Happy Labor Day!

Thanks to all of our campers who came out to celebrate Labor Day at Hickory Hollow. The weather was beautiful and we had so much fun with hayrides…..hay”walks”, Duck Races, campground flea markets, Bingo, DJ’s and our annual Labor Day picnic with a performance by Partner’s in Crime.

Have you ever wondered while we celebrate Labor Day?

Observed on the first Monday of September in the United States, is a day dedicated to celebrating the achievements and contributions of workers and the labor movement. It’s a time to relax, enjoy the company of family and friends, and reflect on the importance of the labor force that drives our economy and enriches our lives.

The Origins of Labor Day

The idea of a day dedicated to workers emerged during the late 19th century when labor movements were gaining momentum. The labor conditions at the time were often harsh, with long working hours and poor wages. The first Labor Day parade took place on September 5, 1882, in New York City, organized by the Central Labor Union. The event marked a peaceful demonstration for workers’ rights and better working conditions.

Official Recognition

Labor Day gained official recognition when it became a federal holiday in 1894, signed into law by President Grover Cleveland. It was a response to the violent clashes between striking workers and the military during the Pullman Strike of 1894. Recognizing the need to mend relations with the labor movement, Labor Day was established as a day to honor workers and their contributions.

Significance of Labor Day

Labor Day serves as a reminder of several crucial aspects of society:

1. Workers’ Rights: It highlights the importance of fair labor practices, safe working conditions, and the right to collective bargaining.

2. Economic Contributions: Workers drive the economy through their dedication and hard work, contributing to the prosperity of their communities and the nation as a whole.

3. Time for Rest: Labor Day offers a much-needed break for workers to relax and recharge, emphasizing the importance of work-life balance.

How Labor Day Is Celebrated

1. Parades and Festivals: Many cities across the United States host Labor Day parades and festivals. These events often feature marching bands, floats, and various entertainment options for families.

2. Picnics and Barbecues: Labor Day weekend is synonymous with outdoor gatherings, where friends and families come together to enjoy good food, games, and quality time.

3. End of Summer: Labor Day also symbolizes the unofficial end of summer. It’s a time when people often take trips, visit the beach, or go camping to savor the last moments of warm weather.

4. Shopping Sales: Retailers often offer special discounts and sales during Labor Day weekend, making it a popular time for shopping.

Labor Day is more than just a day off from work; it’s a time to acknowledge and appreciate the contributions of workers who have shaped our society. As you enjoy your weekend, take a moment to reflect on the value of labor, the progress made in workers’ rights, and the importance of balancing work and leisure. Whether you spend it with a barbecue, at a parade, or simply relaxing at home, Labor Day is an opportunity to celebrate the dedication and hard work that make our world run smoothly.

The Sweet Symphony of S’mores: A Delicious Campfire Tradition

There’s something undeniably magical about gathering around a crackling campfire, surrounded by nature’s serene beauty, and indulging in the quintessential camping treat – s’mores. The delectable combination of gooey marshmallows, smooth chocolate, and crispy graham crackers has become synonymous with outdoor adventures and fireside storytelling. Join us on a journey through the history of s’mores, explore different recipes, and learn how to make these heavenly delights while camping and If you’re visiting Hickory Hollow Campground this weekend, be sure to stop in at our S’mores Social on Saturday afternoon.

The Birth of S’mores:

The origins of s’mores can be traced back to the early 20th century. The first recorded recipe for “Some Mores” appeared in a 1927 publication called “Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts.” This suggests that s’mores were likely popularized by the Girl Scouts who embraced the simplicity and deliciousness of this campfire treat. The name “s’mores” is a contraction of “some more,” indicating how irresistible the treat is, urging people to ask for seconds.

Classic S’mores Recipe:

The classic s’mores recipe requires only three ingredients:

1. Graham Crackers: These sweet and slightly crumbly crackers serve as the foundation for the entire ensemble.

2. Marshmallows: Opt for traditional white marshmallows, which turn golden and gooey when toasted.

3. Chocolate: Milk chocolate bars work exceptionally well, but feel free to experiment with your favorite chocolate variations, such as dark chocolate or flavored bars.

Making S’mores Around the Campfire:

1. Prepare your campfire: Find a safe and designated area for your campfire. Once it has burned down to a bed of hot coals, you’re ready to go.

2. Assemble your materials: Break a graham cracker in half to form two squares. Place a piece of chocolate on one square.

3. Roast marshmallows: Skewer a marshmallow onto a long stick or metal skewer and hold it over the fire, rotating it slowly until it turns golden brown and starts to soften.

4. Build your s’more: Carefully slide the toasted marshmallow onto the chocolate-covered graham cracker. Press the other graham cracker square on top to create a sandwich-like structure.

5. Let it melt: Give the s’more a moment to allow the warmth of the marshmallow to melt the chocolate slightly. This creates a delightful, gooey texture.

6. Enjoy! Savor each delicious bite, and don’t be afraid to lick your fingers.

Variations and Creative Twists:

While the classic s’mores recipe remains timeless, there are numerous ways to elevate this beloved treat:

1. Cookie Swap: Replace the graham crackers with your favorite cookies, such as chocolate chip, peanut butter, or even Oreos, for a unique flavor experience.

2. Fruity Delight: Add a layer of sliced strawberries, bananas, or even grilled pineapple to your s’mores for a refreshing twist.

3. Gourmet Chocolates: Experiment with different types of chocolate, like caramel-filled, mint-infused, or chili-spiced bars, to tantalize your taste buds.

4. Nutty Indulgence: Sprinkle crushed nuts, such as almonds, pecans, or hazelnuts, onto the melted chocolate for an added crunch and depth of flavor.

Anyway you stack them, a campfire is never complete without these delicious treats!

Cheers To The Real Heroes’

Real heroes don’t wear capes. Real heroes come in all shapes and sizes and wear uniforms and carry badges and stethoscopes.  Some wear blue uniforms with shiny badges, some wear white or orange and are ready to assist with any medical emergency, some show up in sizzling hot outfits to extinguish fires, some come ready to sniff out danger with 4 paws and fur, and some just show up in street clothes and volunteer to help in any way they can.  These are the First Responders that face challenges on the front line every day with grit, determination, and selflessness. Hickory Hollow Campground is thankful for the work these super stars do to protect our communities. We invite the public to celebrate with us this weekend as we honor and salute these brave men and women who come together and persevere through everyday incidents and extraordinary circumstances to keep us safe.  

Join us on Saturday, July 22 from 11-2 pm at the Haunted Hollow Field located off RT 281 directly across from the Hickory Hollow Campground to interact with some local First Responders. Whether it’s police officers, firefighters, first responders, or 911 dispatchers, it’s important to talk to and understand the challenges they are faced with. Learn why these special people run toward danger instead of running away from it.  Meet the heroes who protect our community, learn about the challenges they face, and how they make our communities better.  Experience what it feels like to sit in an emergency vehicle, take a photo with a real-life super hero, shake the paw of a trustworthy friend, share a story or thank them for their efforts.  We’ll add a little more fun to the event with an endurance race between Camp Owner Doug and Activity Director Abby to see who can carry their gear across the finish line first.  Then you’ll have the opportunity to check out the Milford Museum and view some vintage uniforms and antiques in a historic Bank Barn located adjacent to the camp property.  Guests are encouraged to bring a case of water or Gatorade to donate to the local responders, and enjoy lunch available at the concession stand. 

Cheers to those who inspire us and keep us safe!  

After the First Responder meet and greet, you can raise a glass or two in honor of them during our “Wine, Beer and Spirits Tasting” under the pavilion from 5-7 pm.  Adults are invited to join in on the fun as we share a sampling of some locally produced alcohol.   For our beer tasting, we will be sampling a few growlers of craft beer brewed in Rockwood by Trailhead Brewery that opened in early 2022.  Check out the brewery located just minutes from the campground at 402 Main Street, Rockwood when you have some spare time.

Christian W. Klay Winery is our winery of choice this year. A second-generation winemaking family they produce award winning, estate produced wines in a family-owned boutique winery located along Rt 40 in Chalk Hill. Learning from his mother, Christian learned to grow grapes and make wine but his real passion was whiskey.  So, for our spirit tasting, Hickory Hollow is sampling the Ridge Runner Distillery. The Distillery is an extension of the Christian W. Klay Winery which allows them to make grape-based liquors such as Grappa and Brandy.  From whiskey aged in fresh PA oak barrels, to their perfectly crafted vodka and un-aged moonshine made from grain, their offerings are sure to please any palette.  

Tonight, when you’re lighting the campfire and drinking beer, remember the first responder’s motto, “we don’t stop when we’re tired, we stop when we’re done” and salute our local heroes in a safe and respectful way. 

Rockin’ Around the Christmas “Campground”

The only season more fun than camping season is maybe…Christmas! But what happens when you bring these two great seasons together?  You get a festive Christmas in July camping weekend at Hickory Hollow Campground.  Now we’ll admit that the mountains in Pennsylvania aren’t hanging onto their snow-covered peaks like Colorado is, but remember the most popular Christmas color is green.  Greenery reminds us to honor the everlasting transformative element of nature and the campground is just radiating with summer energy.  So, we’ll take the sunshine and green over the white snow as we celebrate our Christmas in July weekend on June 15-16.  

Christmas in July doesn’t have to be overcomplicated, just choose a few of your favorite holiday traditions and have the most wonderful time of year happen, twice.  Planning ahead is important, so make sure to bring some fun decorations along this weekend.  The annual decorating contest will be judged on Saturday evening so most of our campers will be going to sleep with the glow of lights and Christmas music playing in their heads, instead of waking up to it.  Visit the camp store early for some great Christmas deals, or call the office ahead of time and you may also get a special visit from summer Santa.  In years past, Santa has been seen wondering around the campground passing out gifts to naughty, I mean good little campers.  If you fall into one of these categories, you may be on his list.   

If the smell of molasses and spice make you think about Christmas, why not try cooking Gingerbread Pancakes over the open griddle on Sunday morning as you continue the celebration.  Or cozy up to the morning fire with a peppermint or hazelnut hot chocolate, make it a hot toddy depending on your preference.   

• For the pancakes: Mix gluten-free pancakes mix, 2 Tablespoons of allspice, 10 tablespoons of melted butter, 1/3 cup of molasses, 1 cup of milk in a large bowl and mix well to make the pancake batter. Pour batter on a non-stick or well oiled griddle and cook, making sure to flip after 2 minutes and ensuring they are golden brown 

• For the gingerbread buttermilk syrup: bring 1/2 cup of butter, 3/4 cup of sugar, 1 teaspoon of allspice, 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon and 1/2 cup of buttermilk to boil. Remove from heat and add 1 teaspoon of gluten-free vanilla & 1 teaspoon of aluminum free baking soda 
•  Add some sugared berries or whip cream to top it off.   

The weather is expected to be beautiful this weekend, but if the heat starts to get to you later in the day, give a nod to the classic Christmas colors and bring out the more-season appropriate drinks like Strawberry Daiquiris or Margaritas.  Turn your water station into a melted snowman station, or plan ahead by making festive ice cubes by adding strawberries, mint or other seasonal embellishments to the tray before you freeze.   

You can’t really celebrate Christmas without the proper attire, so throw in a Santa hat, some red or green tank tops, or maybe go with a more tropical Christmas theme and think Hawaiian shirt or grass skirt to cover that bikini at the pool.  We certainly aren’t opposed to seeing shining Christmas light necklaces, matching family pajamas, or ugly sweaters this weekend.   Any other weekend this summer we may question those choices in attire, but not this one.    

Remember, when planning for Christmas in July, keep it simple and work with the season.  Check your Christmas list, before this weekend, so you’re prepared.   Think small simple gifts, homemade cookies to share, pavement chalk to decorate the campground with Christmas artwork, novelty Christmas sunglasses, a decorative Christmas cactus, solar powered garden lanterns, twinkling lights, and a sunny Christmas disposition to share with everyone.   Winter or summer, Christmas is a great time for extra hugs, counting our blessings, and sharing that special magic of the season with others.  Merry July Christmas, from Hickory Hollow Campground!  

Celebrate the Little Things

It’s a red, white and blue kind of weekend throughout the country and you will definitely see those colors around Hickory Hollow Campground this weekend. But some of you may be looking forward to seeing more blue, green and brown as you celebrate the birth of America’s Independence in a more relaxing and serene setting. While celebrating the 4th with traditional fireworks, picnics, and lots of activity can be fun, camping at Hickory Hollow Campground allows you to spend the weekend celebrating the freedom of outdoor exploration as well as all the traditional sparkles.

The campground will be filled with cool patriotic hats and airplanes this weekend thanks to the fun crafts our Activity Director has lined up for the kids, but it’s bubbles up for everyone when the foam machine comes out later in the day. When you get lost in bubbles, you find yourself at peace. Whether young or old, blowing bubbles is like magic and therapy for the soul so all ages welcome. Another soul fulfilling magical activity for some is shopping. The annual campground flea market and vendor show takes place Saturday from 9-2 under the pavilion for those of you looking for a little retail therapy along with your relaxation. When you’re done rummaging through the flea market and vendor booths, why not grab some friends and go on a nature scavenger hunt in search of red, white and blue?

July 4th is commonly celebrated with the snap, crackle, and pop of fireworks, and man has certainly done a great job of dazzling up the night with some really cool firework technology. But when you have the freedom to explore the outdoors, you’ll find that nature has a sizzling and explosive firework show going on all the time as well. Take a walk around the lake, or the walking trails within the campground or outside the camp property and find some beautiful red, white and blue to commemorate the special holiday. Look for a blue jay, a red raspberry, a white feather, or find a blue cloud, a red beetle, or a white mushroom. Try finding natures fireworks, an allium flower or wild onion or garlic that looks like a firework exploding, or maybe some ornamental grass or a plant or twig that may look like a sparkler. See how creative you can get looking for stars and stripes in nature’s leaves or plants. And of course, don’t forget to look for nature’s everyday little fireworks, the little fireflies that show up after dark.

Celebrating Independence Day is part of being American, but along with freedom, comes responsibility. In the interest of keeping the 4th safe and fun for everyone, the use of fireworks is strictly prohibited at Hickory Hollow Campground for the safety of our campers, their pets, and the environment surrounding the property. The best and safest way to enjoy fireworks this weekend is to check out the professional display in Somerset on Monday, July 3rd. Parking is available at the Somerset High School Football field located along S. Columbia Avenue.

This year as we celebrate the 4th of July, remember not to just look in the sky for fireworks, look for them in nature and in the eyes of all the people passing by. Advice from a firework: Be brilliant and awe inspiring, leave a little sparkle wherever you go, have a blast, shoot for the stars, make life colorful, make people happy, and celebrate your independence. “You are the fuse, your ideas, a lit match, let your sky be forever filled with fireworks.”

Life is Short, Make it Sweet!

We all know camping is s’more fun then lots of other activities, but if you have a real sweet tooth and a love for chocolate, Hickory Hollow Campground will surely measure up to your sweetness level this weekend.  Camping alone is sweet enough, but when you add some chocolate, some fun activities, and some willing participants, your experience may be just as awesome as munching on your favorite candy bar.  The weekend kicks off with a fundraising duck race with the proceeds going toward the memorial fund of Tika, Cory, and Baby Tucker. Then it’s all hands in the candy, when you get a chance to create your own rendition of a yummy chocolate bar. 

It’s no secret that camping and the outdoors is great for your health, but for campers, eating chocolate every day in not only acceptable, it’s also great for your wellbeing. 

1. Chocolate can be good for your heart- outdoor activities can get your heart pumping, but eating a small amount of chocolate can reduce your risk of heart disease.
2. Chocolate prevents liver damage- when you over indulge in alcohol, eat some dark chocolate to improve blood flow to the liver.
3. Chocolate boosts good cholesterol-reward yourself with some dark chocolate after a long weekend of eating camp food to lower your LDL over time. 
4. Chocolate is known for its psychological and emotional support benefits- think chocolate chip cookies after a busy day setting up the RV or playing at the pool.
5. Chocolate can protect your skin from sunburn -research found that women who drank hot chocolate fortified with flavonoids for three months were less effected by UV rays.
6. Chocolate boosts brain power- after a long weekend camping, eating chocolate can improve your cognitive performance on a Monday morning. 
7. Chocolate makes for a great breakfast treat – think chocolate croissants, or chocolate chip pancakes cooked over the open griddle on a Saturday morning.
8. Chocolate can liven up your barbecue – try a chocolate beer barbecue sauce.
9. Chocolate fudge can help you relax after a hot day at the pool when drizzled over your favorite ice cream flavor.
10. Chocolate is a great way to bond with your kids – adults are encouraged to make a candy bar this weekend alongside your kids.

