Campground closures at Pennsylvania’s Raystown Lake are expected to continue into the spring, as a federal hiring freeze hampers staffing efforts by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The agency, which manages the popular recreational site, began canceling reservations in March and has extended cancellations through at least May 1.
Nancy’s Boat to Shore Campground and Seven Points Campground remain closed due to the inability to hire seasonal workers.
The freeze, implemented by executive order in January, restricts new federal hires, directly impacting the Corps’ operational capacity at Raystown Lake.
According to an article published by WTAJ on April 29, despite the disruptions, other recreational facilities at Raystown Lake remain open. Trails, picnic shelters, boat launches, and restrooms continue to operate, offering visitors some access while overnight stays are restricted.
Each week, affected campers are notified via email and presented with three options: modify their reservation, cancel for a refund, or take no action, which results in automatic cancellation and refund one day before their scheduled arrival. The cancellations currently apply to stays through May 1.
In addition to the closures, the National Recreation Reservation Service has paused new bookings at Nancy’s, Seven Points, and Susquehannock campgrounds.
Privatization of campground operations is not an option under current federal policy.