New York campground owners are busy bees as they gear up for the upcoming camping season by adding new campsites and cabins, installing new amenities, and scheduling live entertainment and theme weekends.
“Campground operators are really busy in the weeks and months before they open their parks for the season. Many of them are making improvements that will make their parks even better vacation destinations than they were last year,” said Donald G. Bennett, Jr. in a press release. He is the president and CEO of Campground Owners of New York (CONY), which hosts CampNewYork.com, the travel planning website for camping enthusiasts.
Bennett also noted that many campgrounds have experienced record occupancy levels during the pandemic. But as business levels increase, he said, campground operators are better able to reinvest in their parks, adding new campsites, amenities, attractions, including rental accommodations.
Improvements at several campgrounds across New York include a new heater for Beaver Meadow Family Campground’s swimming pool. This 260-site campground in Java Center opens on May 6. The park’s amenities include a gem mining sluice, a jump pad, a playground, hiking trails, and a three-acre catch-and-release fishing pond. The park also has two rental cabins.
At the 118-site Country Roads Campground in Gilboa, campers will see new RV sites and 50-amp service upgrades to existing sites. The park, which opens on May 13, is also adding a one-bedroom rental cottage. Other recent improvements include upgrading the park’s WiFi system and installing new pool decking and a basketball court. This year, the park is also expanding its activities and will offer cornhole tournaments for adults and children.
Meanwhile, Dream Lake Campground in Warsaw is adding 45 new campsites, boosting its overall site count to 145.
“We’re hoping to have the expansion completed by mid-summer,” said park owner Patty Jarnot, adding that the park is also adding a new bathhouse.
Half of the new campsites at the 100-site campground, which opens the first weekend in May, will be available for overnight or short-term rentals, with the rest being available for seasonal camping. Other park improvements include a new bear’s playground, replacing another bathhouse and laundry facility, and a new 1 3/4-acre fishing pond.
Kayuta Lake Campground, a park in Forestport with 165 sites, has upgraded its WiFi so that guests can stream video from their campsites. The park has also expanded its offering of organized weekend activities. The campground has two rental cabins.
In Lake George, 216-site King Phillip’s Campground will be offering live entertainment throughout the summer, including bands, DJs and movie nights.
Lebanon Reservoir Campground in Hamilton opens Mother’s Day weekend and added seven new RV sites last year, boosting its overall site count to 150 sites and two rental cabins. Other recent improvements include a new office and camp store.
Furthermore, 910-site Leisurewood Campground in Akron is adding outdoor movies and concerts. The park opens May through Columbus Day.
Campers at Medina / Wildwood Lake KOA Holiday will enjoy a new game room and a bigger camp store. The 350-site campground, which opens on April 29, has also converted some seasonal campsites to premium RV sites. The park has frontage around a 13-acre catch-and-release fishing lake. Boat rentals are available along with many other amenities, including a jumping pillow, pedal carts, a mining sluice, and a tavern.
Opening on May 13 is the Natural Bridge / Watertown KOA in Watertown. The campground, under new ownership, is planning to offer theme weekends for the first time this year. Work is also underway to create five new patio RV sites and redesign entrances to the park’s indoor heated pool. The campground is also seeking a liquor license and plans to offer craft beers as well as propane service and EV chargers.
In Grand Island, Niagara Falls / Grand Island KOA, located next to the Niagara Amusement Park and Splash World, opened on April 1. The park is adding two RV sites, each of which will have its own private fenced area for pets. Other improvements made in recent years include adding a jumping pillow and a gravity rail play structure, which kids can hang on to and ride, sort of like a slow-moving zip line, as they make their way from one side of the play structure to the other. The campground features 138 RV sites, 25 tent sites, and 54 cabins.
Pope Haven Campground in Randolph opens the last weekend of April and is upgrading electrical service for 19 of its campsites. Pope Haven will also be adding a new playground.
Another campground preparing for the season is Triple R Camping Resort in Franklinville. The New York campground recently completed a new water attraction, LeeKee Lagoon, a water play structure with interactive features. The park also created a few more deluxe RV sites with concrete pads and patios and added two more deluxe cabin rentals with large decks and awnings so that guests can enjoy them regardless of weather conditions.
Additional improvements include the installation of new basketball and volleyball courts. The park is also renovating part of its barn and plans to offer food service, including sandwiches, pizza, and wings.
Last but not least, Trout Run Camp Resort in Wellsville is opening a new splash pad in May and has added six new family cabins for a total of 17 log cabins on site. The year-round park has also developed corporate retreat packages geared toward companies seeking a unique location for their off-site training or team-building activities.
About Campground Owners of New York
Campground Owners of New York is the trade association that represents independent campgrounds and RV parks in New York. Based in Pittsford, CONY provides education, government affairs, and marketing services for campgrounds, including hosting CampNewYork.com, a travel planning website, and publishing a printed directory of New York campgrounds.
Featured image courtesy of Niagara Falls / Grand Island KOA.