Recipe for Smokin’ Chocolate Beer Barbecue Sauce:

2 Tablespoons vegetable oil

1 1/3 cup finely minced onion

2 large garlic cloves, finely minced

1/3 cup soy sauce

1 can (6 oz) tomato paste

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 cup Chocolate Stout Beer, pumpkin ale, or any dark beer

1 tablespoon cocoa powder

1 ½ teaspoon chipotle chili powder

2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 ½ ounces of semi-sweet chocolate chips

In a large saucepan over medium heat, heat the oil. Add onion and cook until nearly soft, about 2 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Add all remaining ingredients, lower heat and cook/simmer until thickened about 15-25 minutes. Great served over pork tenderloin.

Remember, it’s the sweet simple things of life which are the real ones after all. Happy camping all you chocolate lovers. 

“Fishing” You A Happy Father’s Day

Father’s Day serves as a reminder of the importance of fatherhood, so why not come and celebrate with some great fathers and their families this weekend at Hickory Hollow Campground. The weekend kicks off with our annual fishing tournament on Saturday at 9 am, and our delicious pancake breakfast on Sunday morning.

Dad certainly deserves a weekend to sleep in and relax, and Hickory Hollow is just the place to do that. But what dad can resist the temptation to get up early, find the perfect casting spot and feel that first tug on the line as they start reeling in the big one. That feeling only gets better when you include your family in on the fun. The full impact of how much fun fishing can be will be seen as you watch the smiles on the kid’s faces when they reel in their first fish. Fishing is the joy, catching is a bonus.

“The two best times to fish is when it’s raining and when it ain’t” so rain or shine, the annual fishing tournament offers lots of excitement as fish of all sizes are drawn from Lake Ann. Prizes will be awarded for the biggest fish, so come early and remember to bring your camera. While fish are a great source of protein and can taste pretty delicious cooked over an open fire, Hickory Hollow Campground has a catch and release philosophy so plan on taking memories home and not dinner.

When you are a father who loves to camp, you go from an ordinary man to a hero, an adventurer, a story-teller, and a life-long friend. Fathers can teach us a lot, but there are many lessons that can be learned from fishing too.

Lesson #1: Good things don’t always come to those who wait quickly. It’s no secret when that bobber doesn’t go under soon after that first cast, a fisherman’s patience can be tested. Patience is not the ability to wait but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting. But when you have the patience to wait it out, it usually pays off in the end.

Lesson #2: You don’t drift back where you started. A fisherman won’t always have luck in their favorite spot, so sometimes your eye catches what seems like a better place ahead to try. But before long, you look back and realize just how far you wandered from where you started and still no luck. Life provides you with many opportunities to “drift” in a similar way. Something catches your attention and you chase it because it seems like a great opportunity. There is nothing wrong with dreaming big, but don’t be prone to chasing dreams at all costs sacrificing precious time with family and friends for something that leaves you empty in the end.

Lesson #3: When you catch a big one-Celebrate. Catching a fish is fun, no matter what size the fish, but let’s not kid ourselves, reeling in a big one can be amazing and it makes the fun just a little bit more fun to celebrate. Life gives us many reasons to be sad or upset. Just remember, bad things happen to good people, and good things also happen to good people. So just like when you catch a big fish, try to celebrate all the good things life gives you and not dwell on the bad.

Lesson #4: Always be prepared. Your fishing experience will never be as good when your tackle box is messy and your supplies haven’t been organized. But there is one thing a neat tackle box can’t help you with and that’s not having enough of the lure you need for the fishing trip. Sometimes the fish just like what they like and nothing else will do despite what you have in your tackle box. But remember doing your due diligence ahead of time is the ultimate confidence builder and is better than being unprepared.

Lesson #5: Control what you can control. It’s easy to get distracted sometimes and pay too much attention to someone else’s bobber only to look back and see yours gone with a fish on the line. Don’t put your focus on things you can’t control, like what others are doing, what they think of you, and trying to fix others and make them who we think they should be. You learn as you get older that you can do very little to change other people.

As you contemplate life while standing at the fishing hole this weekend, take a moment to celebrate the wonderful role models our fathers are, have been, and will be in the future. Remember that it’s okay to aspire to be strong in areas that others are, but don’t forget that we are all custom designed and uniquely made. You can’t become exactly like someone else because God only made one of each of us.

Race to Hickory Hollow This Weekend

The Kentucky Derby is more than a horse race – it’s a long-standing tradition – kind of like camping is for many of you at Hickory Hollow Campground – and it’s a great reason for a party.  Campers are invited to join us on Saturday, May 6th at 6 pm under the pavilion for some racing fun.  The most important tip, of course, is to have fun with your “derby attire”.  Kentucky Derby style is all about expressing your personality and individuality with a splash of spring.  You can’t go to the Derby without a hat or fascinator. Well you can, but where’s the fun in that? So, get ready to don your Derby hat- which is a sign of good luck, bring a covered dish to share, and experience one of our famous Mint Juleps, another tradition on race day.  We will watch the race, play some games, win some prizes and have some historic fun.

Hickory Hollow may not have the fastest horses – or any horses for that matter, but occasionally you’ll see a cow or two in the field. It’s likely you will never see any of the world’s richest people here either- but our campers are rich in spirit, kindness, love and all those things that you can’t put a dollar sign on.  But there is one thing we do have, the ability to celebrate “the greatest two minutes of racing” with the best of them.  Like the old Kentucky proverb says, “keep your friends close and your bourbon closer.”

If you have never been to a Kentucky Derby party before, here are ten things to take note of to help get you through race day.

1.  Mint Julep is the drink of the day – a simple recipe consisting of bourbon, simple syrup, mint leaves, muddled, strained, and mint slapped into a julep cup filled with crushed ice.
2. Creativity is key when it comes to your hat.  The more colorful, flashy, and outrageous the better. 
3. The race is nicknamed “The Run for the Roses.” This name dates back to 1883 when a socialite presented roses to the women at a party, and then in 1896 the tradition of draping a blanket of 554 red roses on the winner began.
4. A popular derby day food is the “Hot Brown” an open faced turkey sandwich topped with bacon and Mornay sauce.  Kentucky Fried chicken works too. 
5. The “Winner’s Circle” is reserved only for winners of the Derby but has ashes of prominent horse racing and breeding industry workers spread on the ground.
6. The tradition of singing the Kentucky state song “My Old Kentucky Home” dates back to 1920 so learn the lyrics before race day. 
7. Impress others by naming the three Triple Crown winners which include: Secretariat in 1973, American Pharoah in 2015, and Justify in 2018.
8. The Kentucky Derby has been held on the first Saturday in May since 1875 at Church Hill Downs in Louisville.
9. The Twin Spires, are two steeples that give the grandstand a striking appearance and remain an everlasting monument to Joseph Baldez who constructed them in 1895.
10. Never confuse the Derby with the Oaks – The Derby is 1.25 miles and allows for any eligible colt, gelding, or filly to participate with the winner taking home $2 million. The Oaks is exclusively for fillies and spectators always wear pink to this race.  It’s held on Friday before the Derby and is 1.125 miles in length. Because female horses tend to be slower the winner takes home a mere $800,000.

Remember a race horse is the only animal that can take several thousand people for a ride at the same time.  See you Saturday in your derby best.     

Celebrate Earth Day

Chances are this big, beautiful, blue/green planet of ours has inspired awe in you at some point in your life.  With the arrival of April, Somerset County always seems to buzz with activity, trees flaunt their purple buds, birds start appearing, frogs sing choruses throughout the night, and vibrant flowers pop out of nowhere brightening our day. With so much natural beauty in Somerset County, the outdoors is just beckoning us to participate everywhere we turn. Now whether you are an avid RV camper – or just an aspiring one, Hickory Hollow invites you to celebrate all things green on Earth Day, Saturday, April 22.

Earth Day is a great way to “invest in our planet” By cultivating a relationship with nature, and learning how to respect our most essential home, you can get in the right mindset to make everyday Earth Day.  When people and nature connect, the benefits of reduced stress, expanded creativity, and all-around wellbeing is emphasized in all ages. 

Earth Day has been celebrated for over forty years and was first organized on April 22, 1970 by a college environmental activist.  Today the movement has gone global with over 200 million participants around 190 countries.  The mission of Earth Day is founded on the premise that all people should have a sustainable and healthy environment to live in.   By bringing people together from all around the world, action regarding environmental concerns like global warming and renewable energy can be addressed.  But Earth Day is much more than a political movement. It’s taking the initiative to learn, share and do everything we can to respect, appreciate and become an advocate for our planet that is filled with so many marvels.   

If you are camping with us this weekend, here are some fun family activities to help you “invest in our planet” and learn how to connect with nature.   

1. Take a nature art walk. Stroll around the campground and collect some old leaves, twigs, seeds, or anything natural you can find. Once you have your treasures gathered, create an Earth Day inspired mural on an old sheet placed on the ground. When you’re done, snap a picture to share on line and then return all your materials to the great outdoors, making it a zero-impact activity.  
2. Discover the world of bird watching –down load the google app Merlin Bird ID on your phone or go to merlin.allaboutbirds.org which is a great resource to identify bird species, and their calls.
3. Get to know your nocturnal neighbors – see if you can identify the owl calls you may hear around the campground. There are several species found within the area.
4. Plant some flowers around your RV site that will attract nature’s tiniest visitors this summer- pollinators like butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds. 
5. Learn more about sustainable tourism and how to minimize your footprint when camping and enjoying nature.   

No matter how or where you celebrate Earth Day, remember it’s important to give our planet the recognition it deserves so that all of humanity can continue to enjoy it long after we are done using it.  Join Hickory Hollow Campground in recognizing every day as Earth Day!

Camping Season has Arrived!!

Winters in Somerset County can be beautiful, but if you’re more of a warm weather enthusiast then your season has arrived.  It’s time to go camping.  The outdoors is addictive and I know you campers are longing to experience the first taste of clean mountain air, sitting under the stars, listening to the peepers, and catching up with old friends at Hickory Hollow Campground.   The campground officially opens this Friday, April 14, 2023 and we are excited to welcome back some familiar faces as we kick off the season. 

We’ve been very busy this winter enhancing the campground and adding a really cool Swing Kingdom playground that the kids are absolutely going to love.  Parents may find it hard to pull the kids away from the multi-faceted adventure area, even for a s’more or two.  We’ve also done a little rearranging by moving the Rustic Cabins and adding a few additional overnight sites over-looking the lake.  Make sure to check out the Conestoga Wagons located in the tent area which have been glamped up for this season and are now completely furnished adding a new-fangled and fun prospect for those looking to experience camping for the first time.   

Campers are really loving the CampSpot reservation system that was implemented last year, and many have started using the quick and efficient system to book their reservations on line any time of the day. But for those of you who are less tech savvy, no worries, we still have someone managing the office daily and will be able to assist you in making your seasonal reservations, hassle free.   

We are so excited to begin our 18^th camping season with a five-star rating from Trip Advisor and chosen as the 2022 Travelers Choice and best value campground in the area.  Our visitors sent so many wonderful comments our way last year some of which include: “Best Wi-Fi we have found at any campground…the kids can swim and fish and I can get my work done…” “Nice campground with a quiet peaceful setting…plenty of space to take our dog on long walks…” “A hidden jewel, clean, level sites, great cable, great Wi-Fi, best of any park we’ve ever visited…” “Nice people, clean sites, and a beautiful setting” “Wide and long sites, nice big fire pits, on site laundry, swimming pool, play area for children.”  Wow, it’s going to be hard to measure up to that this year, but we are going to give it our best.  Hickory Hollow works hard so your camping experience will be the best adventure of the year, we look forward to seeing you soon! 

Thanks for a Great Camping Season

All good things must come to an end and that means that the 2022 camping season has wrapped up at Hickory Hollow Campground.  A special thank you to our campers who made the season amazing.  Our fantastic staff worked very hard to ensure your stay was pleasant and the campground was well maintained.  We certainly hope our campers had as much fun as we did this year at the campground. 

As we wrap up Hickory Hollow’s 17^th camping season, our family would like to say, “thanks for choosing us”.  Thanks for becoming a part of our family and making Hickory Hollow a part of your summer adventure.  We hope your camping experience brought a smile to your face and made your life just a little bit sweeter.  Hickory Hollow is committed to providing the best experience to our campers and we appreciate the trust you place in us to ensure each day at the campground provides just the right mix of fun, relaxation, and adventure for the entire family.  You are the reason we do what we do, and it is our pleasure to serve you!   Thank you for the good times and sweet memories.  Have a safe and enjoyable winter and we look forward to seeing you in April 2023.     

October offers “Some More” fun at Hickory Hollow

Oh, the clichés of fall! Camping, feeling the chill in the early morning, enjoying the rustling of the fallen leaves as you walk through the woods, and sitting around the campfire eating s’mores while enjoying the beauty of Hickory Hollow Campground.  These are some of the best days of the camp season!   Campers are enjoying every last minute as the leaves start to turn beautiful colors, and the camping weeks start to dwindle away.  Please nature give us “some more” good weekends to enjoy all the beauty that Somerset County has to offer.  When we talk about “some more” something else comes to mind, the contracted term “S’more.”

We are all familiar with the traditional S’more made over the open campfire that combines the sweet, stickiness of marshmallow with the creaminess of chocolate and the crunchy grain of graham crackers together for a favorite campfire treat.   This messy, gooey treat has been a camping favorite since the 1920’s when a similar recipe called “Graham Cracker Sandwich” appeared in a cookbook.  Boy Scouts were eating the tasty treat back in 1927, and knowing boys, they were probably saying “some more” please.  But the credit goes to the Girl Scouts when they published the “Some More” recipe in “Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts” in 1938 when the shortened-contracted term “S’mores” name became popular at summer camps.

S’mores graduated from a campfire favorite to an official word in the Merriam-Webster dictionary in 1974.  But the three special ingredients, found in the traditional s’mores, have come together before in favorites like Mallomars in 1913, and MoonPies in 1917, proof that we humans love the taste of mixing marshmallow, chocolate, and graham crackers together.  Eating s’mores over the last hundred years has been great, but let’s go in a different direction this week.  Why not try your hand a making a seasonal version of the famous “Graham Cracker Sandwich” this month as we enter into a season of change? 

Local apples are abundant this time of year, so why not try making Caramel Apple S’mores – thinly slice a Granny Smith apple and remove the core.  Place a toasted marshmallow inside of the two apple slices. Drizzle with caramel syrup or you can add some melted caramel. Add a caramel candy to the end of the marshmallow stick when toasting and transfer it over to the apple with the marshmallow.  Or replace the caramel with peanut butter.  Tastes so good! 

Gingersnap S’mores is another version of the old camp favorite- make your own gingersnaps or purchase them and add a toasted marshmallow and melted chocolate bar for a tasty fall treat.

If you can’t seem to get enough pumpkin spice – try making this seasonal version of the s’more.  Pumpkin Spice S’mores– Add a toasted marshmallow between graham cracker squares, top off with white chocolate and pumpkin butter. 

If you are brave enough to try the Maple Bacon S’more, add a Pumpkin Spice Wine Spritzer that will really impress your guests as well.  Add ice to a low ball glass, pour 1 oz pumpkin spice liquor and 4 oz. white wine, top off with seltzer and garnish with a cinnamon stick. 

Another fall cocktail you may enjoy is the Apple-Pie Cinnamon Cocktail.  Run a bit of honey on the rim of two glasses, then dip the rims into a mixture of 2 tablespoons of sugar and ½ teaspoon of cinnamon.  Fill glasses with ice. Combine 2 oz. vanilla vodka, 2 oz. Fireball whiskey, and 8 oz. of apple cider and shake well for a tasty fall adult drink. 

If you are looking for a more cozy latte recipe to try, replicate Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte.  Pour 2 oz. of milk, 2 oz of sweetened condensed milk, 2 tablespoons of pumpkin puree, and 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice into a saucepan and heat on medium heat until the milk warms up.  Use a whisk or drink mixer to froth the milk. Pour into a cup, add a shot of espresso and your toppings of choice – whipped cream, pumpkin spice, vanilla extract/ syrup or caramel sauce. 

