Besides bars, restaurants and salons, campgrounds across Minnesota were allowed to start reopening this week under Phase II of Governor Tim Walz’s Stay Safe Minnesota Order.
Cynthia Tyler and her husband, David, have co-owned Oak Cove Resort and Marine on Maple Lake just south of Mentor for 35 years. Cynthia calls the ability to reopen a great relief for their site. “We were trying to figure out exactly what we were going to do this summer,” said Cynthia. “All of the people are already asking what they were going to do when they could come, and what they were going to do with their camper, boats or pontoon.”
Oak Cove can accommodate up to seven campers along with their 21 mobile home sites. They also have boat, pontoon, kayak, and paddleboat rental. Tyler says the docks at Oak Cove went in during late-April, and that drew boaters back immediately. “Shortly after that, they started coming out of the woodwork,” said Cynthia. “Looking for their boats to come out of storage and wondering what they needed to do to get on the list for camping and boat rental. It usually doesn’t get too busy until closer to Memorial Day weekend, but with no graduation ceremonies or parties, it kind of snowballed and blossomed early this spring.”
Campers and boaters are still asked to practice social distancing and maintain proper sanitation practices this summer. Oak Cove is thoroughly cleaning each boat that gets rented out between usage, among other precautions.
Just 10 miles southeast of Oak Cove Resort and Marine, Union Lake Sarah Campground was also excited to welcome campers back this week. This popular spot about five miles southwest of Erskine has 130 campsites with 160 families on its waiting list.
Caretaker Dale Thormodsgard also encourages visitors to practice social distancing and use common sense while camping at Lake Sarah, but he believes the great outdoors makes it easier for people to keep their distance. “It’s by design,” said Thormodsgard. “We’re all separated by our own campsites. We have our campfires and our own boats for the most part. A lot of family activities with walks, golf cart rides, bicycling, and all of those kinds of things. It’s way different than any kind of retail store for sure.”
Elsewhere, Lake Cameron RV Park and Campground just outside of Erskine is back open, but their bathhouse and playground are closed, and only seasonal campers are allowed to stay overnight.
Crookston’s Central Park campground is tentatively set to be back open by June 15, as the city continues to work on a preparedness plan for the site.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources hopes to have all state parks reopened by June 15, with certain large-gathering facilities remaining closed. Camping may look different this summer in some ways, but Thormodsgard hopes people will get out and enjoy what they can. “We’re very thankful for the ability to provide a service to folks to get away from all the TV drama,” said Thormodsgard. “To come out here, be with nature, catch some fish and get their minds right.”
