FAQ
Airlines
The Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) is a 30 minute drive from the Go Congress site in Black Mountain, and is the recommended arrival point for flyers. A number of ground transportation options are available from the Asheville Regional Airport, including Accents on Asheville, at 828-251-9013, and Special Occasions, at 828-255-9915, 888-288-9915 or email: metro-trans@juno.com. Additional ground transportation options will be listed on the congress website as they are developed.
Nearby international airports include the Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) (with flight connections available to Asheville Regional Airport, or 2 hours by ground transportation directly to Black Mountain), the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) (1 ½ hours by ground to Black Mountain), the Piedmont Triad International Airport (PTIA) (2 ½ hours by ground to Black Mountain), and Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) (3 ½ hours by ground to Black Mountain).
Please note that the preferred final destination airport is the Asheville Regional Airport. Ground transportation from any of the nearby international airports is expensive, and would involve either renting a vehicle or paying a very high fee for public transportation.
Are accommodations available prior to Saturday, August 4th?
Yes, accomodations are available for early arrivals, if you plan ahead! If you need a room on Friday, August 3rd, or earlier, please contact the registrar well in advance, as there will be an additional charge for the extra day, and the room must be reserved through the registrar.
Congress Handbook Download
The 2012 US Go Congress Handbook is available for download here.
How do I get from the Airport to the Congress site?
The Go Congress site is approximately 35 minutes from the Asheville airport by car.
We will coordinate a shuttle service to and from the Airport during peak travel times on Saturday August 4th, and Sunday August 12th. There will be a congress volunteer at the Airport to greet and group arriving attendees.
Shared fares will range from about $10-$33 per person depending on the number of riders. Individual shuttle fares are $65.
NOTE: Let us know when you plan to arrive so we can best coordinate shuttle service. You can do this on the Congress Registration page under Travel Plans. Without a reservation you may have to use a cab which would be more than the $65 individual shuttle cost.
If you are coming on a day other than Saturday August 4th, contact Diamond Executive Transportation Service at 828-281-8139 to reserve a shuttle. But please still inform us when you plan on arriving using the Congress Registration page. If enough people are coming at the same time we can arrange for multiple riders to share a ride to reduce your fare.
How Do You Get To Black Mountain?
Black Mountain is a short 15-20 minute drive east from Ashville, North Carolina along Interstate 40.
For GPS users, the address of the Congress site is 84 Blue Ridge Circle, Black Mountain, NC. The folks at Blue Ridge Assembly have a nice webpage with driving instructions at http://www.blueridgeassembly.org/contact2.html.
Air Travel
Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) is Western North Carolina’s largest airport and is serviced by AirTran, American Airlines, Continental, United, US Airways and Delta. AVL has non-stop service to Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit, Houston, Orlando, Tampa, Philadelphia, New York City and Newark. The Asheville Airport is about a 30 minute drive from Black Mountain.
Interstate and U.S. Highways
Asheville is accessible from the following highways: I-26, I-40 and I-240; and U.S. 19/23, 25, 25A, 70, and 74.
Blue Ridge Parkway
Considered the nation’s most scenic highway, the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway winds along the Blue Ridge Mountains, through Asheville and into the entrance of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Numerous overlooks, roadside exhibits and hiking trails make a trip along the Parkway a delight year-round. The Parkway intersects with Asheville at four points: US 25, US 70, US 74 and NC 191.
What are the differences between dorm style rooms and hotel style rooms?
Hotel style rooms usually have two double beds (some may have a double and a single) with a private bath, and are generally just like an average hotel room except there is no TV. There is a night stand, a table, and full linen service.
Dorm style rooms have two single beds, are smaller than hotel style rooms and may or may not have a private bath (you can chose either private bath or shared bath when you register). Again there will be no TVs but there will be full linen service, including towels if you choose dorm style with private bath.
What are the facilities like?
Nestled in the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains near Asheville, North Carolina, YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly is a full-service conference center situated on 1200 acres of woodland beautified by mountain streams, wildflowers, ridges, valleys and spectacular views.
Blue Ridge Assembly is rich in history. Founded in 1906 as a YMCA student conference center, the Assembly is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and serves 30,000 guests annually.
What is a Non-player?
A Non-player is a visitor or vendor that has no plans to participate in any Go-related activities (no self-paired games, tournaments, simuls, professional lectures, etc.)
What is the Go Congress?
The US Go Congress is the largest go event of the year that is held in the United States. This is the site of the US Open. Pro lectures, self-paired rated games, lightning tournaments, simultaneous games and many other activities take place during Go Congress week. Check out the Tournaments, Blue Ridge Activities, Day-Off Activities and FAQ pages for lots of information about the events, and go to the registration page to sign up for the Go Congress.
What is the refund policy?
The 2012 Go Congress will provide full refunds minus a $50 processing fee and any credit card fees will be provided until July 15, 2012. After July 15th, a $75 processing fee and any credit card fees will be deducted from the refund.
However, Cottages are NON-REFUNDABLE AFTER APRIL 15.
What is the weather like in August?
The average high temperature for this area of North Carolina for the week of August 4 through 11 is 83 degrees fahrenheit (28 celsius). The average low temperature is 63 F (17 C). The average high is 6 degrees cooler than the average for Charlotte, NC, and about 5 degrees warmer than Tacoma, WA’s average. Perfect weather for Go! You can learn more at the National Weather Service’s site for Asheville. As August 4th approaches, you may wish to check out the 15 day forecast at www.accuweather.com.
Where is Black Mountain, North Carolina?
The Blue Ridge Assembly was the site of the 2006 US Go Congress. After careful review and consideration of feedback from the 2006 Congress, we have again selected the Blue Ridge Assembly for the site of the 2012 congress. Located on a wooded mountainside with a spectacular view of a valley in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the site offers a uniquely secluded, serene, and quiet setting conducive to relaxation, contemplation, and concentration. Undisturbed by traffic, city noises, air pollution, or even the constant din of televisions, the players will be surrounded by a beauty and unhurried calm that will enhance and deepen their go-playing experience.
Minutes away from the conference center is Black Mountain, a quaint little town with nice shops and an interesting town center. The conference center is 20 minutes away from Asheville, the Blue Ridge Parkway, great hiking, camping and many other attractions including the largest residence in America, the Biltmore House, which is a unique and major tourist destination.
In summary, the site has the charm and intimacy of a combination of summer camp and small liberal arts college campus. They have full meeting facilities and will provide cafeteria style meals with plenty of vegetarian options.
Recreational/Family Facilities: There are many free recreational facilities including pool and hiking trails. For additional fees, children can take a wide variety of classes at the facility including: rope-climbing, swimming lessons, arts and crafts (for rainy days), nature exploration, and others, including the largest “challenge course” in the country. The conference center is dry; the open consumption of alcohol is not permitted on the grounds of the conference center.
Surrounding Area: Just a country mile from the conference center is the town of Black Mountain (population 7,500) with an eclectic offering of shops and bars. Asheville, a major tourist destination, is located 15 minutes to the west. The Asheville Airport is about 25 minutes away. There are direct flights from many U.S. cites. The population of the Asheville area is over 400,000.
Who are the speakers at the Go Syposium?
The keynote speaker at the Go Symposium is Nolan Bushnell, the founder of Atari, Inc. The current list of presenters and topics is now available at www.gosymposium.org/presenters.html.
Will this Congress be as great as I heard the one in 2006 was?
No, it will be even better!
