Compiled by Janet Groene
We troll local news and industry sources for information about campgrounds and RV parks across North America. Those listed here are for you to investigate and evaluate. Always check further about any of this information if you plan to visit. Own a campground? Send news about your park to janetgroene (at) yahoo.com.
GRAND PRAIRIE, ALBERTA
Celebrating a name change with a ribbon cutting ceremony on April 24 will be the former Camp Tamarack RV Park in Grand Prairie, Alberta. Now a KOA Journey, the campground has easy set up services including good lighting after dark, an upgraded playground, Kamp K9, horseshoe pits and basketball courts. Dunes for ATV riders are nearby.
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK
The National Park Service announced the reopening of Havasupai Gardens Campground and the Bright Angel and Tonto Trails in Grand Canyon NP on April 15. Closed since late 2023, the areas have new rest houses, water services and many other improvements. More improvements continue and will open as they are completed. The water filling stations at Mile-and-a-Half and Three-Mile Rest Houses are projected to be available by mid-May. Check the NP websites for news of ongoing openings that will continue through 2025.
CALIFORNIA GOLD COUNTRY A JUMPIN’ PLACE
Calaveras County, California, is about to have another of its famous frog jumping contests. The historic event has grown from a mere contest to a busy weekend of wine, camping, historic sites and outdoor fun. Dates for the Jumping Frog Jubilee are May 16-19. RV camping is at the Angels Camp RV Resort, (209) 736-0404. It’s south of downtown Angels Camp with its boutiques, restaurants, museums, zip lines and more. The RV resort’s amenities include a seasonal pool, fire pits, dog park, playground, sand volleyball, horseshoes, kitchen pavilion, meeting room, laundry, propane, dump station, and WiFi.
NEW OWNERS AT JEMISON, ALABAMA PARK
Peach Queen Campground in Jemison, Alabama, has new owners. The historic, 82-site campground has full hookups, a dog park, swimming pool and a spring-fed lake. Owned by the same family since the 1800s and a campground since 1974, the land is now owned by a large real estate group that owns many campgrounds in the Southeast. Renovations are underway and lakeside cabins are expected to be added in the future. (334) 514-6659.
YUMMY, HEALTHY FOOD AT IDAHO RV PARK
Ririe, Idaho, will finally realize its long-anticipated Farmhouse Table restaurant at the 7N Ranch Resort, which has cabins as well as RV sites with full hookups. An opening was tentatively planned for April 15, but check ahead at (208) 538-5097. As part of the Idaho Falls metro area, the destination restaurant will offer farm-to-table dining. The ranch is known for outdoor sports such as tubing, fishing, mountain biking, rock climbing and a driving range.
NEW TEXAS STATE PARK
In Strawn, Texas, halfway between Abilene and Fort Worth, the new Palo Pinto Mountains State Park is taking shape in phases. An opening date hasn’t yet been announced. Centerpiece of the park will be 90-acre Tucker Lake. Features of the 4,800 acre park will include more than 12 miles of bike trails (to grow later to 20 miles), spacious campsites, a dock, playground and equestrian campsites. RV sites will have water and electric, but full hookups will be provided for camp hosts. A dump station will also be provided.
MOUNT PLEASANT, IOWA
Save the dates August 29-September 2 be in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, for the Midwest Old Threshers Festival. Reserve your RV site early in the 72-acre campground with electric, dump stations and four restrooms/shower houses. The campground store has groceries and ice. A shuttle runs to the main festival area. Bring the kids to see old steam engines, antique cars and tractors, bygone engines and live horses. See live performers and plenty of old-time music. Learn to square dance. See the parade, cheer at the Horse Pull and feast at food vendors. Go to OldThreshers.org/ Get multi-day early bird tickets online at a discount.
NEW FLORIDA CAMPGROUND
Progress is being made in Port Richey, Florida, towards a new campground to be built on 16 heavily wooded acres. The land has a natural spring and will be developed with 120 RV sites with an “old Florida” look. Stay tuned.
CAMP WHERE ELVIS SPENT TIME
Dunnellon, Florida, is about to get an RV park named after the 1962 Elvis Presley musical “Follow That Dream” which was filmed in this area. Follow That Dream RV Resort will have 228 sites and luxury amenities.
NEW PARK IN ARKANSAS
Newly opened last fall in Fort Smith Arkansas, the 27-acre Riverfront RV Resort has 100 RV sites with full hookups. The park has a swimming pool, dog park, pickleball court, walking trail, playground, WiFi, gated entry and private boat ramp on the Arkansas River. See FortSmithRiverfrontRVResort.com.
COMING SOON IN ONTARIO, CANADA
Bigwind Lake Park in Bracebridge, Ontario is still a day use park but watch for the news as it develops into a fabulous provincial park with 250 RV campsites.
CHANGES AT PARK NEAR REVELSTONE, B.C.
Camping at Martha Creek Provincial Park, British Columbia (10.5 miles north Revelstoke on Highway 23 North) has been added to the reservations system at BCParks. In a new loop the park has added 32 campsites. Facilities include gray water disposal, pit toilets, potable water and a recycling center. The park now has 108 campsites, of which 83 can be reserved. See https://camping.bcparks.ca.
NEW RESTAURANT AT CAMPGROUND
Faithful regulars at Barnacles Resort & Campground in Aitkin, Minnesota, will find a new restaurant there late this month. Now known as the Mudflats Bar & Grill, the restaurant under new owners is a centerpiece of the 97-site campground. All sites have full hookups and about half are lakefront.
Looking for an good, affordable place to stay? Join the RVtravel.com Facebook Group Outstanding but Affordable RV Parks. More than 35,000 members and growing.
Thank you for the campground and site updates and recommendations!
Thank you, Janet! That was a lot of information! You must subscribe to a lot of newspapers to have such wide-ranging information! 🙂 Thanks again and safe travels! 🙂
Great new column!