Help Gooder Grove App. Trail Hostel

Gooder Grove A.T. & Adventure Hostel

"Hiking the A.T. for our honeymoon. This hostel was a welcomed place to call home for the night, rest, clean up, and feel like part of a big family. Thanks for everything!" — Tortoise & the Hair — 4/25/15

I'm going to keep this brief, because I know that you, our audience, are men and women of action.

Just imagine an affordable hostel/ base camp for exploring the Appalachian and Bartram Trails, as well as the Great Smoky Mountains, a sanctuary of solace and peace from the harsh elements for hikers, outdoors enthusiasts, and nature lovers, all rolled into one facility.

Tucked away in a secluded, private woods just a block from Main Street in Franklin, North Carolina, 110 miles from Springer Mountain, the starting (or end) point of the Appalachian Trail, Gooder Grove A.T. & Adventure Hostel promises to be your home away from home in the Smokies.
 
The good news? You don't have to imagine it! We already have the property. We have the house. We have the passion and the right loving intent. We're listed in all the trail guides. We even have the trail dog/ mascots. Now all we need is you!



That is, we need your help to complete the bunk room on time and make it a reality for the 2016 Appalachian Trail hiking season. The goal is to create one of the most fun, convenient, full-service hostels on the Appalachian Trail so hikers like you can rest up, re-supply, heal up, and pack on some pounds again before setting off into the Great Smokies, or for sobos (south bounders), recuperate following your trek through the national park.

But it's the eleventh hour, we're tapped out, and we need your help to purchase the last of the materials for the renovation. The goal is to raise $12,000 for the remaining materials, specifically drywall, paint, bunk bed mats, some additional lumber, doors and fixtures, grading for the camping/ hammock area outside, and labor.

If we're successful in reaching our goal, we're also setting aside a seed fund of $1,000 for Matt "Odie" Norman's Hiker Yearbook, just because we want to support his brainchild and help connect hikers post-trail. In time, we hope that Gooder Grove will become a gathering place for trail families to reunite and enjoy all the trails and activities in our neck of the woods, the Smokies. Anything beyond our goal will go to help keep the hostel affordable and help hikers that are running short on funds.

So far in 2015, utilizing just three rooms and den in the 1,500 square feet upstairs, Gooder Grove provided shelter (and optional epsom salt foot soaks) to more than 189 hikers, kayakers and visitors to the Smokies.

That was in our spare time. And on a shoestring budget.

If you want to see more photos from the 2015 season, check out Gooder Grove AT & Adventure Hostel Facebook page.

Some hikers came to us with major wounds where their heels used to be, serious sinus infections, foreigners that spoke little or no English and needed help translating their needs, blisters that had to be drained, knees swollen and bodies pushed to the point of exhaustion. Some came to us with little or no money, but we gave them shelter in exchange for a little work. Each of them returned to the Trail healed, happy, rejuvenated and energized for the next challenge: 1900+ more miles.


But don’t take our word for it. Check out what some of our 2015 thru-hiker and section hiker guests wrote in our journal. You may recognize some of the trail names.

• “Arrived from Rock Gap a soaking wet hiker ready to give up hope. Leaving three days later completely refreshed, recharged, dry & ready to tackle the next 100 miles. Cannot say enough good things about this place. Will miss Zen and Firefly, Bodhi & Josie [the pups]."
XXXOOO Steph aka Superfeet — Australia — 4/22

• “Thanks for going out of your way to save my teeth from agony! Keep dreaming and creating a wonderful home for hikers. : )"
— Ruakh (Pronounced 'Rua') — 4/10

• “Best stay I’ve had at an A.T. hiker hostel. Thank you for changing my walk. Aufwiederschen!" — Firefly — 3/28

• "Colin, thanks so much! Had an incredible stay here. You've got great vision for this place and I'm excited for what it will become. I hope to be back and you should find me on Facebook & keep in touch. Thanks again! — Fireball — Sobo '15 — 12/3

• "Dude! Colin, thanks for taking us in and treating us like long-lost buds! Mad props on rescuing us from Wayah Bald that stormy night… Hero! We had a blast and will return one day to see all the progress. Can't wait to see the finished homestead. Keep on trucking. You've created something great."
— Mr. Peanut Butter & the Iron Maiden (Flip-flop 2015)

• "Thanks for the bed and support. You have a great spirit and giving personality. Many years of success." — Wharton — 3/26

There are so many sites to see and adventures to enjoy in the area, including awe-inspiring waterfalls, hiking trails, horseback riding, mountain biking, climbing, kayaking, zip-lines, whitewater rafting, and more. It's the gateway to the Smokies, a great place to get back together with your (trail) family and friends.
 
• "Planned for one zero day. Ended up having two. Two great days with lots of laughter and meeting new friends. Remember, karma will come!"
— Mule — 5/8

• "Very comfortable stay. I would recommend it to anyone hiking. Feels like home. Good luck to you, Colin." — Grant aka Wood — 4/1

• "All the best! Hope to be back to Gooder Grove. See you up the trail!"
— Yaeger — 5/1

• "That was clutch picking me up at Burningtown Gap. [It was snowing.] Awesome place you've got here. Can't wait to see what it turns into. It will be LEGENDARY! A must stay. Keep working hard. Thanks for the conversation." — Matthew aka Sin Eater

• "Thanks, Colin, for taking care of us. We can't wait to see your hostel in its full glory!" — Caleb & Terra, from sunny Singapore! — 4/24

• "Thanks for the great convo and accommodations. Best of luck with the hostel!" — Spinoza (sobo '14-'15) — 4/28
[A philosophy professor. Thus the name.]

