New Pine Grove, PA KOA - OPEN ALL YEAR

[copcarguy]

Hello all!!
 
There's a brand new KOA in Pine Grove, PA that's open all year... Anyone interested in a pre-season get together early next spring?? I've never been there, know nothing about it, and thought we could check it out. :J
 
Here's the link:
http://www.koa.com/where/pa/38180.htm
 
Tracy and/or Beckie - is this anywhere near you guys??

[tlhdoc]

Hi Rick,

It is closer to Beckie than it is to me.  She is off line for a few days, but I am sure she will check this post when she gets back online.

[MTNDAVE]

I'm Baaaaack !!!!!!

I've been away too long and it's a long story.  The DT's were terrible.

I'm back now and will try to get up to speed as time permits.  BOY, I missed PUT badly.

NOW, on to this thread.  Just so happens I spied this new campground on a Ghost Town exploration venture in the area this summer.  Actually stopped in to scope it out.  Was hoping to try this one in the Spring now that I'm allowed to get back to camping.

Well, it's NEW and still in development.  They have a very nice main office w/restaruent and gift shop and game room.  They have a spiffy new pool w/a kiddie section and they even have a climbing wall indoors.  Also they have a spanking new bandshell for entertainment.

This is on the grounds of an old expired Amusement park of long ago.  The are reseructing some of the structures and the Carousel is being restored (although it may be a while).

Roads and pads are gravel - lots of gravel w/some grass.  Most of the sites have shade although there is a section that is in the sun.  I think the sunny area is mostly drive thrus for the big boats.

The also have a supply of seasonals which seemed to be in use already.  Additional sites were being developed back by the stream when I was there in Sept.

Easy drive off I-81 @ exit #100 coming from North and (I think) exit #90 off I-81 coming from Harrisburg or Allentown.

It appears already quite organized with lots of bookings.  Sites were almost all full when I was there which was after the Holidays were over.  Looks like it's going to be a Hot Spot.  I would say if this is a Spring plan ya better get crackin now for reservations.

Some points of interest I discovered:

1)  Swarata State Park is right accross the road (no camping there) but what looks like a nice Nature Park.

2)  A great Rails-to-Trail nearby.  This is one of the oldest R-T's in the country and runs through the St. Andrews Wilderness.  This is the largest track of land in PA with NO roads or access at all.  Really desolate.  Several Ghost Towns on the trail with great history and remains (I've found a ton of info * a newer hobby of mine).  

*** Special NOTE:  There are some awsome Geocaches on this R-T that take you to the Ghost Towns and several more in Swarata State Park.

3)  AND..... Cabela's is about 35 mins away heading East.   WOO HOO !!!!!!!  But that's an ALL day excursion.  

OK, lunch break is over and I gotta get back to work.

Glad to be back.....

MTNDAVE

[copcarguy]

Nice to see you again MTNDAVE...

Well thanks for all this cool info - we are definitely going to make this KOA our first trip of the year.  We were going to go right after Christmas but "copcargirl" asked me if I wanted to de-winterize and then winterize all over again.  This was the first time I have thought about winterization...  We used to go literally ALL year long when we had our '01 Taos (no water tank, pump, hot water, shower, potty, etc...) and now I feel kinda held back a tad with the new Carmel.  This is the ONLY negative about the new Carmel so far...  I guess all the "upgrades" (it is SO nice to have a cassette potty!) outweigh the Taos' being able to camp all year long.  So you name the weekend in the early spring (we're thinkin' Feb or March) and we'd love to meet you there.  Going to Cabela's and seeing a ghost town would be tops on the "to do" list.  Keep us posted!

[tlhdoc]

Rick you can use the PU and pretend you don't have hot water and all that good stuff.  Just get some bottled water.  It is easy to re-winterize the drain and the cassette potty.

[HersheyGirl]

Hey, that KOA looks like it is really close to me.  The Boy Scouts have a camp out there, Bayshore.  We camp there every year for family camp.  It is a nice area and only about 25 minutes away from me.  When I get a chance, I will go out and check it out too.  Might be interesting.

Beckie

[copcarguy]

How cool Beckie!!  Let us know what you scope out...  We are suffering from a very bad condition called "noncamper-itis" and the doctor said we need to head out in the camper to cure it.  :p  Looking forward to heading out...  anywhere!!  

Hope your Mom is doing better...  please keep us posted!
 
PS - did you ever get that Valentine One detector for the Beemer??

[Unregistered]

Rick we would be up for a trip in April if you consider this early spring, sorry to here you having a bad spell of Camp Flue....I popup in the garage every now an then to cure that bug. In fact I should do it soon I have to replace that faucet pump I broke @ Hickory Run, I did purchase a new pump faucet, now just need some time to replace it.

Happy Holidays

Adam, Lisa, Brandon. Matthew,

[Unregistered]

Rick we would be up for a trip in April if you consider this early spring, sorry to hear your having a bad spell of Camp Flue....I popup in the garage every now an then to cure that bug. In fact I should do it soon I have to replace that faucet pump I broke @ Hickory Run, I did purchase a new pump faucet, now just need some time to replace it.

