LEISURE LAKE CAMPGROUND, RUTHVEN, ONTARIO
By Harold Merton, Publisher
As I mentioned in an earlier issue, one of our goals in our 40th anniversary year last year was to get out to visit some of the campgrounds that have been advertisers in our publication for years but are in an area that we had yet to visit. Campgrounds on direct routes to some of the events and shows we attend are easy for us to reach and visit but there are some that are in areas that require us to make a special trip. In a way it is good that we decided to make an extra effort last year to visit some of these parks because we found that we have been missing a lot. One of the campgrounds on our list was Leisure Lake Campground at Ruthven, Ontario, a small community near Leamington.
Photos by Harold Merton
The Sartori family has been operating the campground for 32 years on property they have owned for over 50 years. Gary Sartori opened the camapground and continues to operate it today assisted by his daughter Sonya and son Scot. We were pleasantly surprised when we visited the park last September right after the Ruthven Apple Festival which had been held at Colasanti's, a major garden centre in Ruthven, just a few miles from Leisure Lake Campground. The park was conveniently located and directions in their ad in Scope took us right to the entrance. They have over 450 sites and as we drove down the driveway we could see why this park is so popular. There were waterfront lots everywhere. Four little lakes are located at the park, Lake Stevie, Dude Lake, Lake of Cy's and Leisure Lake. They are the result of gravel operations many years ago.
The water is very attractive and the shores are well landscaped making it delightful. Sites at Leisure Lake Campground are varied. They offer 20, 30 and 50 amp. electrical service.
Many seasonal units are in place in an attractive setting on the water's edge. Some residents have done extensive work to their sites giving us an impression that we were in southern parks where sites are located on the waterways. In the middle of Leisure Lake is a small island Bradley Island. Another, Anthony Island is located in Lake of Cy's.
The campground office, general store and recreation hall is centrally
located and is much more extensive than one might expect to find in a
local campground. It is obviously very popular and when we visited several
couples were enjoying a snack in the lounge area which was just off the
pool table room.
The pool tables are very good and very popular. One would think they dropped into a pool room in a commercial building in town. The campground operators place a heavy emphasis on recreation and activities.
There is a playground, basketball and volleyball courts, a tennis court, horseshoe pits, a soccer field, baseball diamond and a mini golf. Throughout the summer there are a number of regular activities including arts and crafts for kids on a daily basis in high season and three days a week prior to July 5th and after August 24th, excluding holidays. (Note: We are using their 2005 dates in this story). There are movies for the kids on rainy days and Bingo every Friday night from mid May to October. Adults can enjoy euchre two days a week from July to September and there is pool for teens aged 13 to 18 on Sundays from July 10th to August 21st. Adults can also take part in organized pool tournaments two days a week from July 6th to August 24th. Final tournaments are also held at the conclusion.
us when we visited. We awarded this campground our "Best Campground Recreation Room Award" last year. (See last issue for a full list of all winners) Baseball, pool, dart and volleyball tournaments are held throughout the summer and prove to be extremely popular with those who camp at Leisure Lake Campground. As we look through the list of activities that they supply new campers with, it is obvious that there is plenty to do here. In May 2005 there was a New Years Party, a Clown Show, Horseshoe Tournament and Fireworks Display. In June they had a poker tournament, a gin tournament, a Scotch Double pool tournament and a spaghetti dinner.
When July arrived they had a dance, a volleyball tournament, horseshoe
tournament, a flea market, an auction, Christmas, Mardi Gras, a 50s weekend, a 50s car show, a kids' field day, volleyball, horseshoe tournament and an adult dance. The August schedule included Halloween, an adult dance, a Chili Cook-Off, a Mexican Fiesta, team pool league play-offs, a Texas Hold Up Tournament an a Hawaiian day for kids and adults. September brought family entertainment, adult volleyball tournament a pool tournament and a Sweetheart dance.
October's schedule included euchre, pool and darts, the Don Hart Memorial Pool Tournament and a pot luck dinner. There is one designated swimming area in the campground on Lake Cy's. It has been sloped to make it as safe a possible. Swimming is allowed during
daylight hours. The washroom building was modern, adequate and very clean. They even have a storm cellar located under one of the utility buildings that could be used in the event of severe storms. This campground is very spacious. When you take an evening walk you can
see that some of the original sites are huge. They would take up the space of three spots in some of the campgrounds that we have recently visited. These sites are occupied by neatly landscaped seasonal units.
Newer RV sites are not quite as large but are quite adequate for the RVs that we use. The services were good and properly located on the site. One thing that impressed us here was the open space. There is a lot of common space, especially around Lake Stevie which is adjacent to the entrance road. We just did not get the feeling that we were crowded anywhere in this park.
Fishing is allowed in any lake except the swimming area or near occupied lots. Bass can only be taken in July 1st to closing day dates.
Firewood, ice, trailer parts, sundries and laundry facilities are available
in the store. They also offer trailer rentals on sites and you can rent pedal bikes, aqua cycles and boats. There is plenty to do in the area as well including towns of Leamington, Kingsville & Wheatley, Point Pelee National Park and Pelee Island. If you are looking for a fine campground for overnight, the weekend of a week or more, then this is one you probably would enjoy - we certainly did!
Leisure Lake Campground
510 Essex Road 31
RR # 2
Ruthven ON N0P 2G0
Phone 519.326.1255
Fax 519.326.0213
www.leisurelakecamp.com
Email: ino@leisurelakecamp.com