Event FAQs & Testimonials
Ridgecrest Event FAQs
Why should I choose Ridgecrest for my upcoming event?
- Our team will be praying for you, your event and its attendees.
- Because we are a 501(c)(3) religious nonprofit who hosts Christian conferences and events, there are no taxes charged on guest rooms or meals in our dining room.
- Ridgecrest is a private, gated facility with 24 hour safety personnel.
- Our 15% Audiovisual and Catering charge is below industry standards, and we will waive our service charge when your information is submitted at least 16 days prior to your event.
- We have over 600 guest rooms (adult and youth) that vary in cost and layout, providing options for every budget.
- Over 125,000 square feet of complimentary meeting space, including 7 auditoriums accommodating 20-2,100 people.
- Onsite audiovisual equipment is complimentary in our auditoriums (AV Technician is required in Spilman).
- Audiovisual Technician fees are only $50.00 per person, per hour.
- Complimentary parking onsite.
- Complimentary high speed WiFi.
- Dining Room seats 1,000 people and serves buffet-style breakfast, lunch and dinner for $36.00 per person, per day.
- Clouds Coffee Shop and Nibble Nook where you can enjoy ice cream, burgers, sodas, snacks and fries.
- The huge cost savings experienced by meeting at Ridgecrest enables you to use those dollars in other areas of your ministry.
Some of my group members have special dietary needs. Can Ridgecrest help?
Ridgecrest offers enhanced menus with items suited for those with special dietary needs. On the serving lines in our dining room, look for the unique symbol placed on the label beside each item to indicate gluten free, dairy free, and vegetarian. We have experienced great success with our new offerings and found they meet the needs of the majority of our guests. For any additional concerns regarding our menu, feel free to call us at (828) 669.8022.
Do you have laundry facilities on-site?
No, Ridgecrest does not have a guest laundry facility, however, there is a 24-hour coin laundry facility in Black Mountain (4 miles). For more information, please contact Black Mountain Coin Laundry at (828) 664.9267.
Click here for our policies and guidelines for visiting Ridgecrest Conference Center.
Stay safe when you stay with us
COVID-19 has impacted all of our lives. At Ridgecrest, the health and safety of our guests and team members is a top priority. Our staff are continually reviewing applicable safety guidelines, and have updated Ridgecrest’s processes and procedures to ensure excellence while minimizing risk. In doing so, we are following guidance from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the State of North Carolina and the Buncombe County Department of Health and Human Services, including the 3-W’s:
- Wear a cloth face covering if you will be with other people. (Bring this with you to Ridgecrest, out of consideration for others, masks are required for all individuals 11 years old and older inside and outside.) “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:4
- Wait 6 feet apart. Avoid close contact.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer.
Guest Guidelines:
COVID-19-related guidance and restrictions continue to vary significantly based on factors like location, local government authorities, and number of cases. In addition, some actions (e.g., wearing masks) have become divisive topics in political discussions. We care deeply about the health and safety of our guests and team members. We’ll continue to monitor developments and guidance from authorities, but here are our current expectations for guests:
- Whenever possible, maintain social distancing (at least 6′) from other individuals not in your family.
- Wear a mask covering your nose and mouth while inside unless actively eating or speaking to a group.
- Be respectful and intentional about protecting your own health and that of others.
- Individuals under 18 years old should remain in the proximity of and under the monitoring of their parents.
- Comply with team member instructions and requests related to the expectations above.
These guidelines are based on input from government authorities, guidance from a consensus of medical authorities, and our intention to provide excellent service while minimizing risk to our guests and team members. Individuals who are unwilling to comply with these expectations are subject to being required to leave our campus. As a reminder, Ridgecrest Conference Center is privately-owned and has the right to establish expectations and guidelines for individuals onsite.
Check-in Guidelines:
We have anticipated your arrival and have new procedures that will be implemented for our staff as they welcome you onto the property to help protect your health and safety.
- All guest groups will be required to check-in individuals at Pritchell where they will be required to sign an attendance waiver and have their temperature taken. Any guest who exhibits symptoms of COVID-19 or has a temperature over 100 degrees Fahrenheit will be asked to return home immediately and will not be allowed to remain at Ridgecrest.
- Groups will not be allowed to do their own check-ins during this time.
- Social distancing efforts will be encouraged and staff will provide guidance during peak check-in times.
- Where possible, physical barriers will be used for proper social distancing.
- When you check out, please leave your key card in your room. If you have questions, please text or call 828.539.1880
- Staff will sanitize their hands before and after each guest transaction.
- Sanitize all key cards after each guest
- Upon arrival, if a guest does not have a face covering, one will be made available as supplies allow.
- Sanitize the ATM at each shift.
- Sanitize each pen after use (clean pen/dirty pen dispenser for guests).
- The shared guest computer station will be removed.
Facility Guidelines:
- Physical distancing indicators will be placed on the floor at key areas to help attendees maintain appropriate distancing.
- Informational signage will be posted to communicate recommendations and guidelines. Signage topics will include, but not be limited to, preventative steps to protect oneself and others, symptoms of COVID-19, social distancing best practices, and other relevant travel and health alerts.
- Additional sanitizing stations have been added throughout the property in public areas.
- Where practical, doors will be left open to limit touch.
- Where practical, furniture will be positioned to allow for social distancing.
- House phones will be temporarily removed from public areas.
- Ridgecrest will not operate a guest shuttle.
- OPEN: Hiking trails – Mini golf – Tennis – Disc golf – Prayer garden – Fire rings (reservation required – additional fee) – Outdoor Spaces (social distancing required)
- CLOSED: Adventure High Challenge Course – Zip Line – Climbing Tower – Laser Tag – Fitness Room – Gym – Fellowship Rooms – Campus Shuttle
Housekeeping Guidelines:
- Housekeepers will not provide in-room service.
