We spent today in wonder as it was the first day in a while that it did not rain. It threatened a few times but I don’t believe any drops actually fell. With mostly grey skies overhead and sometimes a fleeting patch of sun somehow finding our camping site, I ventured forth to explore our park a little bit. My goal was to get my 10,000 steps in. In truth, I have seldom come close to that goal but it is a lofty objective to strive for.
What I discovered about our park is that it is old and showing its age, at least in comparison to most of the other state and national parks we have visited during the 10 months we have been driving around the US. The park was built in the 1950s and besides the 50 Amp power that is installed at most of the sites, it is lacking in many conveniences. Normally, I am not critical of state parks but this park is showing the lack of improvements that most state parks we have visited normally have.
The majority of the sites look to be more for tenting, which is just fine but the locations to place one’s tent is a challenge. Most sites have significant slopes making them to be uncomfortable for sleeping on the ground. If you can find a relatively flat space, it is usually at the base of an incline. This means when it rains, the water will sheet down the slope and wash under or into tent.
Each site does have a picnic table but they are all pretty old and warped. Each site also has a paved parking space for one’s car or RV, which is nice. But the pavement can be pretty narrow. For example, we struggle to have all of LeuC’s tires on the pavement. The privacy factor is not so great with no trees or brush separating our site from other sites. The knoll we are situated on top of is surrounded by a thick forest but it appears that the State decided it could crammed more sites into the park by removing anything that could be a privacy screen between yourself and one’s neighbors.
The toilets are all pit toilets with no water to wash your hands. Although there is a foam sanitizer dispenser at each pit toilet. At each camping loop, there is a shower building which is quite nice. Why they could not have added flush toilets to it is a mystery. For drinking water, you need to search and find a spigot, which are few and far between.
There is a playground for little kids but it is a sorry affair, compared to the playgrounds at all of the other parks we have been to. There are just 8 or so chain and belt swings, a small rickety merry-go-round and a tilted spring hobby horse. It is pretty sad.
All in all, this poor park was built in the 1950’s and it looks it. Each state park does have a soul, a personality that is unique. This poor park presents itself as an aged senior, one that has been lost in neglect and it saddens me….
Going Down The Road With The Leu's 