I encourage you to try some of the special fall treats I suggested while camping over the next few weekends, but don’t forget about the added treat that is also available at Hickory Hollow Campground this time of year. The eerie night sounds of screams and laughter coming from across the road at Huston’s Haunted Hollow. The popular haunt attraction is celebrating 26 years of shrills and thrills every weekend in October – Friday and Saturday nights from 6:30-10:30.   Campers love sitting outside and hearing the guests scream, if the screams are captivating your attention and you are wondering what is going on over there, then purchase your tickets on line at hauntedhallow.net, and you too can join in on the haunting good time as you embark on the adventure of escaping the Haunted Hollow, Willie, and all the other spooks that are looking forward to scaring the pumpkin spice right out of you.  If you have ever seen The Doctor or Willie, you have reason to be scared.  If you don’t like clowns, you may also have a reason to be scared.  If you don’t like walking around in the dark smelling the foul odors found in the swamp and hearing the wolves howl, you may have yet another reason to be scared.  But if scary adventure is just not your thing, campers can still experience the haunted hollow by signing up for a behind the scenes tour at the campground on Saturday’s through the end of October.  The experience will take you to where the screams start…. but be prepared, you never know who may show up in broad day light to prove that the black of night is not the only scary thing around the Hollow this time of year!!

“There are nights when the coyotes are silent and only the moon howls in Hickory Hollow.” Happy Camping my friends!

HEROS and HOT CHILI

Hickory Hollow Campground has another HOT weekend planned for campers as we celebrate our local HEROS.  Campers, as well as the local community, are invited to join us on Saturday, August 20 from 11 – 2 pm as we honor the first responders from our community. Somerset County relies on the many volunteers who show up as First Responders whenever the need presents itself. These brave men and women protect our campground, our towns, and our county when the need arises.  Volunteers from the local fire departments, search and rescue squads, EMT’s and others wake up early to alarms, dress in the dark, risk their lives, and dismiss the risk with a cursory kiss in the night to their loved ones as they step into their cars and head off to the unknown. 

America is a great country because it was built on the idea of helping others and the necessity of volunteerism.  Helping our fellow neighbors when they can’t help themselves. Reacting to an event when the homeowner is away, thinking beyond the event and how they can protect the most valuable assets.  This is what makes volunteers – HEROS!

Come meet some local HEROS on Saturday, August 20 in the Haunted Hollow Field located off RT 281 directly across from the Hickory Hollow Campground.  Campers will have the opportunity to experience fire trucks, search and rescue vehicles, and the Life Flight helicopter and talk to some real life HEROS.  Come and listen to their stories, thank them in person, and teach the younger generation the importance of community involvement.  Give your children the opportunity to interact with these essential people.  This is a great learning opportunity for kids to understand the importance of first responders and the role they play in their daily lives.  Show your appreciation by showing up and supporting this elite group of HEROS.  Donations of cases of water and sports drinks are also being accepted for local departments and can be brought to the event. 

We are grateful that out local firemen will be on hand to talk to our campers Saturday afternoon about the importance of preventing fires, but will they be able to tolerate the heat being generated Saturday night?  That will be determined after they try some of the delicious chili recipes submitted from our campers in the 14^th Annual CHILI COOKOFF CONTEST.  Campers are invited to enter their famous chili into the contest held from 5- 6 pm Saturday night under the campground pavilion.  Will the chili be so hot, the firemen will need to respond?  I guess we will taste and see.

Wet & Wild Weekend Fun

Forecast for the weekend at Hickory Hollow Campground will be WET and WILD! The weekend will be filled with activities that bring out the inner child in all of us so be prepared to get wet!  The fun starts on Saturday with the kids making squid friends under the pavilion next to the office.  Then prepare yourselves for some wet and wild fun from 1- 3 pm throughout the campground – no you don’t have to be young just a kid at heart to participate.   Doug will be driving the hay wagon and looking for some volunteers who have good accuracy in soaking anything that comes within range of the wagon.  It’ll be an all-out Water War so get your hoses ready, your squirt guns pumped up, and your bathing suits on and join in on the fun. 

If you don’t get wet enough during the Water Wars hay ride, head on over to the slip n’ slid and try your luck sliding down the slippery mat. Kids of all ages love this event so be prepared for lots of laughs and photo opts.  Add a foam machine, a few water games, maybe a balloon or two, and you have the makings for a great afternoon. The weatherman is predicting a hot and sunny day, I’m predicting lots of laughter, some shrieks, a few screams, and lots of fun for everyone participating in the water activities. 

Let’s face it, nothing shouts summer like a kaleidoscope of water activities. Whether you spend the day splashing around in the pool, sliding down the slippery mat or soaking dad with an epic water blaster, the fun is endless.  Now all that fun does make a person thirsty, so take a time out and enjoy a “berry delicious” snow cone at the camp office around 4 pm.  Remember, snow cones aren’t just for kids, our camp moms seem to like them too 😉 so grab a cone before the opportunity melts away!

After all that wet and wild fun, bring your stories, your photos, and your families up to the Pavilion Saturday evening and join in on the “S’more Social” from 6- 7 pm.  You played in the water all day, but after eating this ooey, gooey, sweet campfire treat, you may just have to bring “s’more water” out to clean those sticky hands before calling it a night. 

Remember, play is not frivolous, it is not a luxury, it is not something to fit in after completing all the important stuff. Play is the important stuff!  Here’s hoping you will find time to play this weekend, where ever the beautiful day takes you, but especially at Hickory hollow Campground!

Dog Days of Summer

It’s August and the Dog Days of Summer are here.  Traditionally, these are the hottest and most humid days of the summer months ranging from July to the end of August.  In Ancient times, these days were believed to be a time of drought, bad luck, and unrest, when dogs and men alike would be driven mad by the extreme heat.  Today, many still refer to this hottest stretch of summer, those hot, sultry days and nights that “aren’t fit for a dog” as dog days.

You may be surprised that “dog days” actually has more to do with the stars than the animal.   Dog days actually refer to one single star – Sirus- known as the dog star which rises about this time of year above the horizon in the Northern Hemisphere.  The translation of Sirius is “the scorcher” and the ancients blamed the heat on Sirius, but now we know the tilt of the earth’s axis is what actually causes the summer heat.   

The dog is still a great metaphor for heat and humidity and we often see them visibly panting as the temperature rises this time of year because of their lack of sweat glands.  Hickory Hollow Campground is a pet friendly campground and we love “fido” as much as you do. We also want your canine friends to stay safe and enjoy camping as much as you do during these hot summer days so we recently expanded out dog park.  The park is located across from the main office and is open daily for your pets to roam, explore and roll around in.  A little time spent in the dog park is like a dozen walks on a leash in terms of physical and mental benefits.  They get a chance to run off-leash and play with other dogs.  Proper dog etiquette is required when using the park so we can maintain a save environment for both humans and dogs.   

Here are a few tips to follow.  Make sure your dog knows you are the alpha and in charge.  Always pay attention, and take note of possible trouble brewing between other dogs and people in the park.  Be able to identify canine behavior.  Dogs at play have relaxed ears, wagging tails and may play bow with their front end down to the ground.  Upset hounds hold their tails at half-mast or between their legs, ears are pinned back and their pupils shrink so you can see the whites of the eye.  A dog that is ready to rumble will be tense, head held high and will lean forward.  While growls are common in play, snarls are not.  If your dog has pooped, remember to scoop.  

While camping with your pet can be fun, it can also expose them to ticks, fleas, and other dangers.  Make sure they are current on all vaccinations, and always use some form of flea and tick prevention.  It’s important to also bring a photo of your pet with you when camping just in case they get loose.  Microchipping is not a requirement of campgrounds, but is always recommended.  Pet friendly camping also means bringing the right equipment like stakes or tethers to use around the RV site, collapsible water bowls to take along to the dog park, outdoor safe toys, ID tags, and dog waste bags. 

Never leave your dog unattended while camping.  This includes in the car, at the campsite, at the dog park, and during activities.  Just because your dog behaves well around others, does not mean others will play nice with them.  Being outdoors, and in unfamiliar territory, can cause a dog to drink more than usual, so always keep fresh supplies of water within reach of the dog and in a shaded area.  On occasion, wildlife has been seen around campsites so please be aware of your surroundings at all times to ensure the dogs safety.  

Just like humans, dogs can get overheated very quickly in the sun.  Dark-colored dogs and those with more fur will get hot faster than most.  Watch for signs of distress like panting, heavy breathing, restlessness, disorientation, agitation, dry gums, bright red tongue or weakness. If your dog is experiencing any of these symptoms, move the dog to a cool location preferably in air conditioning and give them a bowl of cold water.  A wrapped icepack applied to their groin area may help cool them down, but remember dogs can suffer heat strokes too, so seek emergency veterinarian care if the symptoms persist.  Another danger lurking around campgrounds is the hot pavement which will cause damage to the pets paws, as well as sharp rocks, broken glass, hot charcoals, burrs and other debris. 

The key to making it through the dog days of summer, is to follow this advice from a dog:

“Be loyal, delight in the simple joys of a long walk, take time to play, put your heart into it, explore the world, enjoy a good nap, make new friends, learn new tricks no matter your age, and always greet your loved ones with a kiss.  Now go out and live like someone left the gate opened! 

Spicing Things Up This Weekend

Variety is the spice of life, and this weekend Hickory Hollow Campground will be spicing your camping adventure up a bit with their annual Wing Fest.   The Hickory Hollow crew will be preparing about 1,000 wings for consumption on Saturday, July 30^th.  Campers are invited to share in the deliciousness, but preorders are required.  The wings will be available across the road under the pavilion at the Haunted House for pick up between 5-7 pm.

Studies have shown that the average American will consume nearly 90 wings in a year, amounting to about 1 billion annually.  It seems that American’s like the tasty little appetizers so much that July 29^th has been designated as National Chicken Wing Day across the country.  If you are a fan of these bite-sized morsels and want an excuse to eat more of them, grab your wet-wipes and join in on the fun this weekend at Hickory Hollow Campground.  Whether you like them hot and spicy, sticky sweet or plain Jane, chicken wings have to be the most versatile protein on the planet.  Hickory Hollow will have traditional Buffalo chicken wings, BBQ chicken wings, and if you want to try something a little more exotic, we have Sweet Red Chili Pepper and Butter-Garlic to choose from. 

We all know that Hickory Hollow Campground is cool and we like to introduce new ideas to our campers every chance we get.  Once in a while, we learn a life lesson that we wonder how we made it this far in life without knowing and we can’t wait to share it with others.  Now grant it, some skills are way more valuable than others but some just need to be learned, for instance the right way to eat a chicken wing.   The less than enthusiastic wing eater may say there is no wrong way to eat that chicken wing.  This weekend, when you’re elbow-deep in a pile of discarded wing bones, take a look at how much tasty chicken skin and meat you’ve left behind.    If you see uneaten skin and meat still lingering on the bones when you’re done, you’ve been eating chicken wings wrong all along. 

Amateur wing eaters, will be seen holding the wings between their two hands and nibbling their way over, around, and in between the bones.  But wing fanatics will be focusing their energy on removing the meat from the flat/wingette, the middle section of the wing consisting of two thin, parallel bones.  To do this, all you have to do is pinch off the cartilage at the wide end of the flat/wingette, squeeze the other end, twist, and pull the two bones out one at a time.  The smaller bone can be tricky to get a hold of but once you do, it pulls out easily.  What you’re left with is delicious white boneless meat that can be dipped into that tasty sauce of your choosing.  When you’re sitting under the tent eating those wings with your fellow campers this weekend, take a look around and offer a messy, sticky, high-five to your friends who have at least tried to eat their chicken wings the proper way.     

Now we know not everyone is a wing fan, so we invited Skinny’s BBQ back to the campground with his food truck on Friday night.  The food truck will be set up from 5-7 pm serving Skinny’s sandwiches, brisket, coleslaw, nachos and so much more.  Cash and credit are accepted.

Our annual Wing Fest always sells out, so if you didn’t pre-order your wings ahead of time for Saturday night, please remember that the concession stand will also be open and serving additional tasty treats from 5-7 pm.  No worries, just wing it this weekend, we got you covered!

A Rainbow of Activities

Hickory Hollow has a rainbow of activities going on this weekend that will keep you so busy you will need to reserve another week just to relax from all the fun you’re sure to have.

When you check in Friday evening, don’t worry about preparing dinner, the concession stand will be open across the road at Haunted Hollow from 5-7 pm for your dining pleasure.  Stop over and grab a few burgers or chili cheese dogs, chicken fingers, fries, nachos, or a bag of popcorn. There are picnic tables available so take a few minutes after setting up and relax with a stress-free dinner for the family. 

Saturday is “Rainbow Day”.  A rainbow symbolizes hope and blessings, and a promise that the troubles of today will surely come to pass.  Rainbows speak to our heart and soul, filling us with awe and energies of liquid love pouring all around us.  Saturday morning, you are invited to join in on the Duck Race we hold annually to benefit the Tika Hetrick, Cory Roadman, and Baby Tucker Memorial Scholarship Fund.  If you are interested in donating to the Memorial Fund, without participating in the Duck Race, you may make a contribution online at Tika Hetrick, Cory Roadman, and Tucker Memorial Legacy Fund Abbie, our Activity Director has some great rainbow crafts the kids will enjoy making, and don’t miss the Rainbow Scavenger Hunt where participants will be looking for rainbows around the campground.  We need scavengers and rainbow providers, so campers are encouraged to decorate their campsites with rainbow symbols and rainbow-colored decorations for the kids to find. 

I mentioned rainbows filled with liquid love above, well adults may enjoy another type of liquid flowing on Saturday night as we host our annual Wine, Beer and Spirits Tasting event from 5-7 pm.  Adults are invited to join in on the fun as we share a sampling of some locally produced alcohol.   For our beer tasting, we will be sampling a few crowlers of craft beer brewed in Rockwood by Trailhead Brewery Company that opened in early 2022.  The sampling will include their delicious blonde ale, a Hazy IPA, and a Wheat Ale.  When you have a few extra hours to spare, check out the brewery located just minutes from the campground at 402 Main Street, Rockwood.

For our spirit tasting, Hickory Hollow is sampling the Rusty Musket Distilling Company. A small family owned craft spirit distillery located at 267 Four Seasons Road, Boswell, the Rusty Musket specializes in traditional mountain style moonshine, flavored moonshine, vodka and whiskey.  For anyone who is a Bloody Mary lover, try their delicious Pickle Vodka, you’ll be surprised how it enhances an already delicious cocktail.  

Vin de Matrix Winery is our winery of choice this year. Down to earth people love the stellar wines of Vin de Matirx, located just a short drive from the campground also at 307 King’s Mountain Road, Rockwood.  With the Haunted Hollow right across the road, why not try their Beetlejuice Berry – a bright and lively blend of cranberry, blueberry, blackberry and crisp apple?

 

Now you may think this all sounds like a lot of fun for the entire family, but wait, there is still more to do this weekend.  Adults are invited to join in on our very first evening pool party, sorry kids, but only adults allowed in the pool from 7 – 9 pm on Saturday evening.  Hopefully, the wine, beer, and spirits tasting will get the adults loosened up just enough to be cool while hanging out by the pool enjoying the sights and sounds of the evening.  There are no waves about it, this weekend is going to be a good one!

Christmas in July

Christmas can be so much fun in December, but did you know that many people around the world also celebrate this fun and joyful holiday in the middle of summer.  We have all heard the saying “Christmas in July” and many people take it to heart with large celebrations.  American “Christmas in July” originated in 1935 when Santa made an appearance at a girl’s summer camp in South Carolina.  The jolly old guy entertained the campers with Christmas songs, gift giving and filling camper laundry bags with candy.  Shortly after that in 1940, Hollywood popularized the concept with a movie comedy called, Christmas in July, whichfeatured a man who bought gifts for his family during the summer.  But in the Southern Hemisphere, seasons are in reverse and countries such as Australia and Brazil celebrate Christmas in July so they can have that winter feel, that we “Northerners” enjoy so much in December.

It certainly won’t be snowing at Hickory Hollow Campground this weekend, but what better way to celebrate a hot July weekend than throwing a Christmas Party? You’re invited to join us as we honor the tradition of Christmas in July with some fun festivities on July 16 and 17th.  Campers are encouraged to decorate their camp sites with holiday décor, participate in the Christmas themed activities and craft making, shop at the camp store for some seasonal bargains, and arrange a special gift delivery from Santa and his elf. 

