Wisteria offers many campground facilities and services. Here are a few that may be available at events.
Gatehouse and Registration
About Our Gatehouse
Our gatehouse is located on the main gravel entrance road, on the left hand side of the road, before the shower house. During most events, the gatehouse is our box office, where you will check in or buy tickets. If you are coming in for the first time to register, pull off to the side onto gravel as directed by gatehouse staff, and come into the gatehouse to register. If you are returning, show your wristband or badge to gatehouse staff, and they will let you through. If the barrier arm gate is down, the gatehouse staff will open it for you. Wait until it is fully open to drive through.
When leaving the campground, the barrier arm will open automatically once your vehicle is close. If it does not, stop and ask the gatehouse staff for help, or use the radio on the gatehouse porch to call for Security.
DO NOT try to drive through the barrier arm, you will be responsible for any damages.
Box Office Ticket Sales
During most events, you can buy tickets at the gate house. We accept cash, card, and most tap to pay services. We highly encourage you to purchase your tickets online, in advance, because on-site box office ticket prices at the gate house are higher, and registration takes longer. See the event page / website for online ticket sales links.
Gatehouse Hours
Our gatehouse is open from 10am to 10pm for most events. Some events may have different hours, make sure to check the event’s website or literature. If you arrive outside normal gate hours in a car or small vehicle and the barrier arm is down, stop your vehicle, and walk up to the gatehouse porch. There will be a radio for you to call Security, and an instruction sign. Someone will be up to let you in, or find a space for you to stay for the night until you can set up camp.
If you need to arrive after hours in an RV, bus, or other large vehicle, please contact us as soon as you can, by emailing events@wisteria.org of calling us at 740-742-4302. Parking large vehicles in the dark is dangerous to people and property, so we may require you to park temporarily at the showerhouse parking lot until the morning.
If you would prefer to wait until morning to come in, the Albany rest stop is about 15 minutes from our campground, located on 50/32, just past Albany headed for Athens.
Registration at Community Weekends
The gatehouse is usually closed during community weekends and other small gatherings. If the barrier arm is down, stop at the gate house and call for staff on the radio. If the barrier arm is up, drive through, go to the bottom of the hill, and turn left. Stop when you see the pole barn building with the green roof (the Pavilion). A Wisteria staff member will check you in at the Pavilion or the Office.
After Hours Staff Access
Certain staff members, third party vendors, and service providers may be given after-hours access to pass through the entrance gate. If you have a push-button remote, open the gate by pressing the button, just like a garage door opener. If you have an access code, enter it on the PIN pad that is mounted to the gatehouse. The exit sensor will open the gate automatically when you leave.
Market and Information
Current hours are 2:00pm – 6:00pm
The Market is painted green and purple and located adjacent to Caffeina’s Coffee House. The Market offers camping, personal supplies, and Wisteria merchandise, as well as general information.
WiFi / Internet
WiFi is available in the majority of the campground, from Pirates Cove to Stone Circle. Note, WiFi may not be available inside an RV or camper, depending on its location and how it is constructed.
You can purchase a WiFi voucher at the Gate, Cafe, or Market, or from your device when joining the network. Vouchers cover a single device. Connect to the Wisteria Guest network, and follow the sign-in instructions on your device or your voucher.
While we don’t guarantee our WiFi service, as utility outages are common in our area, we’ll try to help you with any problems. Check in at the Market at noon if you can’t get online.
A limited number of wired gigabit Ethernet jacks and high-bandwidth WiFi vouchers are available for event operators and promoters, media, and other high-bandwidth users. Email us at facilities@wisteria.org for more information.
Electric Hookups
A limited number of electric hookups are available in some campground areas. Note that we are a mostly primitive campground, not an RV park.
A few 50 amp 240V and 30 amp 120V hookups are available across from Main Stage, and between Kids Village and the Pavilion. We strongly recommend you bring a GFCI device to protect you, we are not responsible for the safety or condition of your RV / vehicle’s electric system. 50 and 30 amp receptacles are also available at the Pavilion for food vendor use only.
20 amp and 15 amp (120V) receptacles are located in various areas in the campground, including between Kids Village and First Aid, in the area across from Main Stage, along the treeline between the entrances to Paw Paw and Green Man, and in shelter structures such as Green Man and Paw Paw.
All 15 and 20 amp receptacles are GFCI protected. A GFCI will shut off the power in the event that there is a current leak or short to ground, to keep you from getting shocked. If your power goes out, it’s probably not the breaker! Go to the GFCI receptacle, and hit the reset button.
If your GFCI fails to reset, if your power is still out, or if you think it might be the breaker, contact staff, do not attempt to reset a breaker or open any subpanel.
Standard electric rates are $10/day for 120V 15A or 20A, $15/day for 120V 30A, and $20/day for 120V 50A. These may vary by event. Any cord you plug in MUST be tagged with an electric tag, which you obtain at the gatehouse if you purchased online in advance, or at the Cafe or Market if you want to pay on site. Any untagged cord is subject to being unplugged, and we will cut your plug off if you plug it back in again!
Electric is free for medical need, ask in the Market, or email us at events@wisteria.org.
All electric sites are first come first served. If you bought online for one of our events, we’ll make sure at least one site is available, but if you want a specific one, come early and claim it!
