Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Amherstburg, Ontario is a Delight for Families!
By Harold Merton
If you ask any youngster who that cartoon character is that's on our
front
cover this issue it doesn't take long for them to exclaim ..."Yogi
Bear!"
Yogi is one of the best recognized cartoon figures of all time and it
is a
natural to pair Yogi and his cartoon friends with kids. That's exactly
what Leisure Systems Inc. did years ago when they licensed Yogi and the
other characters from the cartoon's creators Hanna-Barberra. Leisure had
a great idea to use Yogi as an icon for a campground system that would
cater to kids and it worked! If you go to any Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park
Camp-Report you'll see the kids having a great time. My wife says it is
wonderful that kids can be kids and wander around the campground in safety
having the time of their lives. This has been our finding at all the Yogi
parks we have visited. Go to a Yogi park and you'll see dozens of kids
having fun! Our closest Yogi campground is in Amherstburg, Ontario, not
to far from Windsor. The site has been a campground for as long as we
have published Scope. It was originally opened as Borrowman's Grove by
Calvin Borrowman and his wife Donna. They took a large piece of family
farmland that was located adjacent to their home property and built a
camping resort that thousands have visited over the years. About 1980
Calvin and his son Douglas decided to convert the campground to a Yogi
Bear Jellystone Park and they haven't looked back since.
Photos by Harold Merton
This park is a delight to visit and has as many kids activities as we
have
ever seen at a campground. We featured this park over 20 years ago but
felt it was time we went back and did an update in our 40th year of publication
last year. We're pleased to say that both Borrowman families are now personal
friends and even though they were fully booked on the date we decided
to visit last July Doug found us a spot beside his personal RV. It was
a holiday weekend when we pulled up to the attractive entrance and checked
in. We were shown to our site and took a few minutes to set up, hook up
and put the awning up. Then we walked around to join in the fun.
The Borrowmans spent a fantastic amount of money the previous year putting in a new swimming pool and splash pad complex but they got a fantastic features in return. Any campground operator that might doubt the potential possibility of a splash pad complex should stand outside the fence and watch the kids having fun for a few minutes.
Kids of all ages scream with glee as they move through colorful shower arches, step on bubbling steams and jets of water that come up out of the ground, and the other water features in the splash pad and pool area. They can then skip back to the wading pool having the best of both water worlds. We think the new splash pad and pool area was a great idea and so do the kids and their parents. As we were watching the water fun a crowd started to gather in a lineup in front of the store. It was almost time for the Yogi and friends wagon ride. Costumed characters of Yogi, Cindy, Boo Boo and others are loved by the kids and when it comes time for a ride they are there. They climb on the wagon then a few minutes later it pulls out. Those who are left in the line wait or it to return a few minutes later.
At other times the kids and their parents can take a "Walk with Yogi" and you will see a number of very young children trying to take Yogi's hand as they walk through the park with parents trailing along. Bike and cart rentals are extremely popular at this park.
It doesn't matter what time of the day you look out there are kids peddling the carts with the high red flags through the roads in the park.
They can also keep themselves busy in the fabulous game room, at the outdoor pool tables or at the mini golf. The playground adjacent to the pool area is always busy and if you've lost a child then chances are you will find them there.
When the sun sets you'll find dozens of kids and their parents sitting in lawn chairs at Yogi's outdoor movie theater. Of course there are Yogi cartoons! Some weekend evenings they host a teen dance in the Cindy Pavilion and the same location also is the venue for one of the best campground breakfasts anywhere. For a nominal amount you can have the run of the buffet with traditional brunch items like bacon, sausage, eggs, pancakes etc.
Calvin and a number of family, staff and volunteers cook up the goodies on Sunday mornings and if you are there you better not miss it! There are a great many families that vacation here. The park rents several large cabins that will house a couple of families at a time. We found many non-RV owners enjoying the facilities. They also have several RVs on sites that they rent. Those cabins really need another name because they are well outfitted including bathrooms. If you are interested in the cabins book well ahead because they are popular.
In the camp store you will find a huge selection of confectionery, staple
food items, clothing, recreational and camping items. They also have a
fabulous snack counter where you can buy hamburgers, hot dogs, fries,
ice cream etc. Calvin still gets up early to cook up the day's supply
of donuts. He has been doing it for years and the regulars place their
orders ahead of time. This park has about 330 sites along with the cabin
and trailer rentals. All sites have water and electric. There are two
dump stations and they also offer a pump-out service. Adults can have
a good time here too. Most of them seem to be happy just relaxing under
the big shade trees or taking a walk with the family. There are three
pavilions available for various uses. Other recreation facilities include
horseshoes, a huge field for soccer and other games and there is a sand
volleyball area. This park has won their share of Yogi system awards.
They took home the Excellent Award and Pinacle Club from 1980 to 2004
and in 2004 received the Facility Theming Special Recognition Award. Calvin
and his wife Donna are semi-retired, if you call making donuts everyday,
painting signs and doing an assortment of chores in relationship to the
park semi-retired. He has a new motorhome and we know he will put as many
miles on it as he can. Doug and his wife Wendy now manage the park and
you'll find them in a variety of places during your stay. They are the
type of people who enjoy what they do and it makes a difference! The Yogi
statement "Where you camp with friends" is definitely true at
this park. If you have children then we'll bet they would love to visit
this great park! Make sure you have advance reservations though because
even with over 300 sites they fill up in season.
The park is located 20 miles from the Detroit-Windsor tunnel and bridge
and 1 1/2 miles east of Amherstburg on Pike Road. Take Hwy 401 to Bridge
exit (Howard Ave.). Left to Pike Road then right 2 miles.
Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resort
Amherstburg, Ontario
4610 Essex County Road 18
RR # 1,
Amherstburg ON N9V 2Y7
519.736.3201
Fax: 519.736.5535
www.campybear.com
email: fun@campybear.com