State park campsites explore affordable ways to add comfort

Steady or improving attendance at Kansas state parks proves people still like camping in the great outdoors.

They’re just not quite ready to totally leave easy living – and technology – behind.

In some states Wi-Fi is being added to the parks. In Kansas, electricity is being run to campsites that are little more than a flat spot on the ground with a picnic table and a fire pit.

“Our millennials like to be able to charge a phone so they can stay connected,” said Linda Lanternman, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism state park director. “That’s one of the things we’re seeing change. ”

Lantern said that’s probably one reason why use of primitive campsites – those with no utilities – is on the decline. Another reason could be today’s campers simply want more comfort and better shelter.

Either way, Lantern said she and her staff are searching for ways to satisfy today’s state park users. That includes investigating alternative shelters that are comfortable, protective and affordable.

That means the day may soon come when Kansans could learn what it’s like sleep in a tepee on the high plains, or camp in the kind of giant-wall tent that big-game hunters have long adored in the Rocky Mountains.

Yurts, the shelters of the Mongolian steppes, are already available in Kansas parks, but more opportunities are probably coming.

“Not everybody wants to camp primitive, and not everybody can afford a modern cabin, so we’re trying to find things in between,” Lanterman said. “We know we have to keep changing to satisfy our state park users.”

Other states are also making adjustments.

Brent Leisure, Texas state parks director, said a growing number of their clients want more comfort and convenience.

“Anybody that’s camped much, at all, knows that sleeping on the ground when it’s wet can be absolutely miserable,” Leisure said.

“It’s really a problem if it’s someone’s first time (camping) and that happens. That can make it a one-and-done thing, and that’s a threat to our future.”

Kansas currently has 121 cabins for rent, most at state parks but a few at state fishing areas. Most of the cabins come as well equipped as many small houses, with private bedrooms, full bathrooms, electricity, heat, air-conditioning and hot water. Daily rates average about $100 per night.

Several years ago two canvas yurts were placed at Eisenhower State Park, at Melvern Reservoir, about 40 miles south of Topeka. Each is 16 feet in diameter, is well insulated, and comes with electricity, heat and air-conditioning, windows, a skylight, solid floors and beds where guests can lay out sleeping bags or take their own linens.

Directly outside, each yurt has a deck, picnic table, fire pit and running water. Shower and bathroom facilities are across the road. The cost is $45 per night.

Dale Schwieger, Eisenhower State Park manager, said the yurts have been used by a variety of campers. Often a yurt is rented along with a nearby cabin for sizable family gatherings.

Some campers occasionally rent a yurt rather than invest in costly camping equipment, especially if they’re camping with children.

Yurts also provide peace of mind if conditions get bad. So far they’ve survived winds to 80 mph and rains that flooded out most campers in tents.

Amber Capoun, of Topeka, said her family of five, which includes three girls, has reserved a yurt at Eisenhower for summer holiday weekends for about eight years. She said the structures are perfect for the family’s needs.

“We don’t have to pitch a tent and worry about it,” she said. “For us the air-conditioning is big because we’re not trying to get little kids to sleep in a 100-degree tent.

“For us the price is reasonable, and we just have fun. We don’t have to worry about things floating down the road if it storms. We’re dry.”

Other options for campsites

Other states offering yurts and other alternative shelters are finding good success.

Bill Bryan, Missouri State Parks director, said the state’s most requested shelter is a yurt at Lake of the Ozarks State Park.

Margaret Taylor, Colorado State Parks assistant director of parks, said most of their yurts are reserved far in advance.

Yurts can save money for the state park, as well as for those who use them. Lanterman estimates it costs around $100,000 to build and equip a state park cabin. Yurts, depending on size and amenities, are closer to $15,000.

Schwieger and a few park staff members put the yurts up in a few hours, once the raised flooring was in place. They could be easily moved if needed.

At even less cost to state parks, and to campers, are the large canvas wall tents Lanterman is considering. Many are as large as 16-by-20 feet and, like yurts, are tall enough for adults to easily stand and move around. Many wall tents come with stovepipe holes so wood-burning stoves or other heaters could be added.

Lanterman envisions such tents set on solid bases, with electricity and possibly cots so campers only need to bring sleeping bags.

They’re even a fraction of the price of yurts, and the savings could be passed on to campers.

“I really think they’d be popular, especially with hunters,” Lanterman said. “They have that rustic appeal to them and wouldn’t be an expensive endeavor.”

She thinks tepees at a few state parks could be even less expensive, but popular.

“Kids love the whole experience of the thing, and so do a lot of adults,” Lanterman said. “It provides a feel you can’t get camping in a tent or staying in a cabin. Tepees are also part of our heritage.”

Bryan said Missouri is having good success with a growing number of “walk-in” camp sites. Basically campers use a loaned cart to get their camping gear down a trail a few minutes walk into the woods. A raised wooden platform provides a level, dry place for a tent.

To give a bit of a wilderness feel, most such sites are tucked into secluded areas so other campers can’t be seen.

“It still doesn’t take a lot of room,” he said. “We have 12 new sites on just four acres and none can see the others.”

Staying plugged in

While they may want to get away from other campers, today’s park users often don’t want to get away from technology. Bryan said free Wi-Fi is an important consideration at Missouri state parks.

There’s talk of possibly installing phone charging banks, which would be a stack of electrical outlets. Each would have its own lock box and key so campers could leave their phones to charge.

State parks are also having to improve their electrical offerings where electricity has already been offered for years.

Colorado’s Taylor said their parks offered 30-amp hook-ups, then 50-amp hook-ups, and even those weren’t enough.

“We may have to come to 100-amp hook-ups (because) campers are getting bigger and bigger and bigger, and people want to be able to plug in all of their gadgets,” she said. “Someday we may have RVs so big they need two air-conditioners.

“That’s OK, that (comfort) probably means we’ll get a lot more people camping throughout more of the year.”

This story was originally published August 26, 2016 at 7:14 PM with the headline "State park campsites explore affordable ways to add comfort."