Pulling off a July Christmas party can be fun and easy when you put a summer spin on it.  The first thing to consider is how you will “deck the campsite.” At Hickory Hollow Campground, imagination is appreciated, so go all out and decorate with fairy lights, Christmas inflatables, or a simple wreath on your RV door.  Decorated campsites will be judged Saturday evening around 9 pm, so there is plenty of time to get in the Christmas spirit. Encourage your family and friends to get festive, even the smallest decorations can add that little bit of magic to the weekend.  We encourage you to think Christmas! Wear your festive apparel, stick to Christmas traditions like baking a delicious treat to share, or start something fun like caroling through the campground singing wacky camp songs. The kids can replace snowball fights with water balloon fights or squirt gun games, and adults can trade in their eggnog for a summer margarita, Christmas flavored of course.  Invite your neighbors to join in the fun with a contest to see who can make the most festive hamburgers, or see who is brave enough to wear those Santa socks with sandals.   

Christmas is certainly more than the exchange of gifts, but organizing a secret Santa gift exchange with some fellow campers, or prearranging a special surprise to be delivered from the campground Santa might be fun.  Prewrapped gifts can be dropped off at the office to be delivered during the afternoon on Saturday, July 16th when Santa will be riding his golf cart through the campground posing for photos and entertaining the kids. 

If you are camping at Hickory Hollow this weekend, we encourage you to join in on the Christmasfestivities, share love and joy, and make beautiful memories to treasure all through the year.   Remember, July is hot but at least it ain’t snowin, & camping is a great way to relax and chill, so bring the family and if the heart so desires, you can have Christmas whenever you will.    Ho Ho Ho, it’s Christmas in July!

Happy Fourth of July Weekend!

Fireworks are traditionally a large part of America’s 4^th of July celebrations, but many people are unaware of the origins of how fireworks became part of the United States of America’s celebration of freedom. 

America didn’t invent the fireworks, that credit goes to the Chinese who created those first pyrotechnics sometime between 960 and 1279 AD.  Originally, they were designed to chase away evil spirits with the loud sounds and sparkling colors, but as time went on and fireworks were introduced to Europe, the English started to use them around the 1200’s to celebrate special events and birthdays.  The fireworks finally made their way to America and on July 8^th, 1776 the first documented use of fireworks was noted in celebration over the separation of the colonies from England. Some say they were used mockingly to celebrate the “death” of the king’s power over them and thankfully today, American’s use them to celebrate our Independence.  It wasn’t until 1941 that July 4^th was declared an official holiday and fireworks became such a popular part of Independence Day celebrations. 

In the interest of keeping the 4^th safe and fun, it’s important to think about safety as we celebrate this weekend at Hickory Hollow Campground.   Please note that the use of fireworks is strictly prohibited at Hickory Hollow Campground for the safety of our campers, their pets, and the environment surrounding the campground.  The best and safest way to enjoy fireworks this weekend is to check out the professional display in Somerset on Friday, July 1^st.   Local organizations spend a lot of time and money to ensure the annual display is spectacular, so head into Somerset around 7 pm for the show.  Parking is available at the Somerset High School Football field located along S. Columbia Avenue.   

While you’re sitting around waiting for that fireworks display to start, here are some fun facts you can share with each other to help broaden your knowledge of firecrackers. 

• The original fireworks, invented by the Chinese, were chunks of green bamboo that were lit with fire causing the air pockets to expand and produce a cracking sound.   
• The original fireworks were only orange and white, until Italian scientists managed to create more colors by adding different types of salt to the powder. 
• A rocket can reach speed of 150 miles per hour, and the shell can reach as high as 200 meters. 
• A sparkler burns at a temperature over 15 times the boiling point of water and can burn as hot as 2,000F. Three sparklers burning together generate the same heat as a blowtorch. Sparklers cause more injuries than any other type of firework. 
• 41% of firework related injuries happen at family gatherings with injuries to hands, eyes, and face with 2/3’s occurring in children under the age of 5.
• You see the explosion of a firework before hearing it because sound travels at 761 miles per hour, but light travels at 671 million mph. 
• American’s light about 175 million pounds of fireworks during the 4^th of July which is equivalent to about 100,000 lightening bolts.
• The largest fireworks show in the US is the Macy’s “Lights Up The Night” show in NY over the Hudson River.  3 million people watch over 40,000 shells in the show. The most expensive show is in Boston where they spend 2.5 million for the 20 minute show.
• The world record for the most rockets set off all at once was set at the Battle of Flowers Parade in Jersey on August 15, 1997, when 39,210 rockets were launched at the push of one button.
• Fireworks require three key components: an oxidizer, a fuel and a chemical mixture to produce the color. 
• Specific elements produce specific colors: Lithium compounds produce deep reds, copper produces blues, titanium and magnesium burn silver and white, calcium creates orange, sodium produces yellow, and barium burns green. 
• Fireworks are not great for the environment as they release heavy metals, dioxins, and air pollutants into the atmosphere which can cause serious health effects like lung problems, thyroid problems and birth defects.
• Chemists are working toward developing more environmentally friendly firework recipes and how to make fireworks spell words in the sky.
• New Castle PA is known as the “Fireworks Capital of America” because of Zambelli Fireworks, one of the largest firework companies.
• Five states allow only sparklers and no fireworks – Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Ohio and Vermont.
• People who make firework shells are required to wear cotton clothing, even underwear, because synthetic clothing can create sparks from static that could detonate fireworks. 

As you celebrate this weekend, remember to look up to enjoy the fireworks, and also nature’s shining sparklers in the sky. Please follow the campground rules for safety and be mindful of children and pets and the mayhem that excessive noise may cause them, and remember that 2 out of every July fire is caused by fireworks.  Stay safe, be thankful for our freedom and don’t forget to check out all the fun events planned at Hickory Hollow Campground this weekend on our website: hickoryhollowcampground.com     

“Laughter is the fireworks of the soul, remember to sparkle and shine every day!”

Hello Summer!

It’s officially summer in the beautiful Laurel Highlands and with that comes some sweltering hot days.  Even though Hickory Hollow Campground is surrounded by mountains, water and lots of fresh air, temperatures can still rise pretty high challenging campers to stay cool in their RVs.  With some pre-planning you can still enjoy those relaxing summer days at the campground despite how high the temperature rises.  On very hot days, cooling an RV often requires more strategies than the standard cooling system.  The difference between the ambient temperature and the conditioned air temperature is typically only about 20 degrees so it’s important to implement some other strategies to supplement the cooling system and keep you as comfortable as possible. 

Hickory Hollow has some beautiful, shaded RV sites and if you’re lucky enough to have reserved one, great!  If not, try creating shade (nature’s own air conditioning) by using a large tarp and tying one side to the top of your RV and securing the other side to the ground with stakes to create a triangular shaded area.  Because wind moves from west to east, you can also try to orient the position of your RV to take advantage of the wind patterns and create more air flow. 

During those hot afternoons, insulated window shades or curtains can block out heat, so remember to pull them early in the day before that sun gets too strong.  Portable fans can also help to create a cool breeze and are an affordable way to help move warm air out and cool air into the RV.  During the evening, set one fan up in a window pointing inward to pull cool air in, and one fan pointing outward to pump hot air out of the RV.  While a nice cool breeze can flow through your open windows at night and provide better sleeping, remember to close those windows back up first thing in the morning, before the sun rises, to keep that warm humid air outside the RV as those temperatures start to rise.  

It’s important to keep the RV cooling system running efficiently so check those filters and make sure they are clean which will help the unit work more efficiently and cool the RV easier.  Skylights attract heat and it’s important to use insulated covers to block out any solar radiation coming in from above.  Most RV owners also find it helpful to install inexpensive vent covers over the existing roof vents to help increase ventilation and keep the hot air out and let more fresh air in.  You may look at your refrigerator as a cooling appliance, but remember that it’s also throws off a significant amount of heat in the RV.  Keeping those drinks cold produces a tremendous amount of heat which gets dumped back into the RV so keep your fridge vent as clean as possible to allow for the heat to dump properly.  Regular inspection of the vent ensures dirt and debris has not been collected along your travels.  Electronics like laptops and TVs also produce heat, so keep screen time to a minimum during the hottest parts of the day.  Many campers are switching to energy efficient LED lights which not only reduce heat but can also save on your energy use.

Hickory Hollow Campground wants your camping experience to be the best part of summer, so keep that RV cool by following these tips to maximize your comfort during your camping adventure.  “I’m glad it’s finally hot enough to complain about how hot it is!”

Fishing You A Happy Father’s Day

Father’s Day is Sunday, June 19, 2022 and Hickory Hollow Campground is excited to celebrate with some great fathers and their families this weekend.  We have some fun family events planned for the weekend starting with our annual fishing tournament on Saturday morning at 9 am.  Rain or shine, this annual event brings lots of smiles as fish of all sizes are drawn from Lake Ann. 

Now, it is a known fact that fish never sleep, they don’t technically have eyelids, so hopefully the trout and other species in Lake Ann will be wide awake and eager to greet pole throwers of all ages on Saturday.  Look for the two families of geese, who claim Lake Ann as their home to greet you as well, when you make your way down to secure that lucky fishing spot.  Prizes will be awarded for the biggest fish, so come early and remember to bring your camera.  While fish are a great source of protein and can taste pretty delicious cooked over an open fire, Hickory Hollow Campground has a catch and release philosophy so plan on taking memories home and not dinner.

Fishing and Father’s Day go hand in hand and it’s no wonder so many people love this timeless hobby.  Fathers have been teaching the sport of fishing for thousands of years and it’s estimated that over 30 million Americans go fishing every year, hopefully though, not all over Father’s Day weekend.    All you have to do is watch the smiles on the kid’s faces when they pull out their first fish, or one bigger than all the others, to really get the full impact of how much fun fishing can be.  Besides the excitement of catching that big one, fishing also offers some great mental and physical health benefits for all ages.

Living in Somerset County, we can all use a little more sunlight which is vital for everyday life and bone health.  Scientifically, people with Vitamin D deficiencies have been found to suffer more from heart disease and diabetes.  Any activity that gets you outside and breathing fresh air is beneficial, and fishing can be so much fun for the entire family.  Because fishing is an outdoor sport it allows you to breath fresh air, and exposes you to more sunlight which in return helps your body to synthesize the vitamin D better.  There is nothing better than waking up on a cold crisp morning and taking a deep breath as you walk down to the lake and throw out a pole and watch the sun come up…you Hickory Hollow fishermen know exactly what I am talking about.     

In today’s digital world, one of the most visible benefits of fishing is it encourages time away from technology.  It’s kind of difficult to hold your phone and a fishing pole at the same time, but if you do attempt this, just remember that the catfish and snapping turtles are faster than you and have very sharp teeth.  Fishing and spending time outdoors is a fantastic way to offset the adverse effects of a sedentary lifestyle spent staring at a screen.  So at least for this weekend Dad, put away the phone and get ready to experience the physical and athletic challenges that fishing can provide as you help reel in the big one.  Remember fishing improves your patience and focus too, so take this time to reconnect with your family, and only pull the phone out to take a photo of the kids and their smiles holding up their prize catch, no matter how large or small it is.  Remember to share the moments on the Hickory Hollow Campground Friends Facebook page, as everyone enjoys sharing these lifelong memories with the kids. 

After a fun filled Saturday fishing on Lake Ann, you probably won’t likely be eating those fish the next morning, but you can certainly enjoy some delicious pancakes and sausage complete with some Somerset County Maple Syrup Sunday morning.  Campers are encouraged to join in on the Father’s Day Pancake breakfast and enjoy watching camp owner Doug flip pancakes from 8:30 -10:30 across the road at the Haunted Hollow concession stand.

Camping at Hickory Hollow Campground this Father’s Day is sure to be a blast, so  bring along your fishing pole– for you’ve been invited to the fishin’ hole, and try not to be like pancakes and get all flipped out, be like syrup and go with the flow! 

June is National Camping Month

June is National Camping Month, so who is ready for a summer camping adventure?  Whether your family has reservations at Hickory Hollow Campground, or another destination, camping is a fantastic way to relax and breathe in some fresh air while spending time together. 

The kids are out of school, and it’s nice to slow down the pace and start to reconnect once again as a family.  Camping seems to have reached new heights and is very popular these days with all ages.  Just keep in mind that if you are looking for a campsite with amenities, hookup, and a specific location, you’ll need to plan ahead.  Preplanning is essential in today’s camping world for anyone wishing to have a great camping adventure and not a frustrating nightmare. For many long-time campers who were accustomed to jumping in the RV and heading down the road for a spontaneous camping adventure, that reality no longer exists. 

Now I don’t know how you feel about the concept of a reservation system, some people hate it, some systems are hard to maneuver, and some people just aren’t familiar with the popular concept.  We’ve recently integrated a new reservation platform at Hickory Hollow, Campspot campspot.com/book/hickoryhollowcampground The platform allows you to see what RV sites, tent sites, and cabins are available for a specific timeframe along with the cost.   With a few clicks, you have your site booked, guaranteed and paid for.  No check in required once you arrive at the campground.  So, think of the reservation system as your best friend, and the easiest first step to a great camping adventure. 

As we celebrate National Camping Month, we have to remember that “camping” has been a way of life throughout human history.  Humans moved around out of necessity, moving with the seasons, following food sources, and avoiding inclement weather.  Today thankfully, camping is all about having fun!  But as some say, it’s the only vacation you work harder preparing meals and caring for your living space than you do in your own house.  Camping is proven to have an impact on reducing stress and contributes to emotional and physical health, but those health benefits can be questioned too, depending on how many s’mores you eat of course.

Now I’ll share with you my rules for camping:  Nap often, watch the sunset, wake up smiling, sit by the fire, relax and unwind, eat s’mores, drink a cold one, enjoy your time in the great outdoors and all the fun Hickory hollow Campground has to offer. 

Memorial Day – A Day of Remembrance and Honor

Since 1971, Memorial Day has been a federally recognized holiday and what a beautiful Memorial Day weekend we have coming our way for 2022.   Temperatures are supposed to be in the high 70s, so I hope you are in a position to get out and enjoy the beautiful weekend. 

This 3-day holiday weekend typically kicks off the unofficial beginning of the summer season and Hickory Hollow Campground is excited to get into full summer mode just like you.  We have an exciting weekend planned for our campers starting with Bill Schaudt Wood Creations bringing logs to life on Saturday from 10-2 with his annual chainsaw carving demonstration.  Watch how Bill transforms a simple log into a bear, turkey, flag, or bench with some precise, smooth angled cuts from the chainsaw.  It’s pretty impressive if you have never seen it done before and even better, the carvings will be for sale.  On Saturday and Sunday nights we will be hosting one of our campers’ favorite activities –lawn chair/golf cart bingo from 6-7 pm, followed by our own DJ playing your favorite music from 7-9pm on Sunday night.

While most Americans will celebrate Memorial Day weekend in some way, many are unaware of the holiday’s significance.  So, for you 28% of true patriotic Americans who actually know the significance of this very important holiday, please share the true meaning of the holiday with the other 72% who are unmindful and think it is just the kick off to summer fun. 

The most solemn of our national holidays, Memorial Day is the day we honor those who are no longer with us.  Those individuals who cannot attend our celebrations, because everyone we honor gave their lives so that we may live free.  This holiday is not to thank living Veterans for their service, but to remember our greatest heroes- so that we never forget their sacrifice or those of their families.  Stories of citizens from all walks of life who wore the American soldier uniform, stories of their valor, heroics and great sacrifice is what this day represents.  As we see other countries struggling to remain free, please remember the heroes’ who gave their lives so we can celebrate on this 2022 Memorial Day free in America.   

If you are in that 3% of Americans who plan to attend a Memorial Day community event and are looking for local patriotic adventures to celebrate the national holiday, check out Patriot Park which opened late summer 2021. The park honors the tens of thousands of brave servicemen and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the Global War on Terrorism.  Take a moment to pay your respects as you walk through the Field of Heroes and experience over 7000 American Flags flying in their honor.  The Opening Ceremony is planned for Sunday, May 29 at 7 pm and is located at 6150 Lincoln Highway, Stoystown, PA 15563.  On Memorial Monday, Somerset will be celebrating with the annual Memorial Day remembrance starting at the courthouse at 9:30 followed by the parade coming down Main Street.   

