Strathmore campgrounds thriving with warmer weather

Time Reporter

 

Alberta has seen unusual above normal temperatures this summer and Strathmore campgrounds are seeing the benefits of more campers travelling. 

“We’re seeing our usual trend. We were pretty much full every weekend from July long weekend to August long weekend and after that it starts to slow down,” said Leslie Pringle of Eagle Lake RV Resort. 

With the warmer weather, Eagle Lake normally sees a full resort with the normal customers but also like to see new campers as well.

“On any given weekend 60 to 80 per cent of our people are repeat or (through) word-of-mouth and the rest are new,” said Pringle.

“We have our usual volume discounts. So if you pre-pay a week in advance, it is a reduced price, if you pre-pay a month it is a reduced price but we run full all the time.”

These discounts take effect mostly in the low season where the campsites are not as full.

The feedback from the campers to the resort has been positive and any complaints about the sites come from the people who do not know much about the hobby.

“Any complaints we get are generally from either people who are new to camping or new to Alberta and not really familiar with some of the differences between prairie campground and campgrounds at other places,” said Pringle.

The last night for camping at Eagle Lake will be Sept. 6, and officially closed later on Sept. 7. 

“We will be starting our seasonal tours in mid September, so people who are looking at putting a trailer in one spot, leaving the trailer and coming and going, those will be all by appointment,” said Pringle.

Ted Kleysen, owner of the Calderon Acres campground in Strathmore has been satisfied with the numbers at his campsites this summer.

“We are mainly above seasonal and darn close to being the fullest we have ever been,” said Kleysen.

“We have 300 seasonal sites and 290 of them are full now.”

The sunshine has brought more activity into the campsite and especially to attractions on site such as the golf course.

“It has brought more of everything. There is more people planning, golfing, more people making our sites look prettier; everyone is in the mood now,” said Kleysen.

“It is probably up 10 to 15 per cent on average.”

Kleysen is in discussion with the county to get the approval for an expansion to the park.