Taking camping to a new level
Campground will offer aboriginal experiences
New campground owners are promising their business will provide a twist on the traditional camping experience, from yoga to aboriginal crafting sessions to tipi accommodations.
Rosemarie and Austin Christmas, Sharon and Darrell Bernard, and Tim and Amanda Jesty have partnered to buy the former Englishtown Ridge Campground which will reopen as Kluskap Ridge RV and Campground in May.
“We decided to do this because we felt there was a need for a campground for big rigs,” Rosemarie Christmas said in an interview. “Trailers are getting bigger and we needed a place for us to go because there was no trailer park for us to take our trailers.”
The partners initially looked at land that was available for purchase to develop a campground and then learned that the Englishtown location was available.
“We popped in our trucks and we went to go look at the land and we pulled up and we realized it was the full campground that was for sale,” Christmas said.
“We loved everything about it, the lodge feel, because we’re very nature people and we like the rusticness.”
They developed a business plan and obtained funding and have embarked on some renovations. The partners have diverse backgrounds, currently working in fields including education, public services, health care, business and music, with two being members of the well-known Sons of Membertou. The emphasis of the business will be on encouraging outdoor healthy living, Christmas said, with yoga classes to be held in the mornings a few days a week. Christmas will also make use of her background as a fitness instructor and they plan on having nature hikes for adults and young people and will offer mountain bikes for rent.
“We also have a mountain bike trail being designed,” Christmas said. “We’re trying to make healthy living part of our campground.”
With many visitors interested in experiential tourism, aboriginal culture will also be integrated into the campground’s offerings.
“People are inquisitive and want to learn about aboriginal culture and we want to teach aboriginal culture,” Christmas said. “We want to give them the real experience, so you can stay in a real tipi.”
They will also have a community firepit in the evenings, with storytelling. There will also be drumming and beading demonstrations and even a mini-powwow and authentic foods.
“We’re trying to give people the most authentic aboriginal experience that we can,” Christmas said. “We want people to ask questions.”
They also plan to host retreats and invite students to visit the campground.
The location also allows visitors to easily explore the Cabot Trail and other attractions such as the Gaelic College and the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site. The campground’s season this year will run May 5-Nov. 13. The owners already have plans to expand next year, with another water feature and sports area.