First Aid
The First Aid station is located in the same trailer as the Market, next to Caffeina’s Coffee House. It is usually staffed during events, and self-service during community weekends, but it should always be unlocked. In the event of a medical emergency, if you are not near First Aid, summon help immediately from any Wisteria Staff person with a radio. In case of injury, report to First Aid where you can receive basic first aid treatment or be routed to a local hospital. Do not attempt to move an incapacitated person unless s/he is in immediate physical danger. There is always a radio at First Aid. If no one is immediately available, use the FRS radio on Wisteria Channel 3 to contact patrolling Wisteria Security/First Aid staff.
An AED is available inside First Aid, located on the right hand wall after you enter.
Food and Coffee
Caffeina’s Coffee House – usually 8am-10pm (not open for all events)
Our in-house coffee shop, located in the Pavilion, features local muffins, cookies, cakes and many more treats depending on the season. We have your backwoods drink needs covered! We typically offer Pepsi products, La Croix sodas, Gatorade, iced tea, Red Bull and of course, COFFEE! We use locally roasted, organic, fair trade certified Silver Bridge Coffee, and usually offer a light roast, dark roast and flavored blends. We have local Snowville Creamery 2% milk and half and half. Note, product brands and selection may vary based on availability.
Caffeina’s Kitchen – usually 11am-1pm / 5pm-7pm (not open for all events)
Our kitchen is located in the Pavilion, and features friendly, professional staff. We offer lunch and dinner, with a variety of tasty, filling, and healthy selections, plus a la carte and grab-and-go options. Breakfast may be available at some events. Vegetarian and gluten free options are usually available, and we try to use as many local and organic ingredients as possible. Menus may be posted in advance during some events, check the event website or literature for more information.
Food vendors are often available at our events as well! Check the event’s page and programming information for details.
Kids' Village Playground
The Kids’ Village playground may be available. During some events, our Kids’ Village staff offer activities and kids programming during posted hours (all Kids Village staff are subject to background checks). When the playground is unstaffed but open, children must be accompanied by an adult while in the playground area.
Note that all playground equipment is USE AT YOUR OWN RISK, and Wisteria Inc is not liable for any injuries or damages occurring from the use of playground equipment.
Natural Swimming Pond
10:00am – dusk (weather permitting)
Our natural swimming pond is open from 10:00am to dusk daily, weather permitting. Do NOT enter the pond area after it is closed. The pond will be closed in the event of lightning / thunderstorms or high winds.
The pond is USE AT YOUR OWN RISK, and Wisteria Inc is not liable for any injuries or damages occurring from the use of the pond. No lifeguard is on duty, follow posted pond rules.
Portable Toilets
There are portable toilets located throughout the campground for your convenience. Disability-accessible portable toilets are available in various locations. Please close the lid completely when finished so the stinky air goes up the pipe and not into the hot plastic cubicle! If the toilet paper runs out, please let a staff member know, and we will restock them promptly. Portable toilets are pumped at least once a day, usually in mornings, during events.
security
Our friendly security team operates during events to keep everyone safe, and help with everything from general questions to missing items. Security team members wear identification badges, and the security golf carts are clearly marked. If you need security, ask any Wisteria staff member or call for security, and someone will assist you.
Trash and REcycling
We encourage you to pack out your trash and recycling. Trash and recycling barrels are available throughout the campground.
During most events, trash and recycling service will be available. Trash barrels are white, recycling barrels are blue. Please make sure your trash is securely bagged. Recycling should be clean and empty. Please keep trash and recycling separate so we can make sure as much waste is recycled as possible. We collect trash at least once a day, usually in the evening.
Trash and recycling dumpsters are usually located in the upper campground, past the gatehouse towards the entrance on the left hand side.
Please notify our staff in the event that a barrel or dumpster is full.
Trails
Enjoy a walk on the campground loop trails. Maps are available at the Wisteria office. The Yellow Trail has identification signs for Appalachian trees, plants and woodland herbs. Please respect the creatures that live here year round, and do not harvest any living things. For your safety, please stay on the trails.
Water
There are potable (safe to drink) water spigots located throughout the campground. Look for the blue signs or handles, or check the map posted at the Pavilion. You may attach a hose only temporarily, and only through a tee and vacuum breaker. RV / Camper hookups are not permitted. Please do not do your dishes at the water spigots, or allow soap to run on the ground. Dishwater may be dumped in the buried blue graywater dump barrels with metal mesh tops, located throughout the campground.
Some of our water spigots are frost-proof hydrants. These have a large blue handle that looks a bit like a hand pump (it isn’t, please don’t try to pump it!), with a smaller faucet valve on the end. Use the faucet valve. For your safety and to prevent groundwater contamination, the large blue handle is locked open for the entire season. Do not remove or circumvent the lock or try to close the handle, and if you see an unlocked handle, please let our staff know promptly so we can secure it and flush the water.
Our drinking water is supplied by Tuppers Plains Chester Water District, regularly tested and treated for quality and safety.
Wood and Ice
Available at the Market and Caffeina’s when open
Firewood is available for purchase, and we have wood carts available to help you move it to your campsite (please return promptly). Ice is also available in 7lb bags. Check current prices and pay at Wisteria Market or at Caffeina’s Coffee House, we accept cash or card.