The number of Americans forecasted to travel this holiday weekend is 37 million, so please plan ahead and make sure your RV is in tip top condition to avoid any unexpected delays on the busy highways.  It is estimated that Americans will spend over 4.7 billion on gasoline this weekend and with the gas prices soaring, that number will likely exceed 5 billion. Camping is still one of the most favorite weekend experiences with over 18 million Americans planning to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and just relax at the campground this holiday.  Hotels experience a surge in demand and pricing over long holiday weekends, typically seeing as much as a 37% increase in cost.  Thankfully, Hickory Hollow has very reasonable rates but books up very quickly for Memorial Day weekend so hopefully, you have already made your reservations on our new Campspot reservation platform.  

Memorial Day is a time for celebration, and what better way to celebrate than saluting the American soldier with old friends drinking a beer.  With beer accounting for 47% of the estimated consumed weekend alcohol, plan to stock up ahead of time or you may just find yourself drinking lemonade instead. Camping may be America’s favorite pastime, but movie watching comes in a close second with about $100 million estimated this weekend in movie tickets sales. If you aren’t lucky enough to be camping at Hickory Hollow Campground, check out the theatre for these top releases- Top Gun: Maverick; Firestarter; and Dr. Strange.   

As we celebrate the next 100 days of summer between Memorial Day and Labor Day let us be thankful and grateful for America’s freedom.  Perhaps more of us will understand and share the fundamental qualities of courage, pride, determination, selflessness, dedication to duty and great personal integrity that those before us embodied.  All the qualities needed to serve a cause larger than one’s self.  General Patton said it best “We should not mourn the dead. We should thank God that these men and women lived.” 

Life is Better With a Burger

Cheeseburger in paradise…okay that comes on August 27th, when we have our annual Jimmy Buffett Beach Party at Hickory Hollow Campground, but what about a great hamburger cooked over the open fire, now that’s something we can work on.  Grilling a great hamburger over a campfire can be a challenge, even for seasoned outdoor grillers, but if you get it right, that burger can taste ohhhh so yummy. 

Choose your wood wisely.

Cooking over an open fire is like anything else, it takes the right equipment to get it right.  Make sure your fire ring is clear of any plastic or synthetics prior to starting the fire, you want your fuel to be natural and food grade to bring out the best flavor in the meat. It’s essential to start your fire with a seasoned hardwood like hickory, hard maple, oak or ash.   Soft woods like pine, spruce, and cedar contain resin that will be carried in the smoke, and end up in your food making it taste bad.  Using seasoned dry wood will allow you to produce the right amount of smoke needed to flavor that burger, something you will never be able to do with green wood. 

Hot coals are key.

Cooking over the flames of an open fire is a recipe for total disaster and ruined burgers, charred on the outside and raw in the middle.  Start your fire, and slowly move hot coals to one side of the fire ring.  The coals should appear white on the outside when undisturbed, and feel very hot when putting your hand about 4 inches above them for two seconds or less.  It’s okay to see an orange glow rippling through the coals, but don’t cook over flames higher than an inch or so. 

Invest in a Grilling Basket.

You can never really be sure if the RV park will have an adjustable grate on their fire pits, so it would be wise to invest in a $20 Burger Basket found on Amazon.  Find one with a long handle that holds four burgers, and is made of non-stick wire.  The ability to hold the basket over the hot coals provides the ultimate in control and adjustability, minimizing the charring with just a twist of the wrist. 

Don’t skimp on quality burger.

Meat prices are going up, but a good quality burger is what will ultimately make that hamburger oh so tasty.  Ground Chuck that’s 80% lean/20% fat is idea for a juicy, gourmet experience.  For juicy burgers, hand pat the patties at least one inch thick and dimple one side well with your thumb to prevent shrinkage.  Frozen burgers should never be your first choice if taste is the ultimate goal.  Season with your favorite spices, add a touch of garlic, salt, pepper, and pat into the meat.  Remember, a tasty burger should taste like burger, so go light on those seasonings. 

 

Make time for your burger.

Cooking the best hamburger is a fine art, something that will need your time and attention.  You can’t lay the basket over the coals, and expect your phone to tell you when it’s time to eat them.  You need to be present, holding the basket, checking the sear and char frequently, making some adjustments to get those burgers perfect.  Traditionally, searing the outside of the burger by putting it close to high heat for a short time or even against a searing surface like a cast iron skillet then slowly backing away from the heat to bring the center to the desired temperature is preferred. 

When using the burger basket, you can experiment with the reverse sear method. Start with the burgers away from the high heat until they are about 10 degrees shy of the doneness you want.   Then immediately drop the basket to close contact with the hot coals for about 30 seconds on each side to achieve the caramelization and charring desired.  A meat thermometer is a great investment and a good cook never leaves home without it. 

Patience is a virtue.

Like everything in life, perfecting open fire cooking will take time, but will be worth the wait when you finally get it right.  The best things in life are always worth waiting for!  Like camping at Hickory Hollow Campground, enjoying a delicious cheeseburger and cold draft beer with some friends, and enjoying the open air and a good campfire.   And remember, I’m just up the road, call me when the burgers are ready!

Hickory Hollow Booking Now for “Friggatriskaideka”

Hickory Hollow is excited that we get to celebrate the only occurrence of Friday the 13^th in 2022 this weekend at the campground. Though little is known about the origins of the day’s notoriety, some historians believe the superstitions date back to the 19^th century. Friday the 13^th can occur up to 3 times in the same calendar year, but we only saw it once in 2021 and will only see it once this year. The last time the calendar showed three Friday the 13th was in 2015 and we saw two in 2017 and 2020. Here is a fun fact – for a month to have a Friday the 13^th, the month must begin on a Sunday!

If you have ever been to Hickory Hollow Campground, you know we are a friendly, family-oriented campground located in the heart of the beautiful Laurel Highlands. With friendly faces, spacious-clean campsites, and picturesque views all around us there is little to fear even for the most superstitious visitors when you arrive at Hickory Hollow for a Friday, the 13^th weekend of spring camping. If Friday the 13^th appeared on the calendar in October, well that may be another story as the Haunted Hollow across the road comes to life for a few weeks. But trust me, those ghosts and goblins are tucked safely away for the next few months.

For some people, however, the fear is real.  So real that two scientific names were given to those who fear the date.  The first “friggatriskaidekaphobia,” named after the Norse goddess of wisdom after whom Friday is named and the Greek words triskaideka meaning 13 and phobia meaning fear.   The second name is “paraskevidekatriaphobia,” derived from the Greek translation for Friday and 13.  Now if you want to hear something really frightening, say those words three times. 

While millions of people suffer from the fear of 13, research shows little evidence that Friday the 13^th is an unlucky day. Studies have shown that this date has little or no effect on events like accidents, hospital visits and natural disasters. Although in 2004, Astronomers identified an asteroid that would possibly collide with the Earth on Friday, April 13, 2029, but have since relinquished that idea as data shows now it will miss Earth entirely, thank goodness.  Astronomers say we should be able to see the asteroid in the night sky on that date, so we’ll ask Abbie, our Activities Director, to put it on the event calendar and maybe we can have a watch party if you’re camping with us in 2029.

As the weather starts to improve and signs of spring colors pop up all around the campground, we are welcoming back many familiar faces. Reservations are really taking off and each weekend we see more weekly RV sites being reserved. If you aren’t a traditional camper, please note that we do offer fully equipped cabins, complete with kitchenettes, and bathrooms if you would like to try camping without investing in all the costly camping equipment. We also rent primitive cabins, have two Conestoga Wagons, and several tent sites, so take your pick and see what works for you and your family. Reservations for any of the open sites can be easily booked within minutes by clicking on the “Online Reservations Now Available” link on the home page of the website https://hickoryhollowcampground.com.

Friday the 13^th or not, camping this weekend at Hickory Hollow is sure to be a wonderful experience, because you are sharing it with others who love camping as much as you do. So, don’t let the date stop you from enjoying all the fun that Hickory Hollow Campground has instore for you this weekend. See you soon!

Race to Hickory Hollow This Weekend

If you are racing to get to Hickory Hollow Campground this weekend, you’re on the right track! We aren’t the world’s most legendary racetrack, that would be Churchill Downs in Louisville Kentucky, but we are excited to celebrate with thousands of horse racing fans who will be anxiously watching “the greatest two minutes of racing” on Saturday, May 7^th.  The Kentucky Derby has continuously run since 1875 and is considered one of the greatest people-watching events in the world.  What sets the Derby apart from other sporting events, well you guessed it – the hats!

Hickory Hollow Campers are invited to join in on the fun this weekend by wearing your special “derby attire” and join us under the Pavilion at 6 pm on Saturday for some racing fun.  We’re watch the race, play some games, win some prizes and have historic fun that just may be talked about for years to come. Campers are encouraged to bring a covered dish or snack to share while we enjoy some famous Kentucky bourbon cocktails like Mint Juleps. For over a century, the “Mint Julep” has been the traditional beverage of Churchill Downs so bring your recipes to share with the group.  The traditional recipe calls for bourbon, simple syrup, mint leaves, muddled, strained, and mint slapped into a julep cup filled with crushed ice.

If you are a horse racing fan, great – maybe you can give us some pointers on how to pick the winners. If you’re more of a people watcher, then make sure you make your statement clear with “the hat” as we come together to celebrate the big event.  Now according to the experts, the hat or fascinator should compliment you.  When picking out or creating your hat, keep in mind your height, face shape, hair length, and physique.  Remember, “you don’t want the hat to wear you!” It is very important to choose a hat that will be complimentary as well as comfortable, as you will wear it all day.  With the hat being the focal point, you may want to wear an outfit that doesn’t work against your hat, according to the experts.  But nobody at the campground will mind if you decide to go a little bit funkier with your “derby attire”.  We can’t wait to see what you come up with and the statement your hat will make.   

Another tradition of the Kentucky Derby is the rose garland. You’ve probably heard the nickname “Run for the Roses” which is synonymous for the Derby and has a history dating back to 1896. Originally the garland was white and pink, but in 1932 red roses were used for the 58^th running won by Burgoo King.  Since 1987, the traditional garland has been crafted by the Kroger Company and is a blanket of 554 red roses sewn into green satin and awarded to the winning jockey.  It is 2.5 yards long, 14 inches wide, and weighs about 40 pounds.

Well since we will be watching the horse race, there are a few things we should learn prior to the big event.  The Derby is a top rank Grade 1 stakes race for 3-year-old Thoroughbred horses.  Twenty colts and geldings come together and race (2 kilometers) one and one-quarter miles along a dirt racetrack at Churchill Downs.  The Kentucky Derby is the first race within the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, followed by the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes race. 

What are they racing for- well a mere $2 million dollars. Two minutes – two million dollars – maybe I could become a horse just for a day, where can I pick up my pedigree?

Life Rocks, When Your Home Rolls

RV’ing– America’s newest passion– or is it?  Okay, so you went out and purchased a RV, found a great campground to park it in, made some new friends and are now addicted. But have you ever really given any thought as to how camping became such a popular activity?  The RV may seem like a modern invention, but most people don’t realize it dates back over 100 years. 

In 1915, a family from New York wanted to go to California on a cross-country camping trip.    This family happened to own Conklin’s Gas-Electric Motor Bus Company and had the means to custom build a 25’x 8-ton vehicle that would carry the family across the country in comfort.   As the family traveled in their “Gypsy Van,” the massive vehicle attracted large crowds and was admired along the way.  On-lookers gawked at this marvel of technology, newspapers wrote winded columns about the contraption and the excitement grew as they drove from town to town.

People were amazed to see this luxury bus, which featured an electrical generator, incandescent lighting, a full kitchen, a desk and folding tables, Pullman style sleeping bunks, a concealed bookcase, convertible sofas, a number of small appliances, a phonograph, and even a rooftop garden, driving along America’s highways.   Notoriety didn’t come to the Conklin’s because they went camping, but rather because of the stylish way in which they traveled.

The New York Times didn’t know what to call the vehicle, was it an English Caravan, a land-yacht or what, but they were certain it had “all the conveniences of an English country home, plus the advantages of unrestricted mobility and independence of schedule.” The family’s journey was so widely publicized that their invention became the general template for generations of motorhomes. 

Camping was made popular in 1869 when William H.H. Murray published his book “Adventures in the Wilderness; Or Camp-Life in the Adirondacks.”  This first how-to camp guidebook highlighted the benefits families could receive from getting away from the crowds, noise, and smoke of their daily life in the city.  Though some American’s longed for the “pioneer” experience of their ancestors and getting back in touch with nature, most did not want to give up the modern-day luxuries they were starting to enjoy after the war.   Then along comes the Conklin’s and their unique travel bus in 1915.  Soon the phenomenon of traveling through the country, in a home-like vehicle, started to gain momentum.  Others realized they could travel while still enjoying the comforts of home and soon RVing became a national obsession.  

The original RV’s were large vehicles that often had to travel on major roadways and limited just how close a family could get to nature.  Unlike car camping, RV owners didn’t need to spend time unpacking, setting up their tent, preparing a fire, or worrying about the elements ruining their adventure, they just needed to “let down the back steps” and they were ready to start their adventure.   Soon recreational camping gave birth to an entire industry built around developing gadgets and new inventions that would be the start of the “glamping” concept we know today.

 

“Blessed are the curious, for they shall have adventures.”  Lovelle Drachman

Getting Ready for Camping

As winter comes to an end, it’s time to get ready for the fun time of year and our favorite pastime, camping.  Hickory Hollow Campground opens on April 15^th and we are excited to start the new camp season.  It looks like our campers are excited too by the number of reservations that have already been made for the summer.  Making reservations will be easier than ever as we recently launched Campspot, our new user-friendly reservation platform.  Some of the country’s most popular campgrounds use Campspot so you may already be familiar with the simple, efficient, streamlined communication system.   If not, no worries, you can still call the camp office and talk to a live person to get the answers you need or for assistance in making your reservations.

If you have been dreaming of eating s’mores around the campfire all winter long, I encourage you to make your reservations as early as possible during the off season to avoid not getting the dates you’re looking for.  Despite everything we’ve gone through in 2020 and 2021, the RV industry has pulled off record sales these past two years and experts in the RV industry forecast that 2022 will be another phenomenal season.  That means more demand for sites at great campgrounds like Hickory Hollow.     

Now is the time to start taking stock of your camping supplies as you plan for the first outing of the season.  With the new challenges going on around us, you don’t want to be left high and dry without your favorite camp necessities. Take an inventory of your camping supplies and give items a once-over cleaning to ensure everything is still useable and working properly.  Get new items ordered asap to avoid long production and delivery delays.  Hickory Hollow is excited about our new selection of camp store inventory and we have a few cool surprises that may have your tail wagging with delight this summer.   We’re also working on a few other projects that are sure to delight our campers this summer, but we’ll keep you guessing for now.  

We recently celebrated St Patrick’s Day and we’ll leave you with a little Irish Blessing: “May love and laughter light your days and warm your heart and home, May good and faithful friends be yours wherever you may roam, May peace and plenty bless your world with joy that long endures, May all life’s passing seasons bring the best to you and yours.” 

See you soon!

Christmas Magic

Christmas is a magical time of year and when I think about that very first Christmas and the birth of baby Jesus, I can’t help but wonder if he enjoyed his first night of camping under that beautiful starry sky.  Even though the backdrop of that first Christmas night had no glitter, no ornaments and only a stable, it was still so magical.  That special night was calm, the stars were bright, and deep down the people knew that everything would be alright.  The shepherds sitting around their campfires that evening experienced a night of song that wrapped around them like a blanket.  It warmed more than their body, it also warmed their hearts and filled them with a melody that would last forever. 

The beauty of Christmas lies not just in the date, but in the feeling it gives.  Camping kind of reminds me of that very first Christmas night.  The opportunity to get close to nature and experience all the magic that God has created for us.  When you look up during the camping season at Hickory Hollow Campground and see the beautiful sky you can see God’s love written in the bright shining stars.  You can share your special hopes and dreams with the stars and sometimes they answer in mysterious ways.  Camping under the stars gives us a little more sparkle and a little less stress, kind of like Christmas was meant to be.

Christmas was never meant to be a time or season, but rather a state of mind.  Though camping is a season, it offers us a state of mind that allows us to seek peace and the simple pleasures of life.  Seeing that first star of the night when you’re camping allows you to make a resolution to do something different tomorrow.  Like Christmas, camping gives us time to reflect on the warmth of the past, the bravery for the present and hope for the future.   Christmas presents come and go, but Christmas memories, like camping memories, can last a lifetime.  You can make the magic live on when you remember that the best things in life are not things, but special moments made with those we love.

