Campground Selection for the Rally

tlhdoc · Dec 17, 2007, 07:58 AM

We have visited quite a few campgrounds in the last month. Keen Lake and Cottages has been the best one we looked at. Check it out and if there isn't any objections this is where the rally will be held.

//www.Keenlake.com

We would be camping in the group area (50 amp hookups on many sites) where most of the campsites are full hookup. The sites are around the playground/activity field area. 48 to56E. We would all be together and if someone cancels they will move everyone down a site so that we all stay together. There are bathrooms, a pavilion, playground equipment, bocci ball, horseshoes, volleyball, soft ball, and shuffleboard in the play field the group is surrounding. They have a laundry room with modern machines, a swimming pool, lake swimming, boat rentals (only electric motors) and the owners are very nice. Quiet hours are strictly enforced. There is a great resturant close by that has good food and very reasonable prices. So everyone take a look and let us know what you think.

camperjohn · Dec 17, 2007, 08:34 AM

Quote from: tlhdocWe have visited quite a few campgrounds in the last month. Keen Lake and Cottages has been the best one we looked at. Check it out and if there isn't any objections this is where the rally will be held.

//www.Keenlake.com

HI Tracey-

The place looks Beautiful! I am going to check with John and Stephanie about Getting together with you all for the Rally in July.

This campground seems to offer alot!

Hope to see you all soon,
Shelly

GeneF · Dec 17, 2007, 03:32 PM

Looks like a nice place and looks like a lot to do in the area.

Highly recommend the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour.

Terry use to take her kids there for the tour on their way to Williamsberg, VA. American Studies course.

I have gone there a couple of times with Terry and also with our kids. It is really an interesting tour and worth the money. You ride down the mine shaft in a miner's car and a guide takes you through the mine and does a great job of explaining how a miner worked there.

tlhdoc · Dec 17, 2007, 04:09 PM

Two yes votes so far. Can't wait to see you guys. What about the rest of you?

dthurk · Dec 17, 2007, 11:40 PM

Looks good to me.

Could it be possible to negotiate so that children 4-17 are not an additional charge? I hate it when campgrounds do that. Camping should be a family activity.

aw738 · Dec 18, 2007, 06:54 AM

Sound good to me.

tlhdoc · Dec 18, 2007, 06:04 PM

Quote from: dthurkLooks good to me.

Could it be possible to negotiate so that children 4-17 are not an additional charge? I hate it when campgrounds do that. Camping should be a family activity.

Dave I agree. I will ask the campground.

Anthony is anyone coming with you this year?

dademt · Dec 18, 2007, 08:06 PM

Wow, this looks really nice. And the poconos is very close for me. Did you pick out what week yet?

SheBantam · Dec 19, 2007, 08:18 AM

Quote from: dademtWow, this looks really nice. And the poconos is very close for me. Did you pick out what week yet?

Ditto, very close in relation to Cherokee/Townsend/Hillsville, some of the places in the past. Sea Isle was about as close as we have come to my home. Then I think Gettysburg ran a close second for distance. Bath was just a little closer than Hillsville. So in the general area is good. Very good.

tlhdoc · Dec 19, 2007, 07:26 PM

Quote from: dademtWow, this looks really nice. And the poconos is very close for me. Did you pick out what week yet?

Scott the rally will be July 13th to the 18th (officially), but most of us go for a whole week. I will be going the 12th to the 19th, Saturday to Saturday. It is the weekend after Independence Day weekend. Hope you can make it. Your kids would have a great time. You and DW would too.

DiW · Dec 20, 2007, 01:20 AM

Dthunk,
If my kids come, it will cost us between $10-$22 extra per day. Most likely, the older ones will not be able to arrive in our car (since they will probably come and go for jobs, volunteering, etc), so it will probably cost an extra $22 per day. Then there's that extra $2/day to run our A/C. So for the week, it will cost us an extra $168.

