The rugged outdoorsman who has been dubbed the 'Last American Man' is facing a government shutdown of his camp in the Appalachian Mountains for not adhering to building codes

PUBLISHED: 12:07 EST, 17 March 2013 | UPDATED: 07:13 EST, 18 March 2013

A man who has dedicated nearly 30 years to building and living off of his 500-acre farm is facing having his entire way of life shut down by the state government.

Eustace Conway, 51, who has been called ‘The Last Great American Man’ for his rustic way of living, could lose his camp in the Appalachian Mountains, his home for the past three decades.

The Watauga County Planning Department in North Carolina has found several health and sanitary violations in his encampment and has threatened to condemn the buildings.

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Closed: Eustace Conway, pictured, and described by Elizabeth Gilbert as 'the last great American man,' could lose his outdoor way of living because he violated North Carolina building and sanitation codes

Naturalist: Conway has built and lived in his Turtle Island encampment for more than 30 years

Conway, who was given the title of the ‘last great American man’ by ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ author Elizabeth Gilbert in her 2002 biography, is fighting the department over their violations.

Literary: Conway was profiled in Elizabeth Gilbert's 2002 biography

According to the Wall Street Journal, several officials showed up to his Turtle Island Preserve home and found that his outhouses, kitchens, and even the wood he’s used to build several structures across the properties aren’t up to snuff.

Their findings were summarized in a 78-page report.

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Now the planning department is demanding that Conway either tear down his structures or rebuild them in-line with public housing codes.

The naturalist is outraged.

‘The whole foundation of the American experience is based on the experience of small farms,’ he told WSOC TV. ‘This is a small farm.’

While he said he doesn’t have ‘a perfect record,’ he added that America’s Founding Fathers did not have to live up to scrupulous building codes.

He also said that the annual summer camps he runs – which teach outdoor skills to children each year – are at risk of ending.

One of the department’s issues was that none of Conway’s lumber was properly marked. But all of his wood is made at his personal sawmill.

‘Codes don’t apply to what we’re doing,’ he told the Wall Street Journal.

Following the publication of the piece in last week’s Journal, the Building Code Council of North Carolina announced they were thinking of amending the codes for primitive camps.

However, the ruling could take several weeks, putting Conway’s summer camp business in jeopardy.

Live of the land: Conway earns much of his income from teaching summer camps and outdoor programs, which could be cancelled because of his violations

Timber! One of the violations included not having properly-labeled lumbar, but Conway fells and cuts his own wood

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The problem is not building codes or unsanitary conditions. Those are just excuses the government is using. The real problem is that this man has the audacity to teach a new generation how to live off the land, how to lean less on the government and more on themselves. How DARE he! The Gov can not stand the thought of the American people becoming self sufficient. It would ruin THEIR way of life.

- KNichols , Rochester Hills, United States, 19/3/2013 16:36

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- KNichols , Rochester Hills, United States, 19/3/2013 16:33

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America hasnt been the Land of the Free for a very long time. Youve got the American Taliban on the right taking away our access to decent wages, health care, and basic social rights, and the Naive Nanny-state Hippies on the left taking away our access to guns, culture, and whatever non-hippie foods they dont like.

- Will , USA, 19/3/2013 13:40

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You are duped once again by the media's words. CHILDREN'S CAMP is another name for teens who come to learn survival. We're not talking about 7 year olds here. I am certain that teens with the motivation to learn survival need more than a fully coded environment to indeed learn survival. Let him carry on his wonderful mentoring!

- Darren Talley , Raleigh, United States, 19/3/2013 13:40

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what we all need is alot less rules and governing; my self and family would love to live where you do. if you ever need help we will come there for sure. cynr@triad.rr.com nc

- cyndee , kernersville, United States, 19/3/2013 13:22

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Seriously California, He runs a Childrens Camp that I am sure their parents are just fine with the surroundings and if it is for learning to live off the land that is perfect. I know of the fanciest of day cares with the crappiest personnel ... I would rather entrust my kids to this guy who obviously knows what he is doing... they need to leave him alone.... And we consistantly let our college kids live in and die in substandard off campus housing ... concentrate on that instead of this guy .

- Karen Phillips , cincinnati, United States, 19/3/2013 13:11

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This guy owns his land and now the goverment is saying they may take it away? This is ridiculous! Leave the guy alone! If he wants to live like that then leave him the hell alone! This is the reason this country WILL implode. The goverment cant keep their hands and noses out of peoples business. This guy needs to sell everything he has, tell the US to go fly a kite and move to Canada or somewhere he can have REAL freedom. So how are you sheep liking barry now?

- Brian Driver , tulsa, United States, 19/3/2013 13:00

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Just awful! Leave him alone!

- Skye Ferguson , Surprise, United States, 19/3/2013 04:12

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And this is why "big government" is a problem. Bureaucrats exist to increase their budget, hire more bureaucrats, and keep their jobs. There is no requirement that they use common sense, and in fact, are likely punished for deviating from the "codes." That this is even an issue is a sign that all is lost.

- Harlon57 , Norfolk, 19/3/2013 01:06

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The US Government is no longer 'for the people, by the people. It has become an out of control monster devouring everything in its path. What happened to private property rights? They disappeared when the leftwingers took over the government. Now that have empowered themselves with the power to compel private citizens to engage in commerce, it is all over. We will be the former USSR within the decade. It is only fitting they take out the last American man. RIP America.

- JackinFtLaud , Davie_Florida, United States, 18/3/2013 23:25

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