My wish for you this Christmas season and all year long is that you be filled with wonder, and touched by peace.  Shoot for the moon in the new year, and if you miss, may you land among the stars and always remember to keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable!    

From our family to yours, Hickory Hollow Campground wishes you a very Merry Christmas. 

Farewell……For Now

Believe it or not, the final day of camping at Hickory Hollow Campground is today, Sunday, October 31.  There is nothing more disappointing for our campers as when the camping season comes to an end.  We’ve had an amazing summer! We had great weather, which makes for great activities.  We had great campers, which makes for great friendships. Our fantastic staff worked very hard over the last seven months to ensure your stay was pleasant and the campground was well maintained.  We certainly hope our campers had as much fun as we did this year at the campground.  The 2021 camping season was a great year at Hickory Hollow but I’m sure our awesome crew is looking forward to a little down time to recoup from the very busy season.   But trust me, we are going to miss you as much as you will miss Hickory Hollow and all the fun 2021 presented.

The familiar faces that we have come to know over the last months are slowly fading away as many campers have already closed up their campsites in preparation for nature’s next season.  The serene environment of the lake, and all the beauty of nature that granted our campers that much needed escape from reality is changing swiftly as October comes to an end.   The leaves on the big hickory trees are falling fast, the squirrels are foraging for those last nut remnants, and soon the campground will transpire into a beautiful blanket of white snow stretching as far as the eye can see.  Most of you won’t see the campground in its winter glory, but it certainly has a different aura around when nothing is disturbed.  No matter what season, nature can be the best company of all so we’ll make sure we post some winter scenes for you to enjoy in the next few months.   When you’re sitting at home around the fireplace reminiscing and sharing camp stories, we hope you’ll also be planning next summer’s camping adventures and thinking about Hickory Hollow Campground. 

As we wrap up our 16^th camping season at Hickory Hollow Campground, our family wants to say “thanks for choosing us!”  Thanks for becoming part of our family and making Hickory Hollow a part of your summer adventure.  We hope our service and friendship brought a smile to your face and made your life just a little sweeter.  Hickory Hollow is committed to providing the best experience to our campers and we appreciate the trust you place in us to ensure each day at the campground provides just the right mix of fun, relaxation, and adventure for the entire family.  You are the reason we do what we do and it is our pleasure to serve you!   Thank you for the good times and sweet memories.  Have a safe and enjoyable winter and we look forward to seeing you in April 2022.      

When there’s frost on the pumpkin and RV – it’s time to winterize

Somerset County woke up yesterday to a light frost on the ground, that can only mean winter is not far behind. Unfortunately for our campers, that also means that the campground will be closing at the end of the month. Unless you plan on pulling the RV out and braving the world of winter camping or moving onto a warmer location you are probably thinking about what steps need done to start winterizing the RV.

Why is winterizing an RV important? There are three main reasons to winterize your RV—to protect your pipes from freezing, to protect your tanks from freezing, and to protect your RV from winter rodent invaders. The cold winter months are also likely to destroy your RV battery if it freezes. If frozen water expands in your RV pipes, it won’t have anywhere to go except to burst out the sides. Burst RV pipes can create slow leaks in areas where you can’t see them and cause flooring to go soft and ruin cabinetry and furniture. Unnoticed water leaks cause thousands of dollars in damage so prevent them from happening by winterizing properly!

If water is left in the black, grey or freshwater tanks, it is likely to freeze over the cold months. Like your pipes, expansion can crack your holding tanks, causing yet another costly repair.

We’ve all heard the stories of opening up the camper in the Spring only to find the remnants left behind of those cute, but very destructive rodents, after a long winter of partying in the RV. Mice, chipmunks, squirrels, raccoons, all love to find a nice warm place to hide out over the winter and if you allow them, they will certainly enjoy eating your furniture, wiring or other sensitive items.

Some tried and true rodent deterrents include peppermint oil, aluminum foil, and steel wool. Experts recommend taking 100% peppermint oil and soaking cotton balls in it. Place the cotton balls strategically throughout the RV and in small openings that a mouse is likely to use to enter. Place the soaked cotton balls in the bathroom, kitchen cabinets, and lines that run through the RV. Not only will the peppermint scent keep the rodents at bay, but also leave a fresh clean smell when you open it up in the spring. Another trusted was to keep critters out is to take steel wool and press it into holes and small entry points. The wool is hard and they will not be able to chew through it. Make sure you don’t just push the wool into the holes, but also secure it in place with something like expandable foam, this way the mouse can’t just pull it out and have an easy entry. Aluminum foil works like the steel wool, but remember to secure it with foam as well. Experts have found that the famous Irish Spring soap, Bounce Fabric Softeners, and wall plug-in rodent repellent noise machines only deter the rodents temporarily and are not recommended solutions to winter rodent prevention.

Winterizing is important if the temperature goes below 32 degrees for more than 12 hours which in Somerset County happens frequently throughout the winter months. So, spending that hour or two to winterize your RV now will certainly save you a lot of money next spring.

Hickory Hollow Campground offers these step by step instructions to ensure when you do uncover the camper next April, you will not find all sorts of damage and will be able to jump right back into your favorite activity.

Treats and maybe a few tricks this weekend at Hickory Hollow

October is officially here, which means campers at Hickory Hollow Campground won’t think twice when little ghosts, goblins, vampires and witches start to appear at their RV steps this Saturday.   After all, they are used to hearing the screams from across the street at Huston’s Haunted Hallow this time of year as the ghosts prepare for Halloween in Milford Township.  But this weekend may be a bit less theatrical when the little campers, instead of the ghosts, show up screaming “Trick or Treat” to their fellow campers with pumpkin baskets held out to collect their candy and treats that have become a popular tradition over the years.

If our campers are like 41% of Americans, they will be including some spooky decorations to put up around their RV sites this weekend.  Popular picks usually include pumpkins, skeletons, corn stalks, orange and purple lights, hot-air balloons and a spider or two.   A viral sensation last year was the 12ft skeleton from Home Depot, so be on the lookout for one of those floating around. Hickory Hollow will be having their annual decorating contest on Saturday, at 9 pm, we can’t wait to see how our campers decorate this year because we know you love Halloween as much as we do.  Children love the decorations, but they love our annual Trick-or-Treating event even more.  Kids of all ages are invited to Trick-or-Treat throughout the campground, Saturday, October 9^th during daylight hours from 11 am – 1 pm.   Even though there may be a few tricks at Hickory Hollow Campground this weekend, treats will be the real draw!

The tradition of going door-to-door asking for food dates back to the Middle Ages when the less fortunate would go “souling” on November 1. In exchange for food, they would agree to say a prayer for the deceased the next day on All Souls Day, November 2.   Later in Scotland, the tradition of “Guising” became popular during this time of year.  The spirits were thought to be moving around more during Halloween as their prepared to cross over to the other side.  The people started to wear masks and costumes to disguise themselves at Halloween to prevent evil spirits from harming them.  In England and Ireland, the custom was called “Mumming.”  Shenanigans started to accompany the costumes and mischief makers would sing a rhyme, do a card trick or tell a story in exchange for a treat.  If that treat wasn’t presented, a “trick” could be played. For 19^th century children, tricks included sticking hot cabbage into keyholes to stink up a house or jumping out to scare people. 

When European immigrants arrived in America, they brought along their Halloween mischief and requests for treats and throughout the ages, the tradition of “Trick or Treating” has continued to gain steam.  Today, major candy companies endorse the holiday, Halloween decorating is becoming even more popular than Christmas decorating, and adults and kids alike love dressing up and asking for treats. 

A good Halloween scare should come from Huston’s Haunted Hollow, not accidents or injuries within the campground, so we want to make sure everyone used safety measures this weekend when the little goblins are out “Trick or Treating.”  Drivers should be especially alert to pedestrians of all ages while coming and going from the campground.  Please follow the slow speed limits posted upon entering, and use extra caution as the kids may be scurrying in and out of campsites more interested in getting their next treat instead of safety.  Make sure the kids are visible when trick-or-treating.  Make sure costumes do not impede your child’s ability to walk or see, and always test makeup for skin irritation, and make sure wigs and accessories won’t cause a hazard like choking.   Parents, it’s okay to ration the candy bounty so no one overindulges and feels ill later on.  After all, we do want the kids enjoying the rest of the weekend’s events too. 

“When black cats prowl, and pumpkins gleam, may luck be yours on Halloween.”

October Offers “Some More” Fun at Hickory Hollow

Oh, the clichés of fall! Camping, feeling the chill in the early morning, enjoying the rustling of the fallen leaves as you walk through the woods, and sitting around the campfire eating s’mores while enjoying the beauty of Hickory Hollow Campground.  These are some of the best days of the camp season!   Campers are enjoying every last minute as the camping weeks start to dwindle away and the thoughts of winterizing the camper become real.  Please nature give us “some more” good weekends to enjoy all the beauty that Somerset County has to offer.  When we talk about “some more” something else comes to mind, the contracted term “S’more.”

We are all familiar with the traditional S’more made over the open campfire that combines the sweet, stickiness of marshmallow with the creaminess of chocolate and the crunchy grain of graham crackers together for a favorite campfire treat.   This messy, gooey treat has been a camping favorite since the 1920’s when a similar recipe called “Graham Cracker Sandwich” appeared in a cookbook.  Boy Scouts were eating the tasty treat back in 1927, and knowing boys, they were probably saying “some more” please.  But the credit goes to the Girl Scouts when they published the “Some More” recipe in “Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts” in 1938 when the shortened-contracted term “S’mores” name became popular at summer camps.

S’mores graduated from a campfire favorite to an official word in the Merriam-Webster dictionary in 1974.  But the three special ingredients, found in the traditional s’mores, have come together before in favorites like Mallomars in 1913, and MoonPies in 1917, proof that we humans love the taste of mixing marshmallow, chocolate, and graham crackers together.  Eating s’mores over the last hundred years has been great, but let’s go in a different direction this week.  Why not try your hand a making a seasonal version of the famous “Graham Cracker Sandwich” this month as we enter into a season of change? 

Local apples are abundant this time of year, so why not try making Caramel Apple S’mores – thinly slice a Granny Smith apple and remove the core.  Place a toasted marshmallow inside of the two apple slices. Drizzle with caramel syrup or you can add some melted caramel. Add a caramel candy to the end of the marshmallow stick when toasting and transfer it over to the apple with the marshmallow.  Or replace the caramel with peanut butter.  Tastes so good! 

Gingersnap S’mores is another version of the old camp favorite- make your own gingersnaps or purchase them and add a toasted marshmallow and melted chocolate bar for a tasty fall treat.

If you can’t seem to get enough pumpkin spice – try making this seasonal version of the s’more.  Pumpkin Spice S’mores– Add a toasted marshmallow between graham cracker squares, top off with white chocolate and pumpkin butter. 

S’mores aren’t just for kids anymore, so enhance the flavor and make a fun adult version of Maple Bacon S’mores by whipping up a batch of candied bacon.  Place bacon on a rack, combine brown sugar and cinnamon and rub onto the bacon to lightly coat.  Bake for 35 minutes, let cool, and then cut up, layer between a toasted marshmallow and  graham cracker and enjoy. 

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If you are brave enough to try the Maple Bacon S’more, add a Pumpkin Spice Wine Spritzer that will really impress your guests as well.  Add ice to a low ball glass, pour 1 oz pumpkin spice liquor and 4 oz. white wine, top off with seltzer and garnish with a cinnamon stick. 

Another fall cocktail you may enjoy is the Apple-Pie Cinnamon Cocktail.  Run a bit of honey on the rim of two glasses, then dip the rims into a mixture of 2 tablespoons of sugar and ½ teaspoon of cinnamon.  Fill glasses with ice. Combine 2 oz. vanilla vodka, 2 oz. Fireball whiskey, and 8 oz. of apple cider and shake well for a tasty fall adult drink. 

If you are looking for a more cozy latte recipe to try, replicate Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte.  Pour 2 oz. of milk, 2 oz of sweetened condensed milk, 2 tablespoons of pumpkin puree, and 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice into a saucepan and heat on medium heat until the milk warms up.  Use a whisk or drink mixer to froth the milk. Pour into a cup, add a shot of espresso and your toppings of choice – whipped cream, pumpkin spice, vanilla extract/ syrup or caramel sauce. 

I encourage you to try some of the special fall treats I suggested while camping over the next few weekends, but don’t forget about the added treat that is also available at Hickory Hollow Campground this time of year. The eerie night sounds of screams and laughter coming from across the road at Huston’s Haunted Hollow. The popular haunt attraction is celebrating 25 years of shrills and thrills every weekend in October – Friday and Saturday nights from 6:30-10:30.   Campers love sitting outside and hearing the guests scream, but if the screams are captivating your attention and you are wondering what is going on over there, then purchase your tickets on line at hauntedhollow.net, and you too can join in on the haunting good time as you embark on the adventure of escaping the Haunted Hollow, Willie, and all the other spooks that are looking forward to scaring the pumpkin spice right out of you.  If you have ever seen The Doctor or Willie, you have reason to be scared.  If you don’t like clowns, you may also have a reason to be scared.  If you don’t like walking around in the dark smelling the foul odors found in the swamp and hearing the wolves howl, you may have yet another reason to be scared.  But if adventure is just not your thing, campers can still experience the haunted hollow by signing up for a behind the scenes tour at the campground. The experience will take you to where the screams start…. but be prepared, you never know who may show up in broad day light to prove that the black of night is not the only scary thing around the Hollow this time of year!!  “Shadows of a thousand years rise again unseen, voices whisper in the trees, soon it will be Halloween.” Happy Camping my friends!

Fall- The Best Of All

If you think the end of summer means the end of your camping adventures for the year, think again.  September 22, officially kicks off the Fall season and probably the absolute best season to enjoy the great outdoors and camping in Somerset County.  Fall is a fantastic time to enjoy your favorite home away from home at Hickory Hollow Campground. Campgrounds tend to be less crowded in the Fall when the kids go back to school and the pools close; and camping during off-peak season may save you a few bucks or you may be able to reserve that premium site that wasn’t available all summer.  So, don’t get the RV cover or the anti-freeze out yet because some of the best camping for the year is still waiting to be had!

One of the best reasons to go camping in the Fall at Hickory Hollow Campground, located in picturesque Somerset County, of course, is the beautiful natural scenery that can be enjoyed from the lakes to the mountaintops.  The colors come out in full splendor and the cooler temperatures and shorter days make it the perfect season to enjoy lots of cozy time around the campfire.   Most campers will agree, there is almost nothing more enjoyable than relaxing outside of the campsite after dark surrounded by family and friends enjoying a warm fire, great conversation and stargazing.  Summer camping always includes some pesky unwanted guests like mosquitoes, but camping closer to that first frost significantly reduces the bug population, so you can concentrate on the stars instead of itching. 

If you are looking to experience Fall at its best and leaf peeping is your thing, you certainly won’t be disappointed when you reserve your campsite at Hickory Hollow Campground now through the end of October.  Fall is just….well, beautiful in Southwestern Pennsylvania.  Home to some of the prettiest mountaintop views and lakes that offer beautiful reflections of the colors, Mother Nature has some real beauty in store for our campers in the next few weeks. 

If you love the beauty of Fall, but are looking for a little more adventure than just leaf peeping, Somerset County won’t disappoint I assure you.  There is a wide array of activities to take advantage of, including festivals and Halloween celebrations, pumpkin patches and corn mazes, craft fairs and haunted houses, and so much more for the family to enjoy.

