Pike Lake Campground is located at 1011 E Arthur St, Warsaw. InkFreeNews photo by Lasca Randels

Staff Report

WARSAW — A year of uncertainty and social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic has left many people feeling stressed and in need of a vacation. 

Some aren’t ready to embrace flying or staying at crowded hotels and resorts quite yet – hence the spike in RV park and campground bookings.

While the travel/tourism industry overall has been hurt by the pandemic, camping is thriving. Due to a reported lower risk of virus transmission outdoors, camping is viewed by many as a relatively safe vacation option.

A multitude of people chose to spend summer 2020 on campsites and in RVs, but bookings for this summer are skyrocketing by as much as 500%, according to a story on Forbes.com.

Warsaw Parks Superintendent Larry Plummer said they have received several advance bookings for the Pike Lake Campground, which opens April 15. 

A representative from Lakeview Campground in Rochester said they have been receiving reservations throughout the winter and spring and are looking forward to a busy summer. The campground opens April 16.

Hoffman Lake Campground in Warsaw opened April 1 under new ownership. 

“I don’t know what the usual reservations were for this time of year for the previous managers, but from what I am getting it will be a fantastic year,” said Hoffman Lake Campground’s new owner, Stacie Anderson. 

For those interested in camping this summer, below is a list of campgrounds in and around Kosciusko County: 

• Hoffman Lake Campground Inc
• Pike Lake Campground 
• JT’s Lakeside Campground
• Forest Ridge Family Campground
• Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park
• Pla-Mor Campgrounds Inc.
• Camp and Fish LLC
• Long Lake Resort
• Lakeview Campground
• Art’s Country Park
• Cottonwood Campground
• Hill Lake Resort Seasonal Campground
• Quaker Haven Camp
• Wabash City RV Park