SPRING IS HERE & CAMPING IS HERE OR JUST AROUND THE CORNER!

Spring has sprung and camping season at Kerr Lake has begun and we at Kerr Lake Park Watch want to update on park openings.

Although there are some year-round sections that are open during the winter in some of the campgrounds around Kerr Lake, most of them open around Spring.

VIRGINIA STATE PARKS

The two Virginia State Parks on Kerr Lake opened recently according to Visitor Services Director for Virginia State Parks, Nancy Heltman who said, “We opened camping season the first Friday in March which was the 2nd. Yes, the weekend of the nor’easter and now a snow storm on the first full day of Spring. Been a tough start to the year.”

Heltman added that the new Splash Park at Occoneechee State Park in Clarksville will open when the weather warms but an exact date is not yet known.

NORTH CAROLINA STATE RECREATION AREAS

In North Carolina where there are seven State Recreation Areas, Superintendent Bryce Fleming updated Kerr Lake Park Watch with a comprehensive list of park and sectional openings:

Park Name                                            Opening Date                          Closing Date

Bullocksville    All Sites                      March 26, 2018                       October 1, 2018

County Line     All Sites                      March 26, 2018                       October 1, 2018

Henderson Point         Area 1             May 21, 2018                          October 1, 2018

Area 2                                                     March 26, 2018                       October 1, 2018

Group Area                                           March 26, 2018                        October 1, 2018

Hibernia                     Area 1              May 21, 2018                          September 3, 2018

Area 2              March 26, 2018                       October 29, 2018

Area 3              May 21, 2018                          September 3, 2018

Group Area     March 26, 2018                        October 29, 2018

Kimball Point             Area 1              May 21, 2018                          October 1, 2018

Area 2              March 26, 2018                       October 29, 2018

Nutbush                      Area 1              March 26, 2018                       October 1, 2018

Area 3              Open All Year                          Open All Year

Area 4              May 21, 2018                          September 3, 2018

Satterwhite Point/J.C. Cooper  Area 1 (Sites 1-42, 80-104, H1, H2, H3)

Open All Year                          Open All Year

Area 2 (Sites 43-79)    March 26, 2018                       October 29, 2018

Area 3 (Sites 111-123)    May 21, 2018           September 3, 2018

Group Area     March 26, 2018    October 29, 2018

US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS

The US Army Corps of Engineers operates several parks that offer camping as well as a number of day-use areas.  The campgrounds include North Bend Park, Rudd’s Creek, Longwood Park, and Buffalo Landing.

While there is no readily available list of campground opening and closing dates, there is a recreational link on the USACE website that gives some park information and contact info.  That link is:  http://www.saw.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation.aspx.

The weather is the major player in enjoying all these parks and campgrounds around Kerr Lake. So watch it, watch for it and plan accordingly.

With regards to getting out on the waters of Kerr Lake, please remember this, LIFE JACKETS WORN, NOBODY MOURNS!

To all of the 580+ members of Kerr Lake Park Watch and on behalf of them, we who operate Kerr Lake Park Watch wish you a wonderful camping and park season!