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I was so excited and adventure-ready when I was invited to come stay at River Mountain during their soft opening. My girlfriends and I had been thinking about doing a glamping trip since the past few months had been incredibly stressful. To say we needed a getaeway was an understatement. If you’ve been craving the same – get excited and strap yourselves in! Here is my first look review of River Mountain’s luxury camping experience!
River Mountain Retreat
River Mountain is a new luxury glamping concept for modern explorers located in Everett, PA (2.5 hours from DC). The River Mountain concept began when the founders wanted to create an outdoor retreat to positively impact mental health, creativity, and productivity.
At its core, River Mountain is an outdoor retreat that can accommodate both vacation and work. I typically explain the concept as:”When you want to get away but you’ve got shit to do”. As much as I hate to admit, there is almost always a work fire-drill when I step away from my computer for more than 5 minutes.
River Mountain’s luxury glamping pods are one of their signature offerings and offer a modern and comfortable place to rest in literally the middle of nowhere. During my stay they were still installing the fiber cable, but by the time they officially open, there will also be wi-fi throughout the property (yaaas!). There will also be a dedicated work lounge when work inevitably blows up and you need to send a couple emails before hitting the trails for that afternoon hike. River Mountain is an outdoor retreat in the middle of nowhere, but with all the comforts of staying connected – but only if you choose to be.
This is my honest review after spending 2 days and 1 night at River Mountain at Sweet Root Creek.
Note: River Mountain took COVID-19 precautions very seriously during our stay as well as the foreseeable future. Everyone wore masks and social distanced (when possible) during all activities. All activities were outdoors, weather permitting. In addition, there were copious amounts of hand sanitizer, and bathrooms for hand-washing.
When they open officially on Septmeber 4, 2020, they will be operating at 50% capacity to maintain COVID-19 precautions and protocols.
The Luxury Camping Pods
River Mountain’s Luxury Camping Pods are truly unique and designed to support your natural circadian rhythm. I was most excited to see these pods in action and have my circadian rhythm supported better than downing 5 melatonin gummies. There are three large cabins on the property, each with 10 bunks (5 top/5 bottom) that can each accommodate up to a queen-size bed. There are large glass windows facing east with a work bar equipped with plenty of outlets (think coffee shop style), while the bunks are stacked on the West.
The top bunks have skylights and large side windows while the bottom bunks have a large side window. Both bunks have collapsable hooks for hanging items, and a good sized locker with an electronic keypad lock. The top bunks also have a mini balcony for storing items like shoes, small bags, and yoga mats.
Each cabin is equipped with two bathrooms (including a handicap one) with showers. There is also a water/water bottle fountain, and a shared deck/lounge area with chairs. The cabins also have AC/Heat, and will be equipped with Nespresso coffee makers (not yet installed during our stay).
There are also private rooms available if you need more privacy.
Cabin #1
We stayed in Cabin #1 for 1 night. There were only three of us, so we had the huge space of the cabin to ourselves. I loved the big views of the meadows throughout the oversized windows and that you could open the windows. The cabin was brand new and still smelled like paint, so we kept the windows open the entire time. And while there were tons of bugs outside since we were in the middle of field, the screens and doors kept them outside so we were able to have a bug-free rest while still enjoying the fresh air.
I slept pretty soundly in my bunk, and I liked the sturdy blackout curtains on the side. At some point it did get a little stuffy on the top bunk and I had to throw my covers off, so it would have been nice for the pods to have been equipped with a little fan for ventilation. I enjoyed being woken up by the natural light of the sunrise through the skylight and when I pulled my curtains open, I was eye level to the fog rolling through the meadow which was actually a totally awesome sight. I walked outside just after waking up to find coyote tracks on the deck.
We didn’t do much on the shared deck aside from eating dinner and having a couple cans of canned rose while looking at the forest. There were only two Adirondack chairs on the deck, but we already needed more furniture. River Mountain is still in the process of staging everything, so I hope there are plans to add more furniture to create additional lounge spaces for hanging out. I ended up putting down my camping blanket (on my glamping list and honestly the best camping blanket – highly recommend!)
In addition to the deck, there are tons of hammocks hanging on nearby trees. There is also an entire box of hammocks up at the main lodge if you want to grab one and set it up in another place.
