Changes at Old Mill Stream Campground, Lancaster, PA

We stay at this campground whenever we are in Lancaster, PA and that is several times a year. When we were there at the end of October 2013 we learned that for the first time the campground would be closing for the winter - then at the end of December. We had reservations to come back there at the beginning of December as a return stop from Virginia, but because of very bad weather, that trip was cancelled. It was not until the Spring that I started planning for trips that would begin in the Spring and into the summer. For some reason I decided to go to the Old Mill Stream website. I was a bit taken back to find a very different looking website. It had become a website plainer in appearance and the personal touches of the previous site were gone. I also saw that there were some major changes at the campground over the winter. This campground has been owned by the Dutch Wonderland Amusement Park (a theme park for young children located on the lot adjacent). I began to wonder if with the changes the very nice couple who managed the campground were still there. Over the several years of going there we had become friendly with the people who work there and felt like we were with friends when we were there.

To read my first review of this campground please see this article. Many things are still the same. If they are not the same, you will read about the changes here. 

It was not until we actually walked through the door of the office to check in on our next trip there that we were certain that these same very nice, friendly and accommodating people were still managing the campground and were still there. The people are the same but there have been changes.

The most important change has been the conversion of the "T" sites - sites that had one common entrance to two camper spaces - into independent back in sites. I have been in "T" sites here a few times and never liked them. If you were the only one in the site there was no problem, of course. But if you were sharing the site with a large trailer that needed room to hitch up to leave while you were in the site, there was a potential problem. (Though one skilled trailer tow car driver managed to do it without a problem with us in front of him once.) Many reviews of this campground mention the "T" sites as undesirable and a negative. All of those sites with the exception of one are gone. The one that remains has its front site as a pull through - a site we have been in many times and has been a site we preferred over some others. So, if you read about this campground in reviews and you see "T" sites mentioned - they are GONE! As half of the campground had been these "T" sites, this is a major change.

Another change has been the addition of cabins, taking the place of several sites and also four sites for Teepees that are complete with furnishings. We saw the small cabins - and they are typical of what you find at campgrounds. I was really curious to see a teepee and the furnishings inside. There were none set up when we were there in the sites they are designated in on the map. It may be that they set these up as needed or they have not yet set them up yet. They are listed on the rate schedule.

*This campground will now continue to close for the winter but not at the end of December but rather at the end of November. This actually causes a personal problem for us as we come back here when we go to Virginia in the first week of December - and now that will no longer be possible. There are other campgrounds that remain open in this area 12 months a year (not all but some) and we will have to go to one of those if we have decent weather to travel to the outdoor winter event we go to in Virginia. (We actually took a few detours to see some of those campgrounds on this most recent trip and found some to be on roads so twisting into the mountains that there would be no way I would want to drive that in the winter with possible ice in the dark. We did find two that would be fine and we will have to decide between the two before next December.)

*During a September visit I asked about their closing for the winter and I was told that despite what the website says, they will be open all year. The will not close for the winter - which is good news for us!  On our next trip, I will confirm this and make sure it is true.

Check in and check out time has also changed. In the past both were 2:00 pm. They decided to give some time between the two and now check in is at 3:00 pm and check out is at 11:00 am. As we are not morning people this check out time concerned me, as we generally spend the final morning of our stay here dumping the tanks and refilling the fresh tanks - even if just to have water on board for the trip home. This all can take some time unless one likes getting up and out early - which we don't. I spoke about this with our friend at the desk and I no longer have any concern about it.

I have held the negative change for last - the rates have increased and they have increased a lot. The rate has been $48 a night for the past two years and I recall less than that our first year coming here. On season rates are now $55 Sunday to Thursday, $60 Friday and Saturday, and $65 for holiday weekend nights. These are full hook up sites - electric, water, sewer, and cable - 20 amp/30 amp/50 amp. There are about 4 electric and water only sites for less. Off season rates are now less.  This now makes this campground the most expensive of the other campgrounds in the area - though some of those campgrounds charge additional for "extras" that are included here. This is now the most expensive campground that we stay in. Yes, it is a lot. It is actually less than some areas in the Northeast. Location is prime here. This campground is in the heart of the Pennsylvania Dutch attractions. It also has a fishing stream across the back border of the campground and a full view of farm fields and pastures behind across the stream. I have often seen cows at the stream - and in the stream - as we have gotten ready to head out for the day. None of this really justifies the price that they are now charging. For now, I am willing to pay the increased rates. We will see what happens in the future especially after we experience one of the two that we have found for the winter. And for all I know the other campgrounds here will follow suit and raise their rates also. Hotels here have become very expensive and this area has visitors steady from April to January. This is a popular area to travel to and this campground fills and books to full for holiday weekends a year in advance. As I have said in articles about our trips to this area, this is my home away from home. When I come I want no stress and to know that things are as I expect them to be. I have that here - at least now that I know what has changed and what remains the same.

The restrooms and showers are spotless and there are "single room restroom/showers available - often called Family Restrooms. Cable reception is still 48 channels and wifi is good.  There are clean laundry machines. Sites remain fairly level. It does take some maneuvering in the space with the Roadtrek to find the spot on the site that is level. With the new changes, they have raised the dump pipe up about six inches on each site. I now longer will be driving over it backing into the site. (No that could not have been me!  ;)  )  Sites are shady and the whole campground is in the "woods" with trees everywhere. Roads in the campground are paved. Sites are gravel. There is a small shop selling some RV accessories, snacks, and fishing things. They also sell propane.

One other positive change that has nothing to do with the campground. I am able to now get a number of over the air antenna channels here without having to raise the antenna on the roof of the Roadtrek. This was not so in the past. The area broadcasters must have increased their signals. There is one over the air channel that comes into our cable at home that we like to watch and that is not on the line up of cable channels here - so late at night when we are looking to watch that here, all we do is push the antenna button and set the TV to antenna channels and there it is. A few button clicks and we can go back and forth. We always could get it in the past with the antenna up here but now that is not necessary.

So there you have it. I still recommend it - aside from the new rates. If you don't want to pay this much try one of the others, there are several to choose from. If you don't like staying in campgrounds then don't come here or to any of them in this area  - or anywhere. Everyone is free to make the choice they favor. I like campgrounds and knowing I have a site for the night and power to plug into to use our air conditioner. It gets hot here in the summer and inside the Roadtrek the temperature has risen to over 100 degrees F. For health and comfort I will pay for a campground.