Our Story
Starlite Lodge is more than a campground. It’s an LGBTQIA+ community where everyone can be themselves.
It all started with some land, a group of friends, and a dream.
Twenty-five years ago, we were searching for a mountain oasis to call home. We discovered a neglected Caldwell County campground and knew there was something special about the indigenous land.
We spent weekends rehabbing the 74 acres and started welcoming friends with RVs and tents. These same-sex couples shared stories of being bullied at other campgrounds and voila — the idea to create a gay campground was born! Together, we grew a community of like-minded outdoor enthusiasts who enjoyed Starlite’s natural beauty.
By 2013, we added tiny homes, transforming Starlite from an RV campground into a village with a neighborhood feel. We had no idea how popular these cozy homes would become, but everyone loved them! Now, we’re honored that Starlite’s greatest legacy is bringing LGBTQIA+ people (and allies) together so they can build friendships that last a lifetime.
~ Perry & Clay
Continuing the Legacy
Everyone jokes that you visit Starlite once and get hooked, but it’s true! We booked a weekend getaway in 2021 and it immediately felt like home. Three weeks later, we bought an Airstream and signed a lease.
Meeting Clay and Perry blossomed into one of the easiest friendships of our lives. They eventually told us they hoped to retire and didn’t want a big company turning Starlite into a “normal” campground. It had become our favorite place, and we loved the idea of living and working here. So, we spent seventeen months learning the ropes (and heavy machinery) as campground managers before officially becoming owners in 2023.
We’re excited to continue the legacy and look forward to welcoming more people to the Starlite family in the years to come!
~ Nathan & Joseph
(and furchild, Ariel)
