Campgrounds see an increase in bookings as the summer weather approaches
The demand is high just two days into this year’s camping season.
“There won’t be enough campsites this year for people wanting to camp in Ontario,” says Camping in Muskoka owner Paul Cook.
Many are eager to get outdoors after two years of pandemic restrictions.
Camping in Muskoka, previously known as KOA Gravenhurst, opened its campground last week, and it hasn’t taken long for slots to start booking up.
“Every long weekend for the summer is already reserved. We have no sites left for every long weekend,” says Cook.
Cook says there are no restrictions this year, which means the campsite can run at full capacity and extra facilities like the pool can open for the first time in years. However, he says staffing is still an issue.
“We’re at half the staff that we would have during the summer when we get going, and I haven’t had many people apply for jobs,” adds Cook.
It’s a similar scene over at KOA Holiday Barrie.
“I think we could have a record year for sure. Based on the reservations we have already, it looks like it’s trending that way,” says Manager Josh Kuiack.
The campground is already half full with the warm weather the past few days.
Campers and staff feel that this summer will be a return to normalcy.
“We have a lot of campers that come every year, so it’s nice to see the ones that were kinda nervous with COVID. It’s nice to see them back and getting the big crowds up again,” says Kuiack.
KOA is fully booked out for the May long weekend and has limited spots left for the rest of the summer.
So if you’re thinking of booking, campsite officials say it’s best to do so as soon as possible.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Courteney Cox says her partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in therapy
Courteney Cox's longtime partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in a therapy session.
Are Canadians getting sick from expired food?
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.