Food, Amenities, and More
Food
River Mountain has a large commercial kitchen on the property, but it was still under construction and in the process of being certified during our stay. The plan is to have a Farm to Fork style cafe to provide food and bevies (both leaded and unleaded, if ya catch my drift 😉 ). We still had some great meals even though the kitchen hadn’t opened yet. There was a local cafe nearby where our hosts picked up sandwiches for lunch, charcuterie for happy hour, pasta for dinner, and chia parfaits with fresh berries for breakfast.
Amenities
River Mountain has modern amenities to provide the luxury of vacation, the necessities of an office, and everything in between. Amenities/Services include:
- Locally Roasted Coffee Service
- Happy Hour Sunset Toast
- Evening Bonfire w/Smores
- Housekeeping
- Laundry
- In-Cabin Nespresso Machines
- Free Parking
- Bedding + Linens
- Wi-Fi – High Speed Internet
- Private Call Areas
- Printer/Copy Machine/Scanner
- Local hiking trails on the property
- Wine Tasting Room (coming soon!)
- Outdoor Yoga Classes
- Fishing
- Birding
Facilities
In addition to the three large cabins on the South end of the property, there are three main facility buildings on the North side:
The Old Cabin
The Old Cabin was built in 1807. Restoration included installing AC, electricity, and modern light fixtures. And honestly, this cabin was SO cute – no creepy ghost vibes here. In addition to the cafe, this space has a few tables and baskets with fresh fruit and granola bars for snacking. The Cabin is also where you go for coffee in the morning. In the back, there is a picnic table and fire pit for eating and hanging out.
Barn aka “Big Red”
Everyone, meet my new boyfriend “Big Red”😆. Another recent building renovation. A new roof and modern doors were installed while the outside facade was left untouched. The light coming through the beams is absolutely gorgeous. If you’re looking for a unique wedding venue in the area – hit up Big Red, he’s available for events.
Currently, Big Red is used as an all-purpose space for everything from indoor yoga, reading lounges, to post-dinner cornhole.
The Main Lodge
The Main Lodge is where you check in, ask questions, etc. and also serves as the main lounge/working space. While the main lodge is the main working area, the high speed Wi-Fi will enable guests to do work anywhere on the property – in a hammock, meadow, or down by the creek. There are also private rooms located in the Main Lodge.
Location
River Mountain is located in Everett, PA (just north of Cumberland, MD and a 2.5 hour drive from downtown DC). The surrounding towns may be small, but there are still tons of great things to do. Local, off-property, activities include:
- Old Bedford Brewery
- Bella Terra Vineyards ← We had a wine tasting with their wine and is was SO GOOD.
- Downtown Bedford
- Organic Farm Tour
- Kayak/Canoe/Boat Rentals
- Golf Courses
- Bike the C&O Canal
- Sweet Root Run Hike
- Mid-State Trail Hike
- Blue Knob Ski Resort
Overall River Mountain Experience Review + Thoughts
We enjoyed our short stay at River Mountain. While our stay was short, we went on a 3 mile hike, had a wine tasting, a bonfire complete with Smore’s, and enjoyed an outdoor yoga class. All of the activities and meals were great, and our host’s hospitality was even greater.
I really like the concept of a luxury glamping, outdoorsy experience with the comforts of technology in case you unexpectedly have to do some work. I also liked the bathrooms – they were finished with epoxy instead of tile which made them feel really clean. I’ve also come to the realization that I might just be a total germaphobe post-COVID.
However, I only see myself sleeping in the large cabin again if I’m traveling with a large group. For example, a handful of friends, or with an organization like Camp No Man’s Land. I don’t see myself staying there as a solo-traveler, as I personally prefer something a bit more luxe when traveling solo. The large cabins are styled like modern hostels, and while I loved hostels in my late teens through my 20’s, I crave something more private now that I’m older.
Overall, River Mountain is a unique modern outdoor experience. I’m excited to see how it evolves and grows closer to their opening date. Their facilities provide a comfortable camping experience, with all of the added charm of the Pennsylvania mountains and exciting local activities to keep you busy for days.
River Mountain at Sweet Root Creek officially opens on September 3, 2020! Rates start at $62/person and include lodging, remote workspaces, sunset happy hour, coffee/tea, and an evening bonfire with Smore’s. River Mountain is also dog friendly (goodest boys stay free!)
For more information about River Mountain at Sweet Root Creek, you can check out:
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