SkyRidge Trails Campground, situated on a picturesque hill in Torrington, Connecticut opened in May, with a grand opening scheduled for October. Co-owned by Lelah Campo and her husband, Dan Mahieu, who also own Cozy Hills Campground in Bantam, the new campground spans a 365-acre farm property off Klug Hill Road and features 93 RV sites.
According to an article by newstimes, the campground, already hosting some RVs, is still undergoing final touches like tree planting, landscaping, and completing various amenities. Campo is busy managing staff and attending to customers, ensuring everything runs smoothly.
SkyRidge Trails offers both tent camping and RV sites, along with three handcrafted Amish log-style cabins available for rent.
“I love our cabins; they’re handcrafted by the Amish,” Lelah said. She noted the extensive electrical wiring infrastructure at each RV site, likening them to subdivision pads.
“Each RV site is like a subdivision pad. There’s an amazing amount of electrical wiring underground here, just amazing,” Lelah added.
The entire project, which took about 14 months to complete, required an investment of approximately $5 million, with landscaping being the final step.
Customers have been supportive and patient, eagerly awaiting the lush, native plants scheduled for delivery. “People are excited, they’re enthusiastic, but they still say, ‘Hey, where’s the trees? Where’s the landscaping?'” Lelah said.
“[W]e are expecting a huge delivery of trees and plants, local, native plants that, once they are established, will be lush,” Lelah added.
The campground features a long entrance from Klug Hill Road, passing an under-construction swimming pond with a sandy beach. The driveway leads to a check-in area with parking for large vehicles.
Amenities include a playground, outdoor picnic tables, a food truck operated by a local restaurant, and various activity areas such as archery, a jump pad, laser tag, pickleball, and basketball.
“I love finding other businesses to partner with,” Lelah said. “We didn’t want to run a restaurant here,” so putting in a food truck “was a great idea.”
Future plans include a fire pit, a children’s game room, and a courtyard for communal activities. “We’ve been calling this the courtyard, where people can go to the play area, and there will be lots of activities,” Lelah said.
Additionally, the campground offers a fishing pond with a new walking path, and hiking opportunities will be available, with hayrides planned for the fall.
Each RV site is equipped with electrical and septic connections, a fireplace, and a picnic table. Although the sites currently have little vegetation, evergreens, ornamental grasses, trees, and perennials are being planted.
The development faced challenges, particularly the discovery of rock ledge during excavation, which required removing hundreds of thousands of cubic yards of rock.
“Everything was ledge — just a sheet of rock,” Lelah said. “We have literally removed hundreds of thousands of cubic yards. That definitely took some time,” Lelah added.
Despite this, Campo remains focused on providing a vibrant experience for guests, with live music, ice cream socials, and partnerships with local attractions like Action Wildlife.
She mentioned that there is always something going on at SkyRidge Trails, emphasizing the importance of catering to their customers. Campo believes that SkyRidge Trails is unique and aims to keep guests engaged by offering various activities and partnering with local attractions like Action Wildlife in nearby Goshen.
The campground targets retirees, families, and traditional campers, blending luxury with outdoor adventure. Campo noted that even tent campers, who are aware of the pad setup, enjoy the experience, and she often recommends campers to Cozy Hills for a different setup.
Campo and Mahieu, who purchased Cozy Hills Campground in 2014 for $1.9 million, continue to enhance the outdoor hospitality experience with their latest venture.
This new campground not only represents a significant investment in the local area but also promises to be a unique destination for camping enthusiasts.
The opening of SkyRidge Trails Campground is significant as it showcases a substantial investment in outdoor hospitality, reflecting growing interest in RV camping and luxury camping experiences.
It highlights the potential for campground owners to attract a diverse clientele, including retirees and families, by offering comprehensive amenities and partnering with local businesses.
This development sets a benchmark for future campground projects, emphasizing the importance of creating appealing and well-equipped destinations to meet the evolving demands of campers.
Featured image by Skyridge Trails Campground via Facebook