Fall is all about pumpkins and apples, and color oh my…..so why not check out a few of the fun events taking place just a few miles from Hickory Hollow Campground in the next few week: 

• September 25^th – AppleFest,  11 am at the Kingwood Church of God Fellowship Center located just a few miles South of the campground on RT 281.  The ladies are prepared to serve some delicious apple fritters, apple dumplings and pies along with homemade ham and bean soup, haluski, and burgers.  Hop on the horse and wagon ride or kids can enjoy a ride on the barrel train.  There will also be a bouncy house, petting zoo, face painting and live auction starting at 3 pm. 
• October 1-3 — Confluence Pumpkinfest, located about 20 miles S. on Rt 281.  The celebration includes craft and food vendors, pumpkin pie contest, the Great Pumpkin 5K walk/run, square dancing tractors, car show, pumpkin balloon bounce, a parade on Sunday afternoon, tough-man fire truck pull, live music, antique tractor show and so much more. 
• October 2-3/9-10 Bedford Fall Foliage Days. Centered in historic downtown Bedford, the popular festival brings together 400 of the best local artists, crafters, concessions, and music vendors in the crisp mountain setting. 
• October 9-10/16-17 Seven Springs Fall Craft Days.  The family fun at Fall Craft Days goes from 11-6 pm on Saturdays and Sundays and offers scenic chair rides, outdoor adventures including the Alpine Slide, 100+ crafters and artisans, and live performances. 
• October 8-10 Fort Ligonier Days – Named one of the top 100 events in American, Fort Ligonier Days commemorates the Battle of Fort Ligonier during the French and Indian War of 1758.  The weekend will be host to a parade, craft show, concessions, fort tours and live demonstrations.
•  Meadow Creek Farm Market, located on Laurel Run Road, is open daily from 11-6 pm. Savor the flavors of the season like pumpkins, gourds, fall décor, and veggies fresh from the farm. 
• Cairns Pumpkin Patch/ Chads Corn Maze, Rt 711 S. Ligonier PA.  Walk around the 3.5 acre cornfield and try to find your way through the 1.5 miles of walking paths before you go and pick out that special pumpkin from the patch.
• Friday and Saturday evenings September 24-October 31^st – Haunted Hollow.  Celebrating their 25^th year, Haunted Hollow is located just across the street from the campground and is home to the Bruner Boarding House, the Milford Asylum and Willie just waiting to scare the crap….I mean,  take you through the haunted hollow and this year’s best dream or nightmares! Get you tickets at  https://hauntedhollow.net/tickets/

I hope you are excited as I am, to smell autumn dancing in the breeze and the sweet chill of pumpkins and sunburnt leaves.  The time when everything bursts with its last beauty, as if nature had been saving up all year for this grand finale we call, Fall !

Festivals Galore

Labor Day has come and gone, and with it the closing of the pool at Hickory Hollow Campground and many other places.  But no need to fret that summer is over yet, at least, because there are still plenty of great activities to take advantage of here in the Laurel Highlands.  The weekend after Labor Day in Somerset County is very popular with the locals and tourism crowds. This weekend is filled with some popular festival favorites that take you back in time – start with Mountain Craft Days going back to the 1700s pioneer era, make a stop and learn about the early 1900s farming era at the New Centerville Jubilee, and then top it off with a remembrance of 911 and that world changing event that happened 20 years ago.  After the pandemic caused the festivals to go on hiatus for a year, everyone is happy that the traditions will be continuing this summer. 

Located just a mile down the road from Hickory Hollow Campground is the ever-popular New Centerville Farmers and Threshermen’s Jubilee celebrating their 69^th year on September 8^th-12^th at the festival crowds.  In rural America, the Threshermen were once the main focus around this time of year as the farmers worked tirelessly to bring the harvest in.  The labor-intensive work was done using steam power and by hand to fill the barns before winter.  These old traditions have been replaced with new modern farm equipment, but the Jubilee celebrates their legacy every year drawing crowds from all over the US.  New Centerville is one of just a few festivals in America that shows old-time steam engines, in motion, so if you have never experienced them before, come on out to the festival and see and hear these magnificent machines in action.  

People are always looking for something new, but at the Jubilee the focus remains on keeping the traditions that our farming forefathers used authentic year after year. There will be lots of antique equipment demonstrations, along with a quilt show, cement block making demonstrations, garden tractor pulls, horse pulls, truck pulls, photo contest, and a cider mill pressing apples for cider purchase.  You will be hungry after all that so venture over to the concession stand for some crowd favorites like delicious apple dumplings, homemade bean soup, barbeque chicken, and ice cream.   The Jubilee committee has been working hard to prepare for this weekends events and like they say, “There is nothing like the Jubilee.  It is a history lesson, but much more than that – after 69 years, it has become our history.”

Mountain Craft Days located at the Somerset Historical Center is another crowd favorite when it comes to end of summer festivals.  Started in 1970, Mountain Craft Days replicates a time dating back to the 1770s when European and American settlers came to the region and enjoyed a much simpler lifestyle. Take a walk back through time this weekend September 10-12 at Mountain Craft Days and learn the ways of the pioneers.  Artisans, craftspeople, and interpreters bring the traditional crafts, country food, music and children’s activities to life as you walk through the cool woodland setting.  Authentic log cabins are featured along with over 125 craft booths with demonstrators plying their trades using wood, iron, fabric, copper, glass, paper and other materials.  Learn the ways of the pioneers as you experience the not so easy tasks the Pioneers had to endure just to have the basics needed for everyday chores.   You can experience blacksmiths hammering hot iron, demonstrations of copper, flax spinning, butter churning, gingerbread making and so much more.  You will leave with a greater appreciation of the not so necessary items we have access to today, thanks to Amazon Prime.  Make a stop at the ham pot pie booth or pick up a few apple dumplings for the road.  Corn on the cob will be cooked over an open fire pit, funnel cakes, fried mush, haluski, kielbasa, chicken and waffles and a variety of other delicious Somerset County foods will be available to purchase so you won’t need to worry about getting back to the campground later and cooking. 

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As the 20^th year after 911 is remembered this week, another great spot to visit would be the 911 Memorial located outside of Shanksville, PA on RT 30 South toward Bedford.  The official service which will take place on Saturday is by invitation only, however, you can check out the service live on the 911 Memorial Facebook page.  If you get a chance to visit the 911 Memorial, stop across the highway and check out the newest exhibit that pays tribute to those who served in the Global War on Terrorism called Patriot Park.  Patriot Park is not part of the 911-Memorial but recently opened and includes a Field of Honor containing more than 7,000 American Flags to honor the life of every service member who died in the global war on terrorism. 

With everything going on in the world, a heart touching display entitled “Reflections of the Human Spirit; America’s County Responds to the Tragic Events of September 11th” will be on display at Laurel Arts, the local arts center located at 214 Harrison Avenue in Somerset.  This exhibit includes photography, art, documentaries, media archives and other artifacts related to the community’s response to September 11.  The exhibit is open from 11 am to 6 pm Monday – Thursday and 12 – 4pm on Saturdays now through September 30. 

While you are sitting around the campfire this weekend at Hickory Hollow Campground go ahead and reminisce a little about this precious gift we are given called life.  Every life has a purpose. Every generation brings something of value to the world.  George Orwell was said, “Each generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it.” Hope you make some historic memories while camping this weekend!

Slack off this weekend – it’s for your health!

Labor Day weekend, the unofficial end of summer and the end of Hot Dog season but thankfully, not the end of camping season.   Hickory Hollow Campground continues to remain open for camping at our park for RVs, tents, and cabin rentals until the close of the season on October 31^st.   Campers will join us this weekend in the rolling hills of Rockwood, PA and celebrate this hard-won example of how far we’ve come since the early days of the Industrial Revolution. 

There is much more to Labor Day than just a three-day weekend, which is perfect for camping I know, but let’s focus on some interesting facts surrounding this labor movement that dates back to about 1882.  Labor Day is a time to remember the work of those who fought hard for workers’ rights, and the essential role workers play in America’s growth and development.  No one is really sure who come up with the idea behind the first Labor Day in the United States but historians actually believe the credit goes to a machinist named Matthew Maguire, secretary of the Central Labor Union around 1880.  Others believe that a co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, Peter McGuire, first proposed a day to celebrate workers around that same time period. 

Labor Day is celebrated because the Industrial Revolution of the 18^th and 19^th centuries brought a vast array of jobs and commerce to the United States.  What it didn’t bring was appropriate pay, safety regulations, or guidelines for the number of hours people should work each day and week.  During the Revolution, the average American worked 12-hour days, seven days a week.  People were starting to take note that children were doing hard labor in harsh working conditions for little pay and that the American people deserved fair pay, fair hours, and safe working conditions.

• New York City hosted the first Labor Day parade on September 5, 1882 to show support for all union workers.  10,000 union workers took unpaid time off to march in the parade down 42^nd Street. 
• The tradition of “no white after Labor Day” came from jealous women, if you can imagine that.  As more new-money millionaires entered society after the end of the Civil War, the wealthy wives of the old-money crowd invented their own fashion rules that only the in-crowd would know, one being no white dresses after Labor Day. When someone showed up to an autumn party in a white dress, they outed them as a nouveau riche newbie, someone who acquired their money in this generation and did not have it passed down.  Fashion experts agree there really is no need to follow this rule today, thank goodness.  Maybe women can also stop asking “Do these white pants make my butt look big?” or maybe not. 
• Pennsylvania’s work hard, but Oregon, followed by Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York recognized the legal holiday in 1887.
• President Grover Cleveland declared a national holiday in 1894, but only to stop the boycotts, riots, and sabotage that was taking over the country with an estimated $80 million in damages after the railway tried to reduce wages on about 4,000 factory employees. 
• Going to an amusement park is literally the law on Labor Day in Virginia who passed the Kings Dominion Law that prohibits schools from starting before Labor Day.  Maybe the 325 free tickets that lawmakers were given between 2001 and 2013 may have helped keep the law on the books, you might want to ask the Amusement Park Lobbyist.  
• Labor Day usually means those 7 billion hot dogs consumed from Memorial Day to Labor Day are replaced with Pumpkin Spice – in many forms.  Starbucks fueled this $500 million craze that started with $100 million in pumpkin latte sales in 2015. 
• A three-day camping weekend may make you live longer.  An analysis was done of 600,000 Americans, European and Australian workers and the results found that people who work more than 55 hours per week had a 33% increased risk of stroke than people who worked less than 40 hours a week. 
• Don’t let the rest and relaxation of Labor Day dull your nerves.  Statistics show that Labor Day is the third deadliest U.S. holiday for auto accidents. 
• More than 160 million people make up the current United States labor force according to government statistics.  Unfortunately, there are about 9.3 million open positions that still need filled today in the US according to Trade Economics as of June 2021.   Maybe we can create another three-day camping weekend to celebrate the day those positions are filled. 

This Labor Day weekend, I hope you get a chance to camp at Hickory Hollow Campground, stay safe and remember these famous words;  “Nothing will work unless you do” and  “A man is not paid for having a head and hands, but for using them.”    Enjoy the last hurrah of summer!  

Forecast for this weekend – “Wet and Wild”

With the weather heating up, it’s the perfect time to get outside and play!  What better way to play than splashing around and spending time frolicking in the water on a hot summer day.  Hickory Hollow Campground will be hosting their annual “Wet and Wild Water Fun” event this weekend and we invite you to join in on the fun Saturday afternoon. 

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Water play is a great way to cool off during summer’s hottest days, but you may be surprised to learn that it also has many amazing benefits for both children and adults.  It doesn’t matter if you are 2 or 72, water play can engage a person’s sense of fun and delight, and offers a range of benefits for physical and social development.

1. Water Play develops hand-eye coordination.  If you follow Hickory Hollow Campground and planned ahead for this fun weekend, you will have a good opportunity to improve your sense of accuracy and control.  Just grab that Nerf Super Soaker, Stream Machine Water Cannon, Shark Water Blaster or any other bucket or container add some water, find your target, point, aim, and shoot.  
2. Water Play improves your speed.  No matter your age, you may find yourself speeding up as you pass by campsite 58 to avoid Big Dan blasting you with a stream of water from his hose. 
3. Water Play introduces math and scientific concepts. Kevin and Anna Mack, our craft helpers and seasonal campers, will be happy to give the kids a crash course on just how far and how fast water can flow, both up and down hill, from a hose.
4. Water Play improves your problem-solving skills.  Jump on owner Doug’s hayride and see what resolution you can come up with to avoid getting wet as he drives through the campground and the eagerly awaiting campers armed with water hoses and buckets of cold water. 
5. Water Play helps you appreciate music.  It may not sound like DJ Poosa’s music, but the melody will be even sweeter when you hear the kids laughing and screaming as they run around the water playground enjoying themselves.       
6. Water Play improves your climbing skills.  When the foam machine starts up, everyone will be climbing the mountains of white foam within minutes and won’t be able to stop laughing as the mountains get bigger and bigger.   Even Dan Green won’t know how to stop the flow.
7. Water Play improves balance and strength.  When Activity Director Abby breaks out the water balloons, get ready for some fun improving those motor skills like bobbing, bending, and throwing.
8. Water Play offers exploration and learning opportunities.  Kids are invited to make a Jelly Fish Puppet and learn all about this sea creature during the afternoon children’s craft.  
9. Water Play enhances communication and social skills.  Social Media has nothing on a group of campers teaming up together and joining forces to soak some of their favorite campers. 
10. Water Play releases energy.  Water play can be an excellent outlet for pent up energy whether you are a kid or adult.  We give you permission to join in on the fun and let off some steam this weekend no matter what your age.    

So this weekend’s forecast at Hickory Hollow Campground looks like a wet and wild one, prepare to get wet and proceed with caution, squirt guns may be loaded!

Some Like It Hot!

Beans or No Beans will be the question this weekend when Hickory Hollow Campground hosts their 14^th annual Chili Cook-Off contest on Saturday, August 21.  When your packing your groceries for the weekend camping trip, make sure to include some tomato sauce and chili powder so you can whip up your version of the best tasting chili and enter our Chili Cook-off.  The festivities take place under the pavilion at 5 pm with the campers judging their favorite chili and the winner being crowned this year’s “souper” cook. 

2020 Winners: 1st Andrea Riek, 2nd Abby Mack, 3rd Christa Wessel!

Chili cookoff contests have been popular since the first one was held at the Texas State Fair in 1952.  The original contest had 55 contestants with Mrs. F.G. Ventura of Dallas being crowned the winner with her amazingly simple chili recipe.  The cook-off was a brainstorm idea of author Joe E. Cooper who wanted to find a unique way to promote his new cookbook “Beans or No Beans.” Little did Joe know that his book would become the authority on chili history and lore, the book all other chili authors would refer to for the next 50+ years. 

Today, Chili is pretty much a stable in every household whether you are looking for a quick crockpot meal to prepare ahead of time or hosting a football party on the weekend for a crowd.  Chili recipes have developed over the last century and the variations are endless.  There is traditional Texas style chili, white chicken chili, three chilies chili, pumpkin chili, seafood chili, meatless chili, beans or no beans chili, and thousands of additional variations to try.  You will never run out of ideas to make an interesting new dish called chili.  But let’s take a look at how to make the perfect pot of traditional chili based on famous chili judges’ recommendations.     

First of all, pepper is very important.  Flecks of black pepper are frowned on, so serious cooks substitute white pepper for the “up front” bite.  “Up front” bite is the tingle from the pepper that you taste immediately; the “back bite” is the tingle that comes later, usually from cayenne.  Tomato sauce is the preferred base because you taste no offensive seeds or skin.  Canned beef or chicken stock is preferred in place of water for thinning the mixture to avoid the chlorine taste associated with tap water. 

Over the years, chili cooks have developed and improved the cooking techniques, with one of the most favored today being the “dump” method.  Spices are divided into several portions or “dumps” and then added to the pot at varying time intervals.   This process ensures flavorings like garlic don’t lose their potency by overcooking. Look for a chili powder that includes ingredients like: cumin, oregano, and garlic for the best bowl of red chili.  Cumin is the spice that gives chili its distinctive aroma, and red pepper or cayenne is what puts the back bite in the chili.  This is what grabs you a few seconds after taking that first bite.   

If you plan to enter the Hickory Hollow Chili Cookoff this weekend, here is a copy of Mrs. F. G. Ventura’s 1952 recipe to help you get started.  What spicy new flavor or spin will you be using when you whip up your next batch of chili? Will it have all the flavors of the first chili, or will you opt to try something new like owner Doug’s Shrimp Chili from last years contest….maybe NOT!

While you are tasting the variations of chili this weekend at the campground here is some fun trivia to share as well. 

