Win a Breathtaking Bryson City Giveaway
RomanticAsheville.com's Bucket List Bryson City Giveaway 2026 - Official Rules
No Purchase Necessary to Enter
Sweepstakes Period: RomanticAsheville.com's Giveaway (the "Sweepstakes") starts at 1:00 AM Eastern Time ("EDT") on May 1, 2026, and ends at 11:59 pm EDT on June 15, 2026 ("Sweepstakes Period").
Eligibility: Only US Citizens who are 18 years old as of the date of entry are eligible. Employees of RomanticAsheville.com ("Sponsor"), Prize Partners (the "Sweepstakes Parties") and each of their respective parent companies, affiliates, subsidiaries, retailers, advertising and promotion agencies as well as their immediate family members (spouses, parents, children, siblings, and their spouses) and/or persons living under the same household are not eligible to enter. This Sweepstakes shall be construed and evaluated solely according to United States law and subject to all federal, state and local laws and regulations. Void where prohibited. By entering, entrants acknowledge compliance with these Official Rules, including eligibility requirements.
How to Enter: An Entrant is someone who enters the Sweepstakes by completing all required entry fields provided on the Sweepstakes Entry Form, located online here, during the Sweepstakes Period and meets the Eligibility restrictions and Entry Guidelines. By entering the sweepstakes, Entrants agree to sign up to receive newsletters from RomanticAsheville.com and Swain County TDA dba ExploreBrysonCity.com. All entries become the property of the Sponsor, and will not be returned or acknowledged. Sponsor does not assume responsibility for third parties' failure to act in accordance with Sponsor's instructions pertaining to the implementation of the sweepstakes.
Entry Guidelines: In the event the Sponsor, in its sole discretion, determines that any entry contains content that does not comply with these Official Rules or is otherwise objectionable, Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify the entry. Sponsor has the sole discretion to determine whether an entry is eligible. Automated entries are prohibited, and any use of such automated devices will cause disqualification. Duplicate or multiple online entries from the same person/email address or the same person using different email addresses/accounts are not permitted and will be automatically eliminated. All entries must be complete to be eligible. All entries become the property of Sponsor and will not be returned, and Sponsor will not verify receipt of entries.
In the event of a dispute as to the identity of an Entrant, the authorized account holder of the email address used to enter will be deemed to be the Entrant. An "authorized account holder" of an email address is the natural person in whose name the email address has been issued by the internet access provider or online service provider.
Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion to permanently disqualify any individual it believes has intentionally violated these Official Rules including tampering or attempting to tamper with the entry process or the operation of the Sweepstakes or website; or acts in a disruptive manner, or with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person.
CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY AN ENTRANT OR ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEBSITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE SWEEPSTAKES IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH INDIVIDUAL TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.
Prize: The winner will receive a prize package ("Prize Package") from the Sweepstakes Parties, which includes, subject to availability and applicable restrictions:
- Three-night stay for two at 3 Little Bears Retreat in a luxury safari-style lodge (approximate value $3,600+)
- One guided excursion of the winner's choice: wildlife safari, fly fishing, guided hike, e-bike adventure, or waterfall tour
- Courtesy pass for two adult coach-class tickets for a Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Nantahala Gorge or Tuckasegee River excursion, regardless of engine (approximate value $236+)
- A complimentary guided raft trip for two on the Nantahala River with Nantahala Outdoor Center (approximate value $124+)
Total approximate retail value: $4,000+.
Available stay dates at 3 Little Bears Retreat are limited to the following: August 14–17, 21–24 | September 11–14, 18–21, 25–28 | October 30–November 2 | November 6–9, 2026 | 2027: March 5–8, April 2–5, April 16–19, April 30–May 3, May 14–17. No other dates are available for the lodge component of this Prize Package. To redeem, the winner should call 3 Little Bears Retreat at 828.538.0306, and reference their THREE-NIGHT STAY PRIZE FROM ROMANTICASHEVILLE.COM to confirm and book.
The Nantahala Outdoor Center rafting prize is valid March–October only; not valid on weekends in June, July, or August; subject to availability; and must be used by July 1, 2027. To redeem, the winner should call Nantahala Outdoor Center Guest Services at 828.785.4854, reference their FREE FUN PASS, and provide their pass number and details to confirm and book. This certificate is redeemable one time only and is fully transferable. This certificate is non-refundable and has no cash value. The Nantahala Outdoor Center prize may be combined with the stay or used independently, subject to availability.
The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad courtesy pass will be issued as a pdf, is redeemable one time only, and has no cash value. To redeem the winner should call Great Smoky Mountains Railroad at 800.872.4681 no less than two weeks prior to departure, reference their COURTESY PASS, confirm and book a reservation for the Nantahala Gorge or Tuckasegee River excursion, regardless of engine, and then mail the COURTESY PASS to the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad at P.O. Box 1490, Bryson City, NC, 28713. Valid for two adult coach class seats, not valid during October or for special events, not redeemable for cash value, and must be used by December 31, 2027. The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad prize may be combined with the stay or used independently, subject to availability.
All other items in the Prize Package must be used by May 17, 2027, and all components are subject to availability and the stay dates listed above. There will be no extensions or exceptions to Prize Package expirations.
