We've had a number of very good gatherings at Blue Ridge Motorcycle campground, using Cabin #4 and an exception granted to our group that once we rented the cabin we could stack people inside it like cordwood if we wanted to -- ditto for the tents.
This loop hole has ended now and you are now charged a per head charge now (a per head charge which in the last year has shown up all over the place fairly uniformly).
The only place that is cheap any more is Santeetlah Lake but due to erratic weather over that lake area we are having a rough time scheduling anything (two major failures now due to weather). Kickstand is preferred over Santeetlah for having a bunkhouse (instant overflow) and a meal that is served at night. Blue Ridge is noted as more expensive than Kickstand as we have to pay full freight there now.
Kickstand and Blue Ridge are sorta similar, with the luxury edge going to Blue Ridge for the always open lounge area and free coffee in the mornings.
Dragon Lodge can go burn in Hell forever for twice having ripped off both Lancer and myself upon group exiting for $50-$60, using cute little "make a buck rules" that you "violated" when you were leaving. Dragon Lodge isn't any sort of preferred location now unless you are after the endless circus of Crotch Rocket noise and Hurley mess.
We have rotated more towards the tent as our "easiest to plan for, cheapest to use" idea.
We find our best trips in the last 5 years have been to somebody's farm, where we tent and chatter and do stuff.