Lindsey Jones loved camping with her father at the Hester’s Bottoms Family Campground as a kid. Unfortunately, six years ago, the Army Corps of Engineers was forced to shut down the campground and planned to close it down permanently due to financial issues. In the year 2020, however, the Corps gave individuals the chance to lease the site.
According to a report, Jones came up with a plan which she then presented to the Corps’ board of directors. The Corps then gave Jones a lease for 25 years in January 2021. After a long and hard work to bring the campground back to its former glory after years of disrepair and overgrowth, Jones reopened Hester’s Bottom to the public in May.
The campground in Mt. Carmel, South Carolina, is situated along the shores of Lake Thurmond, the second-largest artificial lake east of the Mississippi River.
“For me, the property just held a lot of personal nostalgia and had great memories,” Jones said. “That was one of the things that got me interested in getting the property restored. There’s just something wonderful about being outside with your family—making the fire, roasting the marshmallows, swimming in the lake. It’s just a great environment for families. I wanted to see other families be able to create the memories I had at that property.”
Jones received plenty of help from the local community when the time came to restore the site.
“We had an outpouring of love from the community,” Jones shared. “There were a lot of friends and family that really jumped in to help. We would not be open without that.”
When Jones was a kid, the camping area had been “strictly primitive camping,” she claimed, and had no RV campsites. After the property was leased, Jones restored the name to Hester’s Bottom (the campground was renamed “Mt. Carmel Campground” when the Corps managed it).
The campground just off Fort Charlotte Road has 39 waterfront RV sites as well as five tent sites (also waterfront). Each site has WiFi and 50/30/20-amp service.
Visitors can use the boat launch, dock, or fish from the banks. Guests can also have a relaxing time at the private playground and beach. Activities at Hester’s Bottoms include swimming, walking, bike riding, kayaking, and more.
Kayaks, golf carts, paddleboards, and canoes are ready to rent on-site. Three bathhouses have private showers, each with hot water. Jones will be adding rental of scooters and bicycles this year. The other plans include the addition of volleyball and bocce ball areas, as well as outdoor table tennis.
Let’s jazz up Jones’ tale of reviving Hester’s Bottom in South Carolina! Picture a spot where stories under the stars meet family giggles by Lake Thurmond. Join the adventure at this community-hugged campground!