• "Nice place. I can't even remember the last time I slept that hard. Go for a foot soak!' — Thor — 4/23

• "Great place! Feels like home and it's casual. We enjoyed our time here a lot! Thanks for everything." — Snooze & Kayla — 5/13

• "Great place. Great company. Feels like hanging at a friend's house!"
— Goldilox — 3/25

• "Colin! Thank you for introducing me to the joys that the town of Franklin can bestow. Your wisdom and kindness have been such a blessing. I wish that you continue to find the blessings in this journey. Thank you again for all of your hospitality!" — Tink — 3/26

• "We had an awesome time! Thanks for the hospitality and all the help. We will spread the word about your place. Good luck!"
— Savage and Homegrown — 4/13

• "Fine times and good people. Thank you, thank you! I can tell this place is just going to keep getting better. Keep driving like the wind! Cheers!"
— Stinging Nettle — 5/10

…And one of my favorites:
• "Welcome to our crazy, amazing family! Love what you do and work takes on an entirely new meaning! Happy Trails!" — Miss Janet — 4/4

Miss Janet stopped in last spring to visit and drop off a young lady thru-hiker named Krystal, from Estonia, who was ill. After three days at Gooder Grove, Krystal returned to the trail healthy, rested and rejuvenated.

Keep in mind, the hostel isn’t even completed yet. But we've accomplished so much in a short time. The 1,500+ sq. ft. basement is completely framed up. The necessary plumbing is complete, along with all of the electrical work. We've added windows to allow sunlight into the bunkhouse, and will soon be installing French doors to brighten it up even more.

So here's my dream: Gooder Grove A.T. & Adventure Hostel will shine as a beacon of good will and natural, creative energy at the gateway to the Smoky Mountains. We're keeping it affordable, so you get the most fun, and the best service, for your money.  This will help sum up the concept:

The downstairs bunk rooms will be able to accommodate at least 18 guests, along with their backpacks and gear in an adjacent room. There will be a space set aside for yoga and Tai Chi practice for those who may be interested. The large bathroom features a standing shower as well as a whirlpool bathtub for full-body soaks. And proceeds from this year will go toward constructing an adjunct building with two additional bathrooms and showers to accommodate more guests.

The upstairs features a large bunk room for 5-7 guests, a private room for 2-3 guests, and the office. Also upstairs is the kitchen, which guests are welcome to use, the dining room, a small room for the most common supplies, and a large living room and den with an entertainment center and computers available.

The top floor of the hostel will feature a bunk room for 5-7 guests, a private room for couples, the kitchen open to guests, the dining and living rooms with television/ entertainment and computers, and the office. The house obviously needs a coat of paint and other maintenance.

Outside, there will be space near the house for a few tents. Nearby in the woods, there is already a large fenced lot for dogs, with a smaller kennel attached. We're currently building an extra-large fire pit for gathering around with a few beers from our local brewery, the Lazy Hiker. And a short distance from the fire pit there are several campsites for 5-6 tents and several hammocks between the trees. Nearby there will be two outdoor gas grills, picnic tables, an archery range, and space for cornhole, hackey-sack and other games.


The basement is being converted into the main bunk room and hostel area. Soon we'll be replacing the garage door with French doors, once all materials are in place.

In other words, it has the potential to be a hiker Mecca. There are no other hostels, especially like what we envision, within a 50-mile radius. The closest quality hostel is Top of Georgia, near Hiawassee, Georgia, owned and operated by Bob "Sir Packs-a-Lot" Gabrielson. But Top of Georgia is about a three day hike from Winding Stairs Gap, where you can catch a shuttle into Franklin and to the front driveway of Gooder Grove.

Bob has been very supportive of our venture. As a Triple-Crowner and experienced hiker, he understands the need for more shelter on the A.T. We've been fortunate in that such trail-famous legends, institutions in their own right, like Bob, Janet "Miss Janet" Hensley, and David "Awol" Miller, have been really supportive and encouraging.



 
The wooded lot will be graded and terraced to provide space for a large fire pit, surrounded by at least 5-6 tent camping sites and several spots for hammocks between the trees.

If you have anything to spare, or rather share, and want to be a part of something great— that is helping to bring people back to nature only the way the forest & trails can do— please contribute any amount you may find, in your heart, is suitable. Anyone that contributes over $50 will receive a free night's stay as a reward (by reservation).

Just like a long-distance hike, if we fall short, we'll still trudge forward, and try to rock your world with great service and a comfortable place to stay. But with your help, we can make it an amazing experience and a source of lasting, joyful memories.

Over the past few decades, interest in long distance hiking has increased dramatically. Nowhere has this increase been experienced more than on the Appalachian Trail. And with your help, Gooder Grove A.T. & Adventure Hostel can soon be a destination for everyone who, like us, hears — and answers — the call of the wild.

So we'll leave you with this note from a sobo (south bounder with the trail name Nat Geo, who many of you may have met along the way: "Thank you for everything, Colin! Hope to be back this way again and see what you've done with the basement and the rest of the property. It has a great deal of potential and your ideas make this place sound like it will be one of the best hostels on the trail. Stay in touch!"

Indeed. Gooder Grove A.T. & Adventure Hostel has the potential to be one of the best hostels on the trail. With your help and support, we can make it a reality. Thank you in advance, and much love.

—Colin "Zen" Gooder