Happy Holidays

Adam, Lisa, Brandon. Matthew,

[HersheyGirl]

How cool Beckie!!  Let us know what you scope out...  We are suffering from a very bad condition called "noncamper-itis" and the doctor said we need to head out in the camper to cure it.  :p  Looking forward to heading out...  anywhere!!  

Hope your Mom is doing better...  please keep us posted!
 
PS - did you ever get that Valentine One detector for the Beemer??

Rick, I will get it checked out sometime this next week.  I also have the flu, maybe it is the noncamping flu, and yes, I got the flu shot.  This is just nasty sickness, the fever, aches, pains in the head and back, the coughing....keep washing your hands to avoid getting it.  I never did get the detector as I just could not justify 400 dollars for that.  Ugh.  Mom is holding her own for now, thanks for asking.  

Beckie

[MTNDAVE]

Howdy folks,

The BUG invaded my homestead just before X-mas and will not leave.  Kinda blew the whole idea of having 10 days off.  

Glad to see there is some interest in this area.  I discovered last summer on a Geocaching expedition and really want to get back to explore some more.  I'm a Lewis and Clark kinda of guy at heart and love to explore.

Camper is sleeping for the winter and will not arise till spring.  Right now I'm in the snowshoe mode.  I would be interested in a late April or May trip.   I can see mysel exploring for several days.

Although the KOA is a bit more "commercial" than I am used to it is very nice and new and a great spot for a base camp.  Their website is not very detailed and I seem to have lost the brocure I got whe I was there.  Might want to see how they would handle a group, maybe there is a special rate.
 
Swarata State Park is real close to this KOA.  Newer park under development with no camping, YET.  Park look interesting with lots of trails for foot and wheel.  Links here.

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/swatara.asp

The Gold Mine bike trail is just a few miles away which runs thru St. Andrews Wilderness.  Here are a couple of links of reference.

Basic trail info:

http://www.trailrunner.com/state_trails/pa_schuylkill.htm

Clickable Trail Map:  

http://www.lonedeer.com/scrrmap.html

St. Andrews Wilderness info - long & interesting if your a History buff.

Part #1:

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/StAnthonyWilderness/anthony.htm

Part #2:

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/StAnthonyWilderness/picpage.htm

And YES there are Geocaches on the trail.  Here's a sample cache of one of many.  You experienced Cachers know how to find the others.

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid={0C6393D2-88C0-4ED7-B5AB-8F5633E7E798}

Not to forget, Cabela's isn't too far away either.

Geez,  as I write this I realize I could spend a week down here.

Enough of food for thought.  I would really be interested to get back into the swing of things since my return to the real world and a gathering of pop up enthusiasts would be a great start to the year.

OK I'll shut up now and go get the Pork on for this New Year feast.

HAPPY NEW YEAR *** 2004

MtnDave

[HersheyGirl]

OK, kids and I made the run to the Pine Grove KOA today.  As MtDave has already said,  it is very nice and still under construction.  They have a nice resturant and camp store.  It has an indoor climbing wall as well.  The pool is smaller and only 4 feet deep, but it has a tube slide and a water umbrella, it all looks very nice.  A nice playground for the little ones is available as well as a basketball court.  Sites are graveled as well as the roads, looks like all have electric/water/sewer.  There are lots of trees, but being winter and leaves are gone, but it looks like many sites are shaded.  All sites have a firering and table.  I think we should try this place out and see what we think.  Kids are excited about this place, as it is only about 30 minutes from home for us.  We could camp there and daddy could join us in the evenings after work.  Looks like a neat place to camp and explore the surrounding area.

[Unregistered]

Beckie, Brandon also would love this place from everyones reviews please count us in as soon as a date is agree'd on. Mid April for us would be great, kick-off to the 2004 season. However I don't the pools would be open !

Please give my regards to Andy !

Maybe I will have my new trailer by then ? Its down to a Niagara or a Sequoia....Lisa wants the Sequoia must be that bathroom & oven LOL !

[Unregistered]

Beckie, Brandon also would love this place from everyones reviews please count us in as soon as a date is agree'd on. Mid April for us would be great, kick-off to the 2004 season. However I don't the pools would be open !

Please give my regards to Andy !

Maybe I will have my new trailer by then ? Its down to a Niagara or a Sequoia....Lisa wants the Sequoia must be that bathroom & oven LOL !


Cheers,
Adam

[HersheyGirl]

Beckie, Brandon also would love this place from everyones reviews please count us in as soon as a date is agree'd on. Mid April for us would be great, kick-off to the 2004 season. However I don't the pools would be open !

Please give my regards to Andy !

Maybe I will have my new trailer by then ? Its down to a Niagara or a Sequoia....Lisa wants the Sequoia must be that bathroom & oven LOL !


Cheers,
Adam

I want the Sequoia too, and it is that bathroom and oven thing!  Andy says no way to that camper.  Wish I could get it.  Get it for Lisa, she deserves it.   See you in the spring with a new camper.