Nestled in the North Georgia mountains, you’ll find several hundred people relaxing by the pool, glamping in RVs, and enjoying the great outdoors.
Given this is a rural, conservative area, you wouldn’t expect that all of these people are members of the LGBTQ+ community. In fact, that is one of Blue Moon Campground’s two rules to visit: be queer and be invited.
Located near Lafayette, the private campground, which opened in August, has already become a beloved retreat for LGBTQ+ patrons aged 21 to 90+. Along with boasting 220 acres of picturesque scenery, Blue Moon welcomes campers with a communal, non-judgmental attitude.
“The property just has a sort of magic, hence the name,” Andrew Kibble, one of the camp’s four owners, told Georgia Voice. “Once in a blue moon, you find a place that’s magical.”
“Our goal was to make a place where our community could feel safe and loved and welcomed in a place where everyone could come with no judgments whatsoever, Ray Henderson, another owner, said.
When Kibble and Henderson first embarked on the project with their other business partners, they didn’t set out to open an invite-only campground. That was a state mandate: either be public and don’t specifically cater to LGBTQ+ with clothing-optional camping or be invite-only with a yearly membership system.
“We’re a gay community in North Georgia, so we don’t want to be a public campground – this is Marjorie Taylor Greene’s district,” Kibble said.
“We want to be able to select and approve who comes here and make sure that everyone is safe,” Henderson added.
In only five months, Kibble and Henderson say they’ve been blown away by the positive response they’ve received, not only from LGBTQ+ people from the major Southern cities like Atlanta, Nashville, Birmingham, and Charleston, but also from LaFayette locals and those from other suburbs like Dalton and Rome.
A sold-out weekend – which is most weekends – will bring about 200 visitors to the grounds. After less than a year in operation, Blue Moon’s owners are ready to grow. They have a five-stage plan to develop the campground, and they say that over the next couple of years, the property will double in size.
Those who are lucky enough to get invited will fill out a membership form on Blue Moon’s website, in which they’ll affirm they’re LGBTQ+ and list who invited them. From there, the four owners will vet and approve the application. As a member, you’ll be able to book your visits and take part in events hosted throughout the year, from pool parties and bear weekends to yoga retreats and adult summer camp.
To learn more about Blue Moon Campground, visit bmcampground.com.