location & Getting There

Horse Shoe (the town name) is west of Hendersonville in Henderson County, North Carolina, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Asheville Regional Airport is about fifteen minutes away by car. The property has direct access to Pisgah National Forest, Nantahala, and DuPont National Forests through a Special Use Permit held by the camp, meaning guests can hike into protected forest during their stay.

The mountainside location means elevation changes, forested grounds, and genuine wilderness proximity. The facility is accredited by the American Camp Association, which sets standards for safety and facilities. The dining hall and gymnasium both have solid construction that contains sound; the outdoor waterfront and field areas are surrounded by forest that absorbs and dampens sound naturally, preventing reflection and echo issues that can complicate outdoor DJ setups on wide-open grounds.