Folks associated with Camp Highlander often have fond memories of their special time at camp. Whether you’re a camper, alumni or staff member, we all share the mountain and could tell thousands of stories about our magical mountain home. I have been blessed to be able to call Highlander my home away from home for more than four decades, and I am happy to reminisce about the past through rare photos found in the camp archives.
The Original “Black Beauty” Camp Truck
Back in the early 1970s when camp was based in Highlands, NC, we used to take campers and staff on day excursions to Pisgah Forest in the original “Black Beauty,” a cattle truck that was perfectly acceptable at the time to use for camper transportation. Everyone would climb into the back of the truck and take in the scenery, sing camp songs and bond while heading out to enjoy the day hiking, swimming or sightseeing. Everyone loved when it was his or her turn to ride in the truck – it became an activity in and of itself!
When Camp Highlander moved to the Mills River location, the truck in the photo was retired and the now infamous Black Beauty (that many campers and staff surely remember) was used for day trips until the late 1980s. Now, we only use camp-owned buses or vans to transport campers and staff, but it’s fun to remember the days of open-air rides around our beautiful mountain home.
One Love,
Gaynell
About Gaynell Tinsley