The certificates (FREE FUN PASS, COURTESY PASS) awarded are not replaceable if lost, stolen, destroyed, or expired. Tax liability associated with receipt or use of certificates is solely the responsibility of the recipient. Gratuities and additional charges are not included. Travel expenses to Bryson City are not included in the Prize Package and will need to be arranged by the winner.
The Prize Package is not transferable (except where noted above) and no substitutions of items within the Prize Package will be made. The Prize Package will be awarded within approximately 30 days after Romantic Asheville's receipt of confirmation from the winner (winner will confirm via an electronically signed email), subject to availability and the stay dates listed above. If required by law, the Winner will receive an IRS Form 1099 on the value of the prize and Winner will be required to provide their social security number or equivalent tax ID number. All taxes including, but not limited to sales and income tax on the Prize Package are the Winner's responsibility. Acceptance of the Prize Package constitutes permission for the Sweepstakes Parties to use the Winner's provided information (first name and last name) for promotional purposes in any and all media throughout the Universe in perpetuity, including online posting without additional review, permission, or further compensation except where prohibited by law.
Random Drawing and Winner Notification: A random drawing of one winner ("Winner") will be conducted on or by June 17, 2026, from among all eligible entries received during the Sweepstakes Period. The drawing will be conducted by the Sponsor. The Winner will be notified via email and/or phone within five (5) days of the drawing and will be required to confirm they can accept the Prize Package within 10 days of initial contact. If the notification is determined as undeliverable or the winner does not respond within 10 days, it will result in disqualification of that Entrant, and the Prize Package will be awarded to an alternate winner selected from a new random drawing and also subject to confirmation. The judges' decisions are final and binding in all matters related to this Sweepstakes. Odds of winning depend on the total number of eligible entries received during the Sweepstakes Period.
General Terms: By entering, Entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules, instructions, and the decisions of the judges, which are final and legally binding in all matters relating to this Sweepstakes.
By participating, Entrants and Winner agree to release, discharge, indemnify and hold harmless the Sweepstakes Parties, their respective parent companies, affiliates, subsidiaries, directors, employees and agents from and against any claims, damages, or liability due to any damages, losses, or injuries to any person (including death) or property of any kind resulting, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from acceptance, possession, misuse or use of the Prize Package or participation in any Sweepstakes-related activity or participation in this Sweepstakes.
Entrants further agree not to pursue any right, claim, or action against the Sweepstakes Parties in connection with their participation in this Sweepstakes. Sponsor, Sweepstakes Parties, and their respective agencies are not responsible for lost, late, or misdirected entries, technical, hardware or software malfunctions, telephone failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, or failed, incorrect, inaccurate, incomplete, garbled or delayed electronic communications whether caused by the sender or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in this Sweepstakes which may limit the ability of an individual to participate in or accept the prize in the Sweepstakes, or by any human error which may occur in the processing of the entries in this Sweepstakes.
Sponsor, Sweepstakes Parties, and their respective agencies are not responsible for any typographical error in the printing of these Official Rules, administration of the Sweepstakes, or in the announcement of the Sweepstakes prize. Sponsor, Sweepstakes Parties, and their respective agencies are not responsible for damages to an individual's system related to participation in the Sweepstakes or downloading any information to participate in the Sweepstakes. Sponsor reserves the right to modify or cancel the Sweepstakes if it becomes technically corrupted (including if a computer virus or system malfunction unalterably impairs its ability to conduct the Sweepstakes). In such event, Sponsor would award the Prize Package from among all eligible entries received prior to cancellation.
Dispute Resolution: By entering this Sweepstakes, Entrants agree that 1) Any and all disputes, claims, and/or action arising out of or connected with the Sweepstakes or the Prize Package shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action; 2) Any and all claims, judgments and/or awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs associated with entering this Sweepstakes and shall not include any punitive, consequential or other damages, including costs associated with entering the Sweepstakes but in no event include attorneys' fees; 3) The value of the prize as set forth above represents Sponsor's determination of the approximate retail value (ARV) in its sole and absolute discretion thereof and such determinations are final and binding and cannot be appealed. If the actual value of the prize turns out to be less than the stated ARV, the difference will not be awarded in cash; and 4) Under no circumstances will any Entrant be permitted to obtain any award for, and Entrant hereby waives all rights to claim indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages to Entrant and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased and any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses. All dispute resolution shall be made by the Sponsor in its sole discretion. These Official Rules shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of North Carolina without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the state of North Carolina. Any legal proceedings arising out of this Sweepstakes or relating to these Official Rules shall be instituted only in the federal or state courts sitting in Buncombe County, North Carolina, and the parties consent to jurisdiction therein with respect to any legal proceedings or disputes of whatever nature arising under or relating to these Official Rules.
No Waiver: The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these Official Rules shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision. In the event that any provision is determined to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable or illegal, these Official Rules shall otherwise remain in effect and be construed in accordance with their terms as if the invalid or illegal provision were not contained herein.
Sponsor: The Sponsor is RA Media, LLC, dba RomanticAsheville.com, a North Carolina based company.
Any questions or complaints regarding this Sweepstakes shall be directed to [email protected]. You understand that you are providing your information to RomanticAsheville.com.
For the name of the winner, send a self-addressed and stamped envelope by September 1, 2026, to RA Media, LLC, P.O. Box 6069, Asheville, NC 28816.