State: despite corrective action will revoke Western NC camp license after NY child death

Joel Burgess, Asheville Citizen Times
Updated ·2 min read

Despite corrective actions promised after a child's death, the state says it will move ahead with revoking the license of Trails Carolina, a high-end outdoor therapy camp based in Transylvania County.

"Based upon our review, we conclude Trails Carolina, LLC has failed to comply with the provisions of North Carolina General Statute (N.C.G.S.) § 122C, Article 2, the licensing rules for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services and N.C.G.S. § 122C, Article 3, Client Rights for individuals with mental illness, developmental disabilities or substance abuse issues in the operation of Trails Carolina," said the May 17 letter from N.C. Mental Health Licensure and Certification Section Chief Robin Sulfridge to Trails Carolina Executive Director Jeremy Whitworth.

"Therefore, the Department of Health and Human Services hereby initiates revocation of your license."

A letter stating that despite promised corrective actions, the state intends to revoke the license of Trails Carolina following the Feb. 3 death of a 12-year-old boy.
A letter stating that despite promised corrective actions, the state intends to revoke the license of Trails Carolina following the Feb. 3 death of a 12-year-old boy.

The Citizen Times reached out to a camp spokesperson to ask if it would appeal to the Office of Administrative Hearings. The camp can do so up to 60 days, when the revocation takes effect.

The move by health regulators comes less than three weeks after Trails Carolina on April 29 lost its accreditation from the Association for Experiential Education, a nonprofit certifying organization.

These sanctions are the latest in the myriad problems faced by the camp that is under criminal investigation and has been fighting to keep its state mental health care facility license after the Feb. 3 death of a camper at its facility in Lake Toxaway more than an hour from Asheville.

The criminal investigation by deputies from the office of Transylvania County Sheriff Chuck Owenby is awaiting a state toxicology test and an FBI computer forensic examination.

The death of the camper, a 12-year-old boy from New York City, has brought additional attention to what critics call the "troubled teen industry," which sees large profits through treatment centers, wilderness camps and other programs. The boy was the second camper to die since 2014. Two former campers recently have sued in federal court, saying Trails Carolina failed to protect them from sexual assault by other campers. One case was settled, the other is ongoing.

More: Western NC therapy camp Trails Carolina loses accreditation after death of boy from NY

Joel Burgess has lived in WNC for more than 20 years, covering politics, government and other news. He's written award-winning stories on topics ranging from gerrymandering to police use of force. Got a tip? Contact Burgess at jburgess@citizentimes.com, 828-713-1095 or on Twitter @AVLreporter. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: State to revoke Western NC camp license after NY child death