Our Story

We think of M.A.R.S. Collective as a flamingo. A flamingo like no other. It is a four winged Frankenmingo. It is made up of the best parts of the folks who love the little gem in the mountains known as Wiley’s Last Resort. M.A.R.S Collective is a member based organization focused on Music, Arts, Re-creation, and Sustainability, centered on the property at Wiley’s Last Resort. 

The noticeably different thing about this flamingo is the fact that it has four wings. These four wings are SwarpCo (Concerts, Events), Kudzu Media (Direct Artist Support), Bad Branch Institute (Arts and Environmental Education), and FlaminGrow Gardens (Sustainable agriculture and gardening). These four wings work together to help this figurative flamingo fly higher than almost any other figurative bird in the state.

The concept of M.A.R.S. originated with the late, great Wiley Quixote, aka Jim Webb, long time staff member, leader and instigator at Appalshop and WMMT. Our goal is to create programming that supports the artistic community here in Appalachia while keeping the spirit of Wiley Q. alive. From our concerts to our gardens to our educational programming and recreational outings, we hope to keep these mountains ringing forever!

Music Arts Re-Creation and Sustainability on top of the whirled, M.A.R.S. Collective is a 501c3 nonprofit wing of Wiley’s Last Resort. M.A.R.S. Collective is the umbrella company for projects here at Wiley’s Last Resort including Swarp Co (Music Events Wing), Flamingrow Gardens (Appalachian Agriculture Wing), Bad Branch Institute (Education Wing) and Kudzu Media (Media Cooperative for Artists & Creatives). M.A.R.S. is headed up by photographer, videographer and musicianer, Jared Hamilton and is guided by a diverse board of directors.