The Lebanon Reservoir Story: The Campground
The roots of the current campground date the late 1940s when Carolyn Hartshorn and her husband Gailan began clearing the long-neglected and overgrown farmland for cash crops. The main Hartshorn dairy farm, Lamaga Stock Farm, was three miles away just outside the hamlet of Lebanon where the Hartshorns raised their family. The farm was known for its outstanding herd of registered Holstein cattle. Son Truman, and daughters Mary Karen, Louise, and Lois, grew up in Lebanon and assisted at the farm.
By 1954, a picnic grounds was established on the shores of Lebanon Reservoir, which continued to expand into the next decade. A bathroom facility followed as well as a pole barn for storage in 1959, later converted into a game room and recreation pavilion. An old pea picker two-room cabin located on the property was moved to its current location in 1954 (now the campground office and a residence, receiving major additions and rennovations in 1955, 1971, and 2001).
The first campers arrived in 1963 and Gailan and Carolyn became founding charter members of the Campground Owners of New York (CONY) association. Several landscaped terraces following the contours of the land overlooking the Reservoir were laid out in the late 1960s and camping rapidly expanded. A second pavilion was built in the mid-1960s along with bathroom and shower facilities. More full-hookup sites were added in the 1970s and the first seasonal campers arrived, with families staying several decades. The number of terraces increased to nine and each was named alphabetically for a tree, using the letters A to L: Aspen, Beech, Cedar, Dogwood, Elder, Fir, Hemlock, Juniper, and Linden. Other campsite areas took their names from their setting: Orchard, Ridge, and Bluff. Before the campsites were lengthened and upgraded to accommodate larger units and improved wiring and water service in the 1980s and 1990s, the campground offered over 150 sites, but the number later dropped to 135 as RV units required more space.
In recent years emphasis has been placed on updating facilities and the infrastructure. A bathroom facility was completed in 2008, driveway paving in 2009, and a new septic facility in 2010. An updated website provided improved exposure for the business in 2011, online reservations were offered for the first time, and kayak rentals debuted. Marketing efforts have also accelerated as the Campground expanded its advertising outreach and RV show presence by hosting a booth at the Central NY RV show in Syracuse in March 2011. Campground hiking trails as well as the two-mile corridor around the Reservoir remain popular for exercise and nature walks. Swimming in the Reservoir, fishing, and boating all offer great opportunities for family recreation while camping. Daily, weekly, monthly, and seasonal rates are available. Seasonal campers now occupy about one-half of the campsites. Planned activities remain popular, including the long-running Campers Christmas weekend in late July.
Welcome | Features | Rates | Events | Gallery | Travel Info | History | Reserve | Sitemap | Email Us