Kinzua Beach Re-Opens

If the largest beach in the area is open and no one knows about it does it still admit visitors?

It does if you are the volunteer site hosts who landscape, maintain, and even operate a full-menu concession stand there.

Since June 1 two retired couples, one from New Mexico and another from Florida have been keeping the Kinzua Beach open with little fanfare, or attendance.

With enough gear to outfit a military expedition they have turned an eyesore into a spectacular spot for a picnic in the middle of the Allegheny National Forest just across the street from Kinzua Marina on Route 59. They are part of the volunteer  "Cradle of Forestry Interpretation Association." As site hosts they stress that admission to the area's largest beach is on the honor system which means visitors are asked to drop off a $5 fee per vehicle at the gate on entering. The admission fee funds the Cradle of Forestry organization which makes it possible to keep the beach open.

In exchange for their efforts the two couples get perhaps one of the best places in the nation to park their behemoth campers all summer, for free. But to them, getting a good deal on a camping site is secondary to their hopes that the area will remain a vibrant attraction to vacationers. One host recommended that as many people as possible attend an Allegheny National Forest public meeting at the Bradford Ranger Station on June 28. He fears the Department of Agriculture will start closing camping sites thoughout the national forest.

 

For the two couples, New Mexico or Florida may be the best place to spend the winter but they wouldn't come anywhere else for the summer. The beach was previously closed due to a malfunctioning septic system and lack of water supply. In addition, the Department of Agriculture cannot afford to fund lifesavers for the facility.

With port-a-johns installed and its pristine beauty restored and the concession stand re-opened, Kinzua Beach is back in business, at least for the rest of the summer.

But the couples share anxiety for the future of the facility. One host said that on one recent day he counted 20 cars that visited the beach for the day but no one made use of the honor system to self pay. RIght now, no one is available to staff the gate office and he figured that the beach lost $100 that may have contributed to its sustainability.

photos Copyright 2008

Still, despite setbacks in promoting tourism in the area, this group has settled down quite nicely to a long summer in Kinzua country. They have free access to a land telephone line and with a satellite dish they won't be missing any of their favorite TV shows. An ATV provided by the Forestry Service gives them all the transportation they need to explore a campsite they usually have all to their own. And they have an excellent security system.
For more information on the Cradle of Forestry program, visit its website.

--Chris Lareau

photos Copyright 2008

see related story: Kinzua Beach Closed for Second Straight Yeari

Comments

[James Conley]

My brother from Erie just called to tell me that whoever manages Kinzua Dam camping is closing the campsites down due to budget cuts. My question are: 1) is this true?, 2) who manages the park ?(NPS, Pennsylvania, Forestry Department), and 3) who would one contact to complain about the closing of the campgrounds?

My brother is a avid hunter, camper, and scuba diver. A closure of the campsites would be a great disservice to him and other avid campers in Western Pennsylvania who love your park.

[Melissa Fronczak]

If any of this has or will happen this will be a major disappointment. I have visited these mountains/beach and dam for the last three summers,and have really enjoyed it. My fiance' and myself think this area is the most beautiful ever ! We had camped for a week in the mountains and we thought it was free ! I still would have paid for the camping but a local in Warren had told us it was free camping, these are the most spectacular views I have ever seen ! I am from Buffalo,NY and have been to the N.Y side of the Allegheny mountains but with the expensive cost just to drive around the park , and to actually camp it could cost 50$ just for one day visiting and not even camping- those prices are astronomical (Surprise it's NY - everything is ridiculously expensive!!! )! (to tent camp I think is like 100$ for a week or more..The views are nice in N.Y but by far The Warren side of the mountains are just breathtaking. I am glad this couple has started taking care of the area.. they just need some help. If we were not stuck in N.Y I would move to Warren immediately, it is the only time I have found my true happiness, I would be desperately sad to see any of it go. If anyone maintains this site and would like to give me some information about this summer and proper information on camping, please feel free to email me @ missmf1@yahoo.com . I am willing to help !!! Thank you - Melissa F. Buffalo,NY

[Editor]

Try this link: http://theallegheny.com/camping.html

From there you should be able to find some good contacts on the prospects for this Spring and Summer.

[David Wooledge]

The National Forest Services manages Allegheny National Forest.