RVers and campers who have enjoyed Bottrel Campground in Alberta, Canada, may need to make new plans. After 134 years of continuous operation, a contract dispute with Rocky View County has temporarily turned this historic campground into a day-use-only area. Many stop at the on-site general store, but the real draw is out back.
The campground predates the general store itself, which opened in 1901, having been established back in 1889. That long history makes Bottrel Campground one of the oldest continuously operating recreational campgrounds in North America, welcoming countless RVs, tents, and travelers for more than a century.
Bottrel Campground: Alberta’s historic stop for RVs and tents
For decades, Bottrel Campground was a key part of the store’s business. Previous owners worked closely with the county to keep it running year after year, allowing visitors to enjoy 30 reservable sites for overnight stays. Beverley Guthrie, who bought the store in June 2024, quickly stepped in to maintain the campground, adding washrooms, repairing picnic tables, improving landscaping, and implementing a registration system.
“The campground has always been popular, and without it, the store wouldn’t make sense,” Guthrie said. Her work ensured that Bottrel Campground remained safe, clean, and accessible for RVers and tent campers alike, continuing a long tradition of welcoming travelers on Alberta’s Highway 22.
Day-use only for now: What RVers need to know
Recent negotiations with Rocky View County over operating contracts and insurance requirements have stalled. As a result, signs went up at Bottrel Campground declaring “Bottrel Park Day Use Only – No Camping.” While visitors can still enjoy the grounds during store hours, overnight camping is temporarily prohibited.
Guthrie hopes a resolution is possible, noting that the campground has been well-maintained and widely appreciated by the local community. “This land belongs to the citizens of Rocky View County, and it’s their space to enjoy,” she said.
For RVers looking for a historic camping experience, Bottrel Campground is a reminder of the long tradition of roadside and community campgrounds in North America—many of which have served travelers for more than a century.
Once disagreements are resolved, this site could reclaim its status as a rare surviving campground with more than 130 years of continuous use. It could go back to offering both a practical stop for modern RVers and a chance to connect with the history of early Canadian camping.
Sources include: Airdrie City View
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RVT1231b
Do you think that families would show up with a covered wagon/RV in the early days of that campground? They would probably want a pull thru with FHU you know water pump, outhouse, hitching post and fire pit?
The park is a surveyor’s nightmare that came to light in 2005 after a flood almost took it off the map. Then there was the issue of insurance in 2016 that has seemingly lingered to date, exasperated by flooding again in 2019 that required evacuation and witnessed loss of life.
Many say it never should have been zoned, I dunno.
Texas has a campground that was recently in the headlines after a flood took out over two dozen souls. Camp Mystic was founded in 1926 and all the nostalgia in the world can’t bring any of those lost back.
Camp Mystic is planning to reopen, I hope our Canadian friends are smarter. Some things (including camping spots) should not be continued.