Camp Leadership

Camp Directors/Owners Yates and Marisa Pharr at Morning Watch
Owners/Directors

Yates & Marisa Pharr

When Yates met Marisa at Appalachian State University, summer camp was already “in his blood.” For many years, Yates and his brothers attended Falling Creek - Yates for 12 summers as a camper, C.I.T., and staff member.

In the summer of 1989, Yates and Marisa both worked at Falling Creek. Yates led the whitewater paddling program and Marisa taught swimming as head of the waterfront.

July 1989, when Marisa was head of the Falling Creek Waterfront

After they graduated with degrees in recreation from App State, Marisa joined the staff of the YMCA, first as aquatic coordinator, and then as a staff trainer. Marisa later served as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist at the Alexander Children’s Center.

Her commitment to the well-being of children and families is exemplified in the volunteer work she does with many community organizations, churches, and schools.

Camp Director Yates Pharr as a Falling Creek Camp paddling counselor at Nantahala Falls in 1988.

Yates, meanwhile, returned to his hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina, to serve as president of Bissell Development.

In 1991, Yates and Marisa married and today they have five daughters: Annie, Lucy, Mare, Danielle, and Jasmine. Even as Yates was forging a successful career in the business world, he continued to work with children, serving as assistant scoutmaster for the same troop in which he earned his Eagle Scout.

The Pharr family in 2024

Left to Right: Yates, Marisa, Jazzy, Danielle, Annie (Pharr) Ramsbotham, Zeb Ramsbotham, Mare, Lucy (Pharr) Moore, Daniel Moore.

Yates' 6-Week Cabin as a counselor in 1986.

The Pharrs eventually moved to Asheville and Yates became vice president of commercial development for Biltmore Farms, until returning to Falling Creek in 2005. Their family makes its home at camp year-round.

When the middle Pharr daughter, Mare, was very young, she thought the campers and college-age counselors who came to camp each summer to eat, sing, play, and worship were all family - she was right. Falling Creek is a place where strangers become friends, and friends become brothers.

Where Do Yates & Marisa Get Their Passion for Falling Creek Camp?

You can learn more about the owners in this feature article from Ballantyne magazine.

Read Now (PDF)
Director

Yates Pharr

Please call or email anytime. I’d be happy to answer questions you have about Falling Creek. Reach me at (828) 230-1386.

Email Yates
Director

Marisa Pharr

No question is too small when making a decision to send your child to camp. Give me a call and we will talk parent to parent. Reach me at (828) 230-0985.

Email Marisa

Meet Falling Creek’s Leadership Team

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity.” Psalm 133:1

For over five decades, this verse has been recited to open each Sunday night campfire. Long- standing traditions and a commitment to character development are hallmarks of the Falling Creek program.

We are grateful to be stewards of this place where generations of boys have developed skills and the self-reliance to become fine young men.

It is an honor to continue this tradition. We work hard throughout the year and eagerly await the summers — with the promise of all that camp offers and the possibilities within each Falling Creek camper.