• U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson loved chili. Lady Bird Johnson had so many requests for her recipe that she had it printed on cards and mailed out.
• William Gerard Tobin, former Texas Ranger, and advocate of Texas-type Mexican food negotiated with the US government to sell canned chili to the army and navy.
• In 1977 chili was proclaimed the state food of Texas
• In 1895 chili was sold from the back of a wagon for 5 cents a bowl and crackers were included for free. 
• In 1921 the chili of Lyman T. Davis was canned and sold as “Wolf Brand Chili.” In 1924 oil was discovered on Mr. Davis property and he sold the chili business. The new owners used Model T Ford trucks with cabs shaped like chili cans and painted to resemble the Wolf Brand label.  A live wolf was caged in the back of each truck.  Today the company is owned by Stokley-Van Camp in Dallas, Texas. 
• Texas prisons and the inmates used to rate jails on the quality of their chili, the one thing they missed most when leaving. 
• Christopher Columbus discovered chili peppers when he discovered the Americas in 1493.
• There are 140 varieties of chili peppers grown in Mexico alone. 
• A teaspoon of red chili powder meets the recommended daily allowance for Vitamin A, needed for vision and bone growth and Vitamin C.
• Chili peppers originated in Mexico, but today China is the world’s biggest producer of green chili peppers. 
• Chili peppers have been part of the human diet in the Americas since at least 7500 BC.
• Chili peppers help you burn more calories by raising the body’s core temperature during digestion and send a trigger to the nervous system to produce more healthy fat.
• The Japanese used to put chili peppers in their socks to keep their toes warm instead of eating them.

So when you’re making your chili this weekend, remember that just like that spicy chili, Hickory Hollow Campground offers the perfect blend of flavors and heat for your summer getaway, a taste you can’t forget.   

Calling All Parrotheads!

“Everybody’s Talkin” about the benefits of outdoor camping and how much fun it is.  Whether you are the “Oldest Surfer on The Beach” or “Little Miss Magic,” camping is fun for all ages.   The seasonal campers at Hickory Hollow Campground say, “I have Found Me A Home,” at least from April til October at very affordable rates.  Maybe you are lucky enough to have reserved a beautiful campsite or rustic cabin at Hickory Hollow Campground, and if so, you probably have the RV packed and ready for a “Lovely Cruise” to Rockwood PA this weekend. “In the Shelter” of the beautiful Laurel Highlands hills and rolling meadows is the place to be when the “Natives are Restless” and you need to get away from the “Honey Do” list.

Go ahead and tell your boss you will be “Incommunicado” as you enjoy some much-needed time away from the office.  “Respect” is hard to find in the workplace because we all deal with a few too many “Fruitcakes” but you can be the “King of Somewhere Hot” when you load up the family and head to sunny Somerset County and the home of Hickory Hollow Campground.    I’m sure the family will be making a few “Changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes,” as they prepare for a fun filled week and a much needed break from this “Carnival World”.   

Only “Time Will Tell” what lies ahead once you get to Hickory Hollow but we encourage you to check out the list of fun activities posted in the camp office as you start “Changing Channels” from work to play mode.  Abbie, our Activity Director will be “Knee Deep” in children’s activities so you can count your “Lucky Stars” that the kids will be in good hands and enjoying themselves. At “First Look” it may appear that “Everybody’s on the Phone” but by the end of the week “Everybody’s Talkin” about the great time they had. 

The owners of Hickory Hollow are proud to say “It’s my job” to keep the campsites easily accessible, the bathrooms clean, the pool clear and the traffic moving slowly through the grounds to ensure all our campers stay safe and enjoy their stay.   The rest of the crew will be picking up the “Slack Tide” and will never tell you “I don’t know, and I don’t care” so go ahead and ask them questions about all the cool stuff to do at the campground or around the local area.

Hickory Hollow doesn’t have a “Beach House on the Moon” but it has fresh air to help you “Breathe In, Breathe Out and Move on.”  A place where “Barefoot Children” can be seen running around enjoying dandelions “Blowin In the Wind” and little boys playing “Cowboy in The Jungle” as they run through the fields with their squirt guns.  A place where mom can get back to being “A Hula Girl at Heart” and dad can enjoy “Growing Up But Not Older.”

“Livin It Up” is easy at Hickory Hollow, so if you can’tgo to “Mexico” or “Meet Me in Memphis” than join us for some simply pleasures and try camping.  Camping is “Nothin But A Breeze” where kids won’t be “Spending Money” on a “Sunny Afternoon” because there are too many fun things to do at Hickory Hollow’s “Summerzcool”. 

Hickory Hollow Campground is sending out the “Coconut Telegraph” to invite you to our annual Jimmy Buffet Beach Party on Saturday, August 14.  We may not have the beaches of “Floridays”, but we do have “A lot to drink about” and a few “Parrotheads” who are looking forward to a “Party at The End of The World” this weekend.  Campers will ask “Where’s the Party” and are invited to join us across the road at Haunted Hollow Saturday, August 14 from 5 – 9 pm.  The concession stand will be serving up “Cheeseburgers in paradise” along with a few other tasty treats.  Local talent, Randy Meyers says “I Just Need My guitar” to entertain the folks on Saturday with my fun “Margaritaville” tunes and songs about this “Big Old Goofy World.”   A few people in the audience may be “Too drunk to Karaoke” but who cares, it’s a beach party and you “Have a license to chill.”  Whip up some refreshing “Boat Drinks” or “A Bottle of Rhum” and come enjoy the “Everlasting Moon” that seems to shine over Hickory Hollow at night as we get our “Island Fever” vibe going.

  

“Don’t You Know” when it closing time and the “Tiki Bar” closes down, remember “It’s 5 O’clock Somewhere” and they are still having one “Last Mango in Paris” and partying “Somewhere over China.” Hopefully our campers aren’t still pondering “If the Hokey Pokey is all It Really is about” and are ready to stop “Quietly making noise” when the clock strikes 11:00 pm, after all we are a family campground.

 “When the Coast is Clear” and the kids have gone to beddaddy may offer mommy another drink or two from the “Tin Cup Chalice” and start chanting let’s “Bring Back the Magic” or “My Lovely Lady?”

“Come Monday” after you had a chance to take in the beauty of the campground and enjoy all the cool activities that were available, meet some nice folks like “Frank and Lola” the family will “Wonder why we ever go home” because camping is so much fun at Hickory Hollow, oh the “Stories we could tell.”  

Anywhere is within walking distance

Summertime is a great time of year and in Somerset County the climate is perfect for outdoor activities.  Campers are certainly enjoying the cooler evenings with night temperatures averaging between 50 and 60 degrees these last few weeks. It’s the perfect sleeping weather and not having to use the air conditioning is an added bonus.  Cool nights are perfect for campfires, and cooler days are perfect for outdoor activities like walking, riding around the campground in the golf cart or hiking. 

Hickory Hollow Campground has a fun activity on the schedule for this weekend that involves some easy “hiking/riding.” Join us for the annual “Golf Cart/Walking Poker Run” scheduled for Saturday, August 7 from 5- 8 pm.  Come to camp prepared with props and cool ideas to decorate your golf cart; this year’s theme is “Under the Sea.”  Campers will be judged on their unique creativity and are invited to parade with us through the campground from 5-6 pm showing off their water themed golf carts.  Then from 6-8 pm the “Poker Run” kicks off, and walkers and riders are encouraged to participate and gather playing cards from different locations throughout the grounds.   The winner is determined by the participant’s showing up at the end destination with cards in hand and the best “poker hand” winning. 

Some people call a nice quiet, hiking experience when the sun is beaming above your head on a beautiful summer day a win too!  But whether you are casually walking like you will be doing for the “Poker Run” on Saturday, or hitting one of the trails around the campground or local area, preparation is key for a safe and comfortable adventure.  Take a look at these essential tips you should be aware of before you head out for that summer hike/stroll/ bike ride or other outdoor activity.   

1. Check the weather forecast.  Somerset County has some pretty unpredictable pop-up storms so stay in tune with the local weather apps before venturing out too far.  The weather will also help you make good choices for clothing, shoes, and other gear to take along.
2. It is recommended to avoid long hikes during the hottest time of the day, usually around noon-3pm.  If you are planning to hike any distance, get an early start and plan to end by early afternoon when the sun and humidity is highest. 
3.  Plan your hike in a way where you find yourself in the shade during the hottest hours.  Get a lay of the land and hike near trees, water, and in shady areas.  Dip your clothing or hat in some cool water and drape around your neck to help maintain your body freshness as water evaporates when you sweat. 
4. Hydration is key! The amount of water you need depends on factors like temperature and humidity, your intensity level, body type, age, sweat rate and the duration of your hike.  Make sure you have ample water to get you through the hike and back home safely.    
5. Protect yourself from sunburn & bug bites.  Sunscreen and insect repellant are essential, but also consider investing in some sun-protection clothing with long sleeves as another source of sun/bug defense. 
6. Know the signs of heat exhaustion, the inability of your body to cope with the stress of heat.  Watch for symptoms like heavy sweating, fatigue, rapid breathing and faintness. 
7. Wear the proper attire.  Clothes with quick drying properties allow adequate ventilation and prevent dampness and that uncomfortable feeling during your activity.  Wear thinner socks and avoid heavy base layers. Think about throwing an extra hat, pair of socks, handkerchief, and a pair of polarized sunglasses in your bag before heading out just in case. 

Hickory Hollow has a beautiful walking trail that takes you about ¼ of a mile around Lake Ann and ends up close to the pavilion and tent sites.  Just a note, bugs like the water as much as we do, so please remember to spray before you play and you will have a much more enjoyable walk.  If you’re looking for some great trails outside of the campground, see AllTrails.com https://www.alltrails.com/us/pennsylvania/rockwood for a list of some of the best trails in the local area.  The site provides curated trail maps, driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from nature lovers like yourself.  You will find some great local park options around Forbes State Forest, Ohiopyle State Park, Laurel Ridge State Park, Mount Davis, Roaring Run Natural Area, Kooser State Park and Laurel Hill State Park and the state game lands, all located within close proximity to Hickory Hollow Campground.  The trails range from 0.9 miles to 10 miles and from 2,306 to 2,959 feet above sea level.  The site offers you options for kid and pet friendly trails, to forest and nature trails, to safe running trails.

If you are looking for even more adventure, check out the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail which is a 70 mile trail that stretches along Laurel Mountain from the picturesque Youghiogheny River at Ohiopyle State Park to the Conemaugh Gorge near Johnstown.  This trail is probably the most used trail for seasoned backpackers who enjoy the challenge of steep, rugged areas of trails. Connector trails lead to and from trailheads and shelter areas and are marked with mile markers. With six trailheads, you will find overnight parking and trash receptacles if you are planning an extended hike.  A Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail map can be downloaded at http://www.dcnr.pa.gov/Pages/default.aspx website.  

It’s not hard to fall in love with Somerset Counties trails, from rivers to mountains, so check out the routes and get exploring.  Whether you are a hiker or a gambler, the distance between your dreams and reality lies ahead of you, in just one more adventure, so always take the scenic route.   

Just Wing It This Weekend!

Hickory Hollow Campground will be cooking up wings this weekend as campers look forward to this tasty annual event.   We’re prepared to fry up about 1,000 wings for consumption, that’s about 100 pounds of the little wings that Americans can’t seem to get enough of.  Add some special buffalo or garlic parmesan sauce, and you have a tasty treat most people love.

I’ve been enlightening you over the summer on some cool facts about America’s favorite outdoor activity, camping.  We all know that there is nothing more American than apple pie, but I dare say, that chicken wings probably come in a very close second to the two favorites.  After all, chicken wings were born and breaded here in America.  Let’s take a look at how the delicious little wings took America by storm. 

The story of chicken wings dates back to 1964 when restaurant owner, Teressa Bellissimo of Buffalo, New York, received a shipment of chicken wings accidentally, instead of necks she used for stock.  Her teenage son and his friends were hungry one night so she decided to fry up this “blunder” instead of wasting the wings.  She tossed a little chili sauce over them and served them to the boys, who loved them.  Soon after, she added the wings to the menu at her restaurant, the Anchor Bar, located in Buffalo.  To take away some of the heat from the chili sauce, she served the wings with blue cheese and celery sticks and the “Buffalo Wings” became an instant hit. 

Teressa’s food salesman decided to work along with the Bellissimo’s and took the concept on the road selling the special “hot sauce’ and promoting chicken wings to other restaurants.  The concept hit the big time when McDonald’s began selling Mighty Wings at some of its restaurants in 1990.  KFC rolled out Hot Wings a year later, and even Domino’s Pizza offered a version in 1994. 

The rise of chicken wings all had to do with timing.  In the sixties and seventies, cooking the whole bird was trendy.  The family sitting down together for meals was still the norm, but in the eighties, consumers started to prefer boneless skinless chicken breast.  Because the wings were relatively less expensive, bar and restaurant owners realized the value of adding them to their menus.  By offering a chicken protein at a lower cost they increased sales, and by adding that special “hot sauce” they discovered that beer sales also started to take off. 

Sports bars with multiple TV’s, thanks to satellite dishes, started to become more common around this time, and of course we Americans’ love football so the two seemed to go hand in hand.   Wings were a great “group food”, easy to prepare, affordable, and shareable and paired perfectly with a pitcher of beer.    Today, chicken wing sales during Super Bowl Sunday averages about 1.33 billion wings according to the National Chicken Council. 

Let’s learn some fun facts about wings….

• The average American eats 90 wings per year, except for Seattle folks, they don’t really like wings.
• One chicken wing contains about 140 calories, without sauce. The meaty part is only 42 calories, eating the skin adds 30% more calories. 
• Wings provide essential amino acids, iron and niacin and are easily digestible.
• Most farmers feed their chickens vegetable derived feed which results in better brain health and inflammation prevention for us. 
• The normal American can eat about 12 wings in one single sitting.
• The world record for most chicken wings is 444 in 2015 by Patrick Bertoletti in just 26 minutes.
• The South eats the most wings, but the North invented the “Buffalo sauce”
• Ranch is more popular than Blue Cheese for dipping
• Hooters sells an estimated 30 million pounds of wings each year
• Buffalo NY holds a National Chicken Wing Day every year and draws about 80,000 people over Labor Day. 

So whether you are camping at Hickory Hollow Campground or watching a sporting event this weekend, chances are you, or someone in your family, is probably eating a dozen of chicken wings and enjoying a nice cold beer. 

Weekend Forecast – 100% chance of wine, beer and spirits

2021 has certainly been a transition year for many amidst a slow return to pre-COVID life.  During the last months, people have found new ways to work, play, and socialize.  Consumers have become confident in their stay-at-home skills like home-bartending and entertaining and realize that this alternative to going out isn’t all that bad, but can be cheaper, safe and fun when you’re with family and close friends.

The Laurel Highlands region offers a safe, fun, environment to kick back and relax so we invite you to experience Hickory Hollow Campground located in Rockwood.  While visiting our area, we also invite you to share in the true treasures of the region, the wineries, breweries, and distilleries that can be found all around the area.   Many people do not realize how important alcohol and spirits were to the local Somerset County economy in post-Revolutionary days. We’ve all heard of the illicit “good old mountain dew” and stories revolving around the potent moonshine, but do you know how important whiskey was to the local economy in the late 1700’s?

Somerset County’s fertile fields were perfect for growing rye and wheat and produced abundant harvests, but transporting the grain out of the mountains to the market was another story.  Farmers soon realized that by converting their rye grain into whiskey they could distill 6 times the amount of dry product and transport it much easier.  In 1794 there were nearly 800 documented stills, better known as distilleries, in Southwestern Pa alone.  Whiskey was working out well for the farmers who relied on the income from the product, but then the government had to step in and place an excise tax on the whiskey.  Western Pennsylvanian’s felt unfairly discriminated against and demonstrated against the tax and the government instilling the “Great Whiskey Rebellion.   Local men, like Harmon Husband and General Robert Philson, carried out riots, demonstrations, and even tarred and feathered excise tax collectors during this rebellion.  Federal troops soon arrived in the Somerset County area and arrested many of the “businessmen/AKA moonshiners” sending them to prison and tried many for treason.  The Berlin Whiskey Rebellion Celebration, is a local celebration usually held in September, honoring the legacy of these great men, who in a sense, did their part to ensure we have the tasty spirits we enjoy today. 

Hickory Hollow Campground will be hosting one their favorite events on Saturday, July 24^th.   The annual local beer, wine and spirits tasting will be held from 5-7 pm under the pavilion, This favorite adult activity has been popular over the years as campers are introduced to many local breweries, wineries, and distilleries found in and around the Laurel Highlands Region. 

This year, the owners of Hickory Hollow are working with the Sobel’s Obscure Brewery (S.O.B), a family owned and operated father/daughter duo who pride themselves on not only a great product, but a quirky brand of beer.  Located in the Jeannette area since 2017, the duo invites you to meet the “Gnomes” like Thimbleberry Sapsucker, a bohemian, yogi hipster who loves his IPA’s or Sneezeweed Brickcap, the brewery