The following
article is from August 31, 2003, Sunday Leader-Herald. By Alison Swartz
Some people
"rough it" and some people "go all out." It's your
choice at Royal Mountain Campsites.
Locate on
Route 29, Nine miles west of Johnstown, Royal Mountain Campsites specialize
in "Happy Campers." The experience is a relaxed atmosphere
hidden at the base of Royal Mountain on the border of the Adirondack
Park. It's situated behind acres of pines where you can not hear any
road traffic.
Fifteen
years ago, owners and operators Joan and Tom Dudley bought the property
when it only had 10 campsites and was overgrown. They were thinking
ahead to retirement and thought it'd be a nice way to supplement their
income in the future. After their first couple of years at the campsite,
it was time to move their office out of their home adjacent to the campground,
and they decided to open an office and ice cream shop next door. At
the time there was no place to stop for snacks and ice cream on Route
29 between Johnstown and Dolgeville, and they decided to have a place
for their guests and passersby.
"You
can't mess with success. Grow your business a little at a time,"
Joan Dudley said.
Throughout
their 15 years, Joan and Tom Dudley did grow their business little by
little. Today, Royal Mountain Campsites has 80 sites, 36 of them are
for the full seasonal term, and the others are rented out during the
week and weekends, or whatever their guests prefer. A large pond rests
in the middle of the campground and is stocked with fish every years.
Many of their guests of all ages enjoy fishing in Granny's Pond. The
squaw Stream is fed by the pond and can be crossed at their covered
bridge.
Royal Mountain
Campsites also has a covered and enclosed pavilion for rent that holds
up to 100 people. It's fully equipped with a refrigerator, stove, grill,
roasters and even a fire place to cozy up to when it gets chilly. Some
of their overnight guests use it, and those staying the night may also
hold their parties there.
Many campers
bring their RVs, camper trailers and pop-ups while some still rough
it with tents. But, those who don't have those resources can rent Royal
Mountain's cabin, which sleeps six and has it's own television, refrigerator,
ceiling fan, heater and gas grill. New this year to Royal Mountain Campsites
is a tepee. Guests enjoy this form of camping Native American Style.
People come
from all over the world, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, England and
the list goes on. Royal Mountain ads are seen in three of the top leading
camping magazines, which has contributed to a great deal of the tourism
for Fulton County.
"We
send a lot of our campers to the local tourism attractions," Joan
Dudley said. "We can't keep brochures on our racks. People take
them left and right."
Many of
their seasonal guests are from the south and come to the campsites year
after year. They camp all summer and go back home in late autumn. According
to Joan Dudley, one family has stayed with them for the past 14 years.
Little did
they know how busy they'd be and how successful both the campsite and
ice cream business has been. Some evenings the ice cream parking lot
is completely full. That parking lot has been increased a couple of
times in the last few years too.
Granny's
ice cream is open daily from 11:30 A.M. to 10 P.M. through Labor Day.
It closes at 9 P.M. through Columbus Day. Each week they feature a different
flavor of ice cream and frozen yogurt as well at their regular menu
which includes hot dogs, sausage peppers and onions, chips, macaroni
and potato salads, ice cream cakes and other ice cream desserts.
Royal Mountain
Campsites offers the following in addition to the previous information:
RV Parts & Accessories, electric and water hookups, shaded and sunny
sites, hot showers, cabin rentals, dump station, picnic tables, rest
rooms, horseshoes, laundromat, badminton, fire rings, volleyball, bocci
ball, ice cream, snack bar, hiking and LP Gas.
Joan Dudley
works daily around the clock and only sets herself 15 hours a week of
time off. She starts at 6 A.M. and sometimes earlier than that.
"It's
a fun business to have, but it takes a lot of work, care and love for
this type of business," she said.
And it shows.
Their sites are well kept throughout the season. They clean and mow
a solid two days plus per week, and also recently put in a new electrical
service, "enough for maybe a few more sites to add" I said
joking to her.
Joan Dudley
shared some interesting stores about her experience. And this only goes
to show you how much care Joan and Tom Dudley put in to this business.
A couple
of gentlemen from Norway stayed at their camp site a few years ago who
spoke very little English. They wanted to go out to dinner and Joan
and Tom Dudley gave them a few options. As the men left in their RV
to go out, Tom noticed that they were dragging their electrical cord
from the back and had forgotten to unhook it before they left their
campsite. Tom Dudley tired to wave them down as they were leaving, but
they only waved back. So Joan and Tom Dudley knew that when the two
men returned they'd have some repairs to do that night. They were up
repairing their electrical unit until 2 A.M.
Royal Mountain
Campsites and Granny's Ice Cream is located at 4948 Route 29 at the
junction of Route 10 South of Rockwood. Their season starts in April
and continues through October. For more information about camping at
Royal, call the Dudleys at 518-762-1946.
Alsion
Swartz is tourism director for the Fulton County Regional Chamber of
Commerce and Industry.
