After an extremely successful and packed Memorial Day weekend, campgrounds in the Delta County (Michigan) area are gearing up for another busy summer season.
According to a report, as the school year ends, road traffic is predicted to increase as people seek relaxation and refuge in outdoor activities and recreation.
Rory Mattson, CEO of the Delta County Conservation District, anticipates campgrounds to be busy during the summer.
“Now that we are fully operational after COVID shut us down two years ago, we have seen more people coming out to camp, especially when the weather is nice,” Mattson said.
“Holidays, like the 4th of July, are pretty much fully booked at this point. Most weekends fill up pretty fast as well.”
Both Pioneer Trail Park and O.B. Fuller Park, situated in Gladstone and just of M-35 in Bark River, respectively, are run by Mattson.
As the Upper Peninsula is typically a driving destination for most tourists, the two campgrounds host the majority of locals and visitors from bordering states during the summer months. The demographic, however, differs according to the season.
“We have annual campers, who will rent a spot from mid-May all the way to mid-October. Otherwise, we see more families with children during the warm summer months as they get out of school,” Mattson said.
“When it gets towards late August and early September, older people make up a majority of the campers because there is cooler weather, mosquitos are going away, and kids are heading back to school.”
New to Pioneer Trail and Fuller Parks are a set of 11 rustic cabins, five at Pioneer Trail and six at Fuller.
These cabins, scheduled to be operational in mid-June, will include a couch, chair, and indoor picnic table. Campers can opt to stay in a cabin with a master bedroom and carpeted loft or a master bedroom containing both a double-sized mattress and bunkbed.
Because of their rustic appearance, the cabins don’t provide running water, electricity, or heating source. They have a front deck, which offers views of the surrounding water.
“The rustic cabins at Pioneer Trail Park sit just above the Escanaba River, so you can see the water from the front porch. It is really nice,” Mattson said.
The ones at Fuller Park are on a great hemlock ridge overlooking Lake Michigan. We originally had them sitting closer to the water, but with the rising lake levels, we changed our minds.”
As for other camping areas in Delta County, an area near Rapid River Falls Park will be converted into an ORV/ATV campground with 25 sites.
The new location is close to the only legal crossing point for these vehicles on the highway, along US-41, which runs between Rapid River and Marquette.
That new campground will be a nice place for people to stop and stay as they travel around the U.P. on their ORVs and ATVs,” Mattson said.
This story originally appeared on Daily Press.
Just wanted to share that Michigan’s Pioneer Trail Park and O.B. Fuller Park are prepping for a bustling summer. New cozy cabins with stunning views are in the works, making these spots ideal for a peaceful nature retreat. Can’t wait for the summer vibes and serene getaways ahead!