The latest news about camping and developments in North American campgrounds and RV parks from Janet Groene.
DISCLAIMER: These news items are believed current at press time but conditions are still changing quickly, not just because of COVID but because of other factors such as weather and highway conditions. Just before your trip get current information by phoning the campground. Don’t rely solely on websites or Facebook. Full facilities and activities may not be open and COVID restrictions vary. Get specifics about rates, campground facilities, reservation policies, campsite size and shape, and the condition of access roads. No endorsement of any campground or product is implied by this reporter nor this website.
FULL ALERT: Because of distancing, fewer campsites are available so it’s more important than ever to get reservations and to be aware of cancellation requirements. The schedules of openings, partial openings, re-closings and cancellations is still in flux and are fixed by state, county and city authorities. They may apply differently to private and public campgrounds and to residents versus non-residents of that state or county. Check ahead for details.
DATELINE: December 19, 2020
BRITISH COLUMBIA MAY LOSE FAMILY CAMPGROUND
The historic Todd’s RV & Camping campground on Okanagan Lake is for sale. That’s sad news for generations of tenters and RVers who have camped there. Owner Graham Todd said his grandfather bought the property in 1928. What was once his orchard is now a condo development and the present-day campground, started in 1956 by Graham’s parents, was a pasture. Future use of the property has yet to be determined.
CALIFORNIA CAMPGROUND TO BE UPGRADED
The 350-acre parkland in Lakeside on Lake Jennings is getting improvements to its 96-site campground, first constructed in 1966. Paving will be added and electric hookups upgraded. On the wish list for the future are features such as a jumping pillow for kids, a zip line and a splash pad.
MICHIGAN RV RESORT CHANGES HANDS, PLANS
For now the South End Tiki and Resort will remain the same, relaxed, family spot it has always been, promises the new owner, Todd Kleinfeld. The sale included the RV campground, waterfront restaurant and bar, and a 25-slip marina. Located on the south end of Lake Leelanau, the resort plans to have additional marina slips and improvements to RV sites. Ten new cabins will be built in their second season of ownership, with ten more planned in the third season. Reportedly, cabins will eventually take over the campsites, but the 2021 season is assured to RV travelers. (231) 252-4057
OHIO TO HAVE MAJOR NEW VACATION HAVEN
Expected to open by spring 2021 in Mason (between Dayton and Cincinnati) is Kings Island Camp Cedar, a 50-acre vacation center with theme park, swimming pools galore, 164 full-service RV sites, bathhouses, eateries, laundry, entertainment and rental cottages. The social center of the resort will be the Grand Lodge for gathering, dining indoors or out, shopping, exercise facilities and an awesome fireplace. Keep up to date with progress of the development here.
PENNSYLVANIA EXPANDS RV CAMPING
Blue Mountain Resort, home of a favorite Blues Festival in Lower Towamensing Township, will add RV camping to its resume. Although informal RV overnight parking has been allowed during the festival, RV stays are now available all year for a fee. The 1,200-acre park offers fishing, boat launch, boat and kayak rental and ATV trails. (610) 826-7700
TEXAS SEES GRAND OPENING AT KATHY’S
Kathy’s Kampground and Storage in Sealy is a combination campground and modern storage facility for campers and boats, the ideal site for snowbirds who camp by the season. RV sites have full-hookups and overlook the fishing pond. The campground also has a laundry, restrooms with showers, a propane filling station and a convenience store. Storage facilities for boats, cars and RVs have security. Smaller spaces sized 6 X 5 and up are climate controlled. (979) 987-6111
WASHINGTON CONCERT HAS RV CAMPING
Next year’s Summer Meltdown Festival, to be held August 5-8 in Darrington, offers a variety of RV passes, some of them already sold out. The Festival at the scenic Darrington Music Park overlooking Whitehorse Mountain in the Cascades is a family-friendly four days of activities featuring 50 or more top bluegrass groups on four stages plus foods, crafts vendors, and a children’s area and parade. More details here.
WEST VIRGINIA FESTIVAL HAS RV PACKAGES
The popular 4848 Festival returns in 2021 to Snowshoe Mountain Resort, where top bluegrass artists from A to Z perform for three big days. Camping packages at Silver Creek come with 30-amp hookup and one free water tank fill-up. Tickets include up to 8 adults and children per campsite, the 4848 Mountaintop Village Experience, Shavers Lake activities, scenic lift rides, Split Rock Pool, ziplining, a climbing wall and more. Children under age 3 are free. See the website for a list of hours, rules and performing artists. Dates are July 8-10, 2021, and packages are being reserved now. Email info@4848festival.com
YUKON TERRITORY TO RAISE CAMP RATES
A new 10-year plan is in place to raise park rates in Canada’s Yukon Territory, where annual permits are set to triple in price by 2023. Camping will go from $12 to $20 nightly, with a $2 discount if booked online. Yukon residents’ annual permits will go from $50 to $100 in 2022, and $200 in 2023. Seniors will no longer camp for free in 2022, but they’ll get a 50 percent discount.
A new campground to be built within two hours from Whitehorse will have at least 150 sites.
The new plan also calls for campgrounds to be open longer, May 1 to September 30, and for new trails and free firewood. Yukon has 57 territorial parks, 42 of them with camping.
Stay Tuned
• In Corning, California, Heritage RV Park has added 2.19 acres and will soon have 32 pod spaces and additional storage spaces.
• Near Pillar Point Harbor, California, a 47-site RV park has been approved. RV sites measuring 25 to 40 feet long will be available. Each will have Wi-Fi, electricity, TV, water and sewer. Bathrooms will have solar panels. A target completion date has not been announced. • Also in California, work will begin in 2023 on the new Harbor Park in San Diego, a $47.5 million recreational development that will include an RV park, beach and recreational features.
Read more of Janet Groene’s Campground Chatter new and updates here.
Janet Groene is the author of more than 25 books including Living Aboard Your RV, 4th Edition, available at Amazon.com. Her new Farley Halladay book, “May Misfire, a Yacht Yenta Mystery,” is available at Amazon.com. See Janet Groene’s weekly Solo Woman posts at SoloWomanRV.
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