A legacy of compassion and care

New Black Mountain Home for Children RV park brings campers with a purpose

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
October 14, 2020

Black Mountain Home for Children President Tom Campbell, left, and Tennoca Construction co-owner Brad Goodson, celebrate the dedication of the Legacy Resident Volunteer Park on Oct. 7. Photo by Fred McCormick

Recreational vehicles, better known to most as RVs, are typically a convenient and comfortable way to spend a relaxing vacation. But, a new park unveiled Oct. 7 at Black Mountain Home for Children is giving new meaning to the letters “RV.”

Board members and leadership staff from the local nonprofit organization, which accepts children from unsafe homes who have been placed in its care by the state, dedicated its Legacy Resident Volunteer Park in front of a socially distanced crowd of supporters.

BMH began as an orphanage in Haywood County in 1904 before moving to Black Mountain in 1922. With support from the Presbyterian Church, it evolved into a home-style environment for abused, abandoned and orphaned children in Western North Carolina. 

While the faith-based home, which operates several programs including residential care, independent living, transitional living and others, accepts placements from the state, it relies on contributions from the community to sustain its annual expenses. BMH launched Thirteen Pennies Cafe and the Mountain Home Thrift Store in late 2019 to generate revenue for its mission. 

Legacy RV Park, situated in the shadow of the mountains surrounding the scenic campus and adjacent to the cafe and store on Tennoca Drive, supports the home by providing a modern campground and lodge for volunteers. Contributions from resident volunteers include grounds maintenance, painting, carpentry and veterinarian services, among many others.  

Tom Campbell thanks volunteers as the Black Mountain Home for Children dedicates its Legacy RV Park. Fred McCormick

“We could not do what we do for these kids without you,” BMH President Tom Campbell said, addressing volunteers at the ceremony. 

Campbell then expressed appreciation for the area organizations that donated work and other support to the development of the park. Civil Design Concepts, Ed Holmes & Associates, Grove Stone & Sand, Makson Construction and T&K Utilities were all recognized on a plaque affixed to a large boulder in the center of the campground. 

Campbell followed with an emotional show of gratitude to Tennoca Construction and Brad Goodson, who owns the Candler-based company with his brother, Tim. 

“Brad got involved in building the independent living village, and then he built the amphitheatre for us,” he said. “Then he found out we wanted to start an animal program, and told me he had two miniature donkeys he could give us to get started.”

A plaque unveiled at the Black Mountain Home for Children Legacy RV Park on Oct. 7 recognizes the organizations who helped develop the site, which will allow the nonprofit to host volunteer workers. Fred McCormick

Goodson then arranged for fences to be constructed around a pair of pastures at the home. His company played a key role in the development of the property on the south side of the campus that includes the thrift store, cafe, RV park, apprenticeship auto repair shop, National Youth Project Using Minibikes (NYPUM) program and Eller House, which provides emergency foster care placement for sibling groups and others. 

“What I can share with you is that we’ve finished all this and the home continues to have no debt,” Campbell said. “As we’ve done what you see here, we’re increasing awareness. Not just in N.C. or the southeast, but throughout the nation, people are learning about this ministry in Black Mountain and what we’re doing here.

BMH presented Goodson and his family photo collage of the projects Tennoca has helped complete over the past few years and a stained glass piece depicting the silo that stands on the property. 

Brad Goodson and his family cut the ribbon on the Legacy RV Park as Black Mountain Home for Children President Tom Campbell, right, looks on. Fred McCormick

Goodson, who joined the BMH Board of Directors after being introduced to the program, was impressed by the organization’s work with the children it serves. 

“They create such a stable environment and support system for these kids,” he said. “We’ve been fortunate at Tennoca, and we have the means — the trackhoes, bulldozers and heavy equipment — and that’s what they needed. The whole goal is to improve the lives of the kids up on that hill.”