Natasha Smishko

Review of YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly

Attended a conference at this location in early Ju...

Attended a conference at this location in early June. It pains me to give such a negative review, but this was our experience. While the staff is lovely, the establishment itself is falling apart. We rented a cabin, which had a ton of bugs crawling around, the windows are getting ready to fall out and are difficult to open and close. There is no AC, so we did request extra fans. Kitchen had nothing to cook in and we had to request silverware. And the cabin did not seem sturdy on its footing because it moved every time a car went by. Not to mention it is in need of a power wash.

The food was bad, just like everybody says. I don't know why it is so difficult to achieve in a place like Asheville with so many amazing culinary options.

The entire establishment is on a side of a mountain, which requires people to hike up and down to the main building and beyond. It is very difficult to move about on a hot day, with a toddler on a hip, and forget pushing a stroller around.

It seems to me that the entire place should be torn down and allow nature to reclaim this beautiful site. Or it must be built more in harmony with nature. Too much pavement and disturbance. The entire site is surrounded by all types of invasive plants which keep this site contained, the way it seems.

Sigh.