Campground website looks good, though. I grew up in that area. Used to be a drive in movie near Honesdale - no idea if it's still there. There was a sweet little stone church in BloomingsGrove. I remember going to the little town of Honedale to do our laundry and to the even smaller town, Hawley, to get sticky buns and attend a country fair - first time I saw people try to catch a greased pig. Remember guys trying to climb a greased telephone pole. Guess there wasn't much to do there. That was 40 years ago. Bet it's different now. Sure was big news when they put Route 84 in. After that, stores started popping up.

dthurk · Dec 20, 2007, 04:25 AM

Quote from: DiWDthunk,
If my kids come, it will cost us between $10-$22 extra per day. Most likely, the older ones will not be able to arrive in our car (since they will probably come and go for jobs, volunteering, etc), so it will probably cost an extra $22 per day. Then there's that extra $2/day to run our A/C. So for the week, it will cost us an extra $168.

Campground website looks good, though. I grew up in that area. Used to be a drive in movie near Honesdale - no idea if it's still there. There was a sweet little stone church in BloomingsGrove. I remember going to the little town of Honedale to do our laundry and to the even smaller town, Hawley, to get sticky buns and attend a country fair - first time I saw people try to catch a greased pig. Remember guys trying to climb a greased telephone pole. Guess there wasn't much to do there. That was 40 years ago. Bet it's different now. Sure was big news when they put Route 84 in. After that, stores started popping up.

I know, these extra fees "full service" campgrounds tack on are outrageous. Their rates are high enough, kids particularly should be included. Don't remember exactly how old yours are. Remember your DD was only a couple years older than ours. Sometimes we'll run the AC fan only and/or run free standing fans to move air in the camper saving us the AC charge. We do most of our camping in public facilities, dry camping or close to it, and are used to those rates. They never charge extra for kids. Maybe we should take a tent site and dry camp all week.

Our timeshare condo is also in that area. We've vacationed there a couple of years. Neat area. Steamtown and Lackawanna Mine in Scranton will be must sees. How about a Red Barons game? AAA baseball, Phillies affiliate (at least used to be), cheap tickets compared to MLB. But, that's for another thread.

Hargus · Dec 20, 2007, 07:18 AM

I think the web site looks great and there looks like plenty to do in the area. Besides, the campground has the Tracy/Dee stamp of approval !
I hope the campground can give us a group rate.
Count us in.

tlhdoc · Dec 20, 2007, 03:48 PM

To answer the question on the Drive-In theater. I don't know if it is the same one, but there is one open Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. I was going to suggest a group trip to the drive-in, if there is an appropriate movie playing. I will ask about waving the extra fee for kids and AC use. I would like to get all of the questions lined up before I contact them. There is a 10% discount if you stay 7 days or longer. Deposit is $100 for a week long stay and up until 14 days ahead of time they will refund it minus a $5 service charge.

DiW · Dec 22, 2007, 01:54 AM

Quote from: tlhdocTo answer the question on the Drive-In theater. I don't know if it is the same one, but there is one open Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. I was going to suggest a group trip to the drive-in, if there is an appropriate movie playing. I will ask about waving the extra fee for kids and AC use. I would like to get all of the questions lined up before I contact them. There is a 10% discount if you stay 7 days or longer. Deposit is $100 for a week long stay and up until 14 days ahead of time they will refund it minus a $5 service charge.

Drive in sounds good to me. Thanks for all the work you're doing. I'm glad you kept looking after not liking the first group of campgrounds. I remember doing searches since the Poconos are so close but not liking too many places, either. Too commercial, on top of one another, etc. I know we like the same things so I know this place must be good. As for the kid charges, I can't say for sure if they will come. J is looking for a research position and it's not like he can ask for a week off. Most likely the same thing, if Courtney can find a graphic design job. Dave, my older ones are 18 and 20 so they count as adults. Guess I'm used to state parks where they just get counted in with us. If they just show up for a day or two, it's not a big deal.

I'm sure it will all work out in the end. Chris, Kels and I are hoping to go see some of the national parks this summer and can't go in August so we'll have to see how this all plays out (I just remembered that the rally is a week later this year).

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Campground Selection for the Rally