- For requested items, housekeeping attendants will deliver with a contactless procedure. Staff will leave the item(s) outside the door, knock to alert the guest, and then depart.
- In the event additional clean linens such as towels or sheets are needed, text 828.539.1880. A bag with the requested items will be delivered and left outside the door of the guest room.
- Housekeeping staff will use a clean cloth in each room to sanitize.
- Extra linens and pillows normally placed in guest room closets will be removed and only provided upon request.
- Luggage Carts will have wipes available for guests to wipe down after each use.
- Increased sanitizing of high touch surfaces in the following areas will be implemented:
- Door handles – Safety latches – Surface tops such as desks, countertops, tables and chairs – Telephones – Alarm clocks – Thermostats/PTAC Controls – Lamps and light switches – Bathroom vanities, fixtures and faucet handles – Hairdryers – Drapery pull handles and window latches – Mirrors – Closet handles and closet accessories, such as hangers, iron and ironing board, etc. – High touch areas in public lobbies
Audiovisual Guidelines:
- Technicians will only sit with groups in Spilman Auditorium where appropriate social distancing can be maintained.
- If a group requires technical support during their event, our team will do their best to handle requests while wearing masks and properly social distancing.
- Meeting room and auditorium seating will be arranged in such a way to provide proper social distancing.
- Meeting room tables and chairs and auditorium seating will be sanitized daily.
- Limited set-up options available including theater and classroom styles only.
- Audiovisual equipment will be cleaned and sanitized daily.
- Microphone usage outside of Spilman will be limited to handheld microphones and wipes will be provided for groups to sanitize between use.
Dining Room Guidelines:
We are committed to providing a meal experience for our guests. How we do that will look different than it has in the past. New measures have been taken where possible to allow for proper social distancing and increased sanitizing procedures.
- Cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting procedures and protective measures will be modeled after CDC guidelines.
- Where appropriate, sneeze guards or physical barriers will be used. All service equipment, common surfaces, and high-touch areas will be frequently sanitized.
- Food preparation stations will be sanitized before and after each use.
- Dining room tables and chairs will be sanitized after each guest use.
- Dining room capacities will be reduced to comply with local ordinances and guidelines.
- Dining room tables will be placed a minimum of six feet apart. Seating capacity per table will also be reduced.
- Dining room will be using single serve disposable serving ware.
- When practical, all condiments will be single-use and individually wrapped (e.g., salt and pepper packets, etc.).
- All self-serve food and beverage items will be replaced temporarily with the following: – Individually boxed meals and other individually pre-portioned pre-packaged items.
Catering Guidelines:
We will not be able to provide catered meals. However, we will be able to provide catered breaks as follows:
- All items will be pre-packaged grab and go
- Beverages available will be canned or bottled
- There will be increased frequency of cleaning and sanitizing food contact areas and sanitizing non-food contact areas with products approved by the CDC as effective disinfectants against COVID-19, including high-touch surfaces such as: Door handles – serving room – countertops – tables and chairs
Outlet Guidelines:
We will not be able to provide Roots or Nibble Nook during this time. However, some items from Roots will be made available in Clouds Coffee Shop.
- Clouds Coffee Shop will be open on a limited schedule. Text outlets to 828-539-1880 for hours of operation.
- Try our NEW online ordering here and pick up at the door.
Many of our local Black Mountain and Asheville restaurants are open at 50% capacity dine-in or for carry-out orders.
Do you have WI-FI?
Yes, complimentary high speed wi-fi is available throughout campus.
Do you have a shuttle?
No, Ridgecrest does not provide an airport shuttle. For more information about airport shuttles, visit our “Getting Here” page.
What Our Event Planners Are Saying…
All of my attendees commented on how wonderful the campus and employees were. They said the location and experience at Ridgecrest was icing on the cake for the weekend! I agree and I most definitely will be using Ridgecrest again soon!
Event Planner Survey
Everyone was always so helpful and very friendly.
Event Planner Survey
The whole staff of Ridgecrest were awesome. I call them God's angels.
Event Planner Survey
Every person we worked with was professional and helpful. We had a wonderful retreat and thought Ridgecrest was (once again) a great venue. THANK YOU!
Event Planner Survey
This is our 10th anniversary of having our bi-annual reunion at Ridgecrest. Facilities are great and we enjoy the Christian environment that Ridgecrest provides.
Event Planner Survey
The team working at RC is a great group of people, who you can tell love people.
Ridgecrest Survey
Every person that I encountered through the entire process, completely exemplified your mission statement of "Cultivating experiences, nurturing relationships, impacting lives for God's glory".
Event Planner Survey
To be honest, I am hoping we cannot find a closer option for our next retreat because I want to return to Ridgecrest. You guys did an amazing job!
Event Planner Survey
One of the best staffs I have had the pleasure to work with! I have participated in many conferences around the U.S. and the team approach is the best experience I have had with conference center.
Event Planner Survey
Chick-fil-a has a rival and it is at Ridgecrest Conference Center! Everyone from the volunteers to the paid staff were amazing!
Event Planner Survey
Thank you for praying for us and calling us and letting us know you were praying for us by name. That fact made the biggest difference.
Event Planner Survey
You are hitting the mark perfectly - balancing top quality business and God Honoring Ministry in a way that is refreshing - for that we are SO VERY THANKFUL.
Event Planner Survey
Ridgecrest is wonderful. We love coming here for our retreat. This was our 5th retreat and I look forward to the next one!
Event Planner Survey
Thanks for being a great partner.
Event Planner Survey
