Camp Lickalotta - future North Carolina campground for LGBT adults

** EDIT 4/10/08 - The founders of Camp Lickalotta have been forcibly evicted from their North Carolina location and are currently looking for somewhere else to call home. Show your support and attend their upcoming Bushstock '08 event.**

Nestled on 29 acres of an untouched, preserved track of land, along the Broad River in North Carolina, lives a vision and a welcome haven: Camp Lickalotta, where camping is rainbow-style.

IPHIS: What was the inspiration for Camp Lickalotta and how did you come up with the name?

Camp Lickalotta: The name encompasses our dream, desire, love of fun and who we are. When you look up the word “camp” in the dictionary, one of the definitions will say: “to settle down securely and comfortably; become ensconced”. The word “Lickalotta” represents who we are...no shame and open arms. “Camp Lickalotta” proudly displays the rainbow in the flame of our logo. If you look up “rainbow” in the dictionary, you will find the definition: “made up of diverse races, ethnic groups”. You will also see “a visionary goal” as another definition of rainbow. And when you look up flame, you will find “brilliant light; scintillating luster”. Our name and our logo says it all.

The inspiration for Camp Lickalotta is three-fold; a dream, a desire, and the love for fun.

The Dream: It has been a dream of ours to open a friendly camp ground, spoiling ourselves in our love for the outdoors. Joanie and I want to host and provide a natural outdoor setting where we can all be ourselves in the GLBT community, surrounded by a totally non-threatening environment; not only with one another, but with the earth as well.

The Desire: As a campground, we will join as a group to create Camp Lickalotta as a safe haven for people, a host for charities and celebratory events, a protector for our wildlife, for our mother Earth and a comfy zone to hang your hat and put up your boots. It is our desire to have an eco-friendly campground, both with nature and with people. We want to bring camping into the 21st century, without the harmful pollutants, (i.e. Attitudes, prejudisms and/or environmental). A place where people can learn about protecting the environment, respecting and protecting one another through our examples, and pass those on to others who will respect the same. Additionally, we foresee our camp grounds as a host for charitable events and just sheer fun events. We also envision having counselors readily available and participating in the planning of events, encompassing all aspects of esteem, abuses, etc. We want to be the place to go, the place to turn to and a place to just have fun.

The Love for fun: We are a social couple and love meeting and making new friends. By offering camping facilities and special events, our spacious grounds will allow people to gather together for fun, laughter and life. Dancing, singing, laughing is fun. The joy of life is giving back to others that may not be as fortunate, which in turn sends us back to celebrating all of life, because we have given to someone else, which equals more life, laughter and fun!

IPHIS: What makes Camp Lickalotta special when compared to other campgrounds?

Camp Lickalotta: Camp Lickalotta is completely unique in every aspect. This camp will be Earth friendly, focusing on recycling, protecting the environment, being energy efficient, conservation, and preservation. It will be a pesticide-free environment. We intend on employing this by example. True organic gardening through aquaculture. Students from the university coming in for work projects in which they will research various ways to harness the mile frontage of river and solar energy. Tours of the greenhouse to see how this is all possible. Our products sold at the campground will be Earth friendly, such as soy candles from an organization called Dripping in Color out of Arizona. All biodegradable throw-away utensils, bags, etc. We intend on providing sections in our campground marked respectively Civilization and Nature. Civilization will have the RV overflow section, tents, cabins, dance hall, cafeteria, central bath house, general store, greenhouse, softball field, volleyball court and horseshoes, and then some! Nature will have tee-pees, trails, fishing, and river frontage.

There is no room for trauma/drama or hate here. Respecting diversity is what this campground is about. Special events for various people and organizations will be booked in advance. Our commitment to our community and others will be known throughout our fundraising events for specific charities.

IPHIS: Camp Lickalotta is seeking donations to make the campground a reality. How will these donations be used and when do you anticipate having a "grand opening?"

Camp Lickalotta: Immediate donations that are offered to Camp Lickalotta will be used in the following manner: First we will purchase the property and then begin to make upgrades, such as a central bath house, energy efficient campground, greenhouse, softball field, small cabins, tee-pees, and nature trails. We have set up a Special Account fund through State Employee's Credit Union, 704 York Road, Kings Mountain, NC 28086 where donations can be mailed directly. Checks or money-orders can be made out to Special Account, Joan A. Beasley. Kelly Stewart is with the member's services and she can be reached at 704-739-1667 if you have any questions. The price of the campground is $360,000. We are still donations away, but believe in this dream.

The Grand-opening would be within three months after the land is purchased. We would need that time to make the necessary renovations.

IPHIS: According to a 2006 survey by Community Marketing, Inc., gay travelers spend about $64 billion a year on travel. How is Camp Lickalotta marketing itself as a destination for gay travelers?

Camp Lickalotta: Camp Lickalotta is a dream ready to be born. Currently we market ourself as a destination, welcoming straight or gay travelers....(a no-hate-zone) through myspace, with intent on developing an official website outside of myspace. Camp Lickalotta offers koozies and t-shirts to those interested in our venture. Word of mouth is spreading quickly and we are ready to move forward. Future marketing endeavors would include listings and ads in gay/lesbian publications, local sponsor advertising (i.e. Clubs, etc) and fund-raising events for the camp (i.e. Gay Bonfire). The marketing arena is still to be explored as we have to find out what our best avenues will be.

Special events will be for people who just want to come out and have a good time and get away from all the hustle and bustle of their everyday lives. It's a good place to come and meet and make new friends. Although camping is one of our main focuses we also offer the opportunity for people to become involved in something bigger than themselves through fundraising events for various charities. Our events planner will make sure that there is a little something for everyone. It is the place to go for fun, laughter, excitement, and relaxation. A place where one can learn how to better their community as well as help their community.

IPHIS: The IPHIS community is for single lesbians, what does Camp Lickalotta have to offer our members?

Camp Lickalotta: We can offer IPHIS members a variety of things. First we can offer a non-threatening environment where you can meet other singles in an Earth friendly environment. A resource center that would be informative on political, and environmental issues. It would also be a resource to connect you to other organizations that could benefit our community. Shows, dances, women's festivals, special events that are too numerous to mention, camping, socializing, a sense of community where you would have the opportunity to be part of something bigger than yourself. We are always open to suggestions and appreciate any ideas that you may have.

Location: Camp Lickalotta is 55 miles west of Charlotte, NC, 45 miles south of Hickory, NC and within 10 miles of South Mountain State Park.

Best times to visit: April - November.

Single lesbian specific activities: Vary according to our calendar of events.
Membership/campground costs: Memberships/costs will be established once the campground is established.

Owner/Founders: The owners and founders are Nancy Leedy and Joanie Beasley. Nancy is from the North and Joanie is from the South. We believe that there is strength in numbers. Together we could make a difference on more than one platform. Nancy is into helping people. She has been in nursing for 20 years with her focus on Cardiac and PACU (Post-Anesthesia Care Unit). Joanie is into the environment. She has retired from UNCW (University of North Carolina Wilmington) where she had worked in the Biology Department for 10 years as their Greenhouse Manager. Prior to that she worked for the county/city with projects concerning beautification of the area. We have 3 grown children, Karen, Rhonda,
and Micah who we adore.

Camp Lickalotta contact information:
E-mail: camplickalotta@aol.com
Myspace: www.myspace.com/107141399
Contacts: Nancy Leedy and Joanie Beasley