The latest news about camping and developments in North American campgrounds and RV parks from Janet Groene and the staff of RVtravel.com
DISCLAIMER: Information is believed current at press time but conditions can change quickly. Check ahead. No endorsement of any campground or product is implied by this reporter nor this website.
DATELINE: April 19, 2019
GLACIER BAY NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE, Gustavus, Alaska, opens its Bartlett Cove Campground for the season on May 24. Fire permits are required. The park remains open but camping closes in mid-September. More information.
CATHERINE’S LANDING AT LAKE CATHERINE, ARKANSAS, an Outdoor Resort outside Hot Springs, has added a climbing tower and five new cottages.
FREEDOM, NEW HAMPSHIRE. Danforth Bay Camping and RV Resort has added a dog park.
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA. A major expansion at Flamingo Lake RV Resort has added 60 full hook-up sites, bringing the total to 360 places for RV’s. The new section will have its own bath house by June and, eventually, a laundry. Until then, campers can use the laundry in the park’s original section. (800) 782-4323.
BUENA VISTA, VIRGINIA. In the making at this 315-acre city park is a series of mountain bike trails. The park already has an Olympic-size pool, an RV campground and an adjacent 18-hole golf course. (540) 261-7321.
CAMP AT WESTERN NEW YORK WINE FEST
America’s Grape Wine Festival at the Chautauqua County Fairgrounds in Dunkirk, New York, celebrates this year’s grape harvest August 2-4. RV travelers are invited to reserve a site early and get an invitation to the Friday night kick-off party. Sites have 20, 30 or 50-amp service and are priced accordingly. The event features wines, beers, ciders, food, arts, crafters and live music. More information.
CHECK YOUR RESERVATIONS FOR DENALI
If you have camping reservations at Nancy Lake State Recreation Area or Denali State Park, get current information. Some areas have been closed because of a beetle infestation that causes dead trees to fall on campsites. Closures are indefinite for 2019 and may affect the 2020 season.
NEW NAME AND FLAG FOR NEW YORK CAMPGROUND
The former Hickory Hill Family Camping resort in Bath, New York, is now part of the KOA family. It opens April 26, a week later than their sister resort, the Watkins Glen/Corning KOA Resort. The new KOA’s name is the Hammondsport/Bath KOA Resort. (607) 776-4345
MORE CAMPSITES AT MAMMOTH CAVE, KENTUCKY
Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp at Mammoth Cave has opened 103 new campsites, three more bath houses and 20 new cabins. The destination camping resort has a floating water park, its own Nathan’s Famous hot dog stand, three playgrounds, retail shops, day use pet kennels and pizza and ice cream shops. Information.
NO SANCTUARY FOR BERKELEY RV DWELLERS
According to local ABC TV-7, RV street parking has been banned in Berkeley and Mountain View, California. The problem got out of hand because of the many people who live in RVs because they can’t afford local rents. A temporary solution in Mountain View has been to designate 60 parking spots around the city for RV use. One such site is a church lot. Users must register with the city and be available to work out solutions.
ADDITIONS FROM RVTRAVEL.COM STAFF
ARIZONA TO OPEN TWO NEW RV PARKS BY FALL 2019
The 414-site Verde Ranch at Camp Verde will be a full-service resort with numerous amenities, in addition to its designation as a “Night Sky” area. It is expected to open by mid-August, if not sooner. Sonora RV Resort, a 70-site resort located north of Gila Bend, has a two-acre lake, full-service restaurant, pickleball court, and other amenities. It’s expected to be open by fall.
BUFFALO SPRINGS LAKE CAMPGROUND UPGRADING
The campground in Lubbock County, Texas, is making improvements to be ADA compliant, as well as making it more fun, safe and clean for families.
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS CAMPGROUNDS, FACILITY OPENINGS DELAYED
Due to the partial government shutdown from December to mid-February, the seasonal opening of campgrounds, picnic pavilions and cabins at the busiest national park in the country have been delayed by about two-and-a-half weeks.
Janet Groene is the author of 25 books including Living Aboard Your RV, 4th Edition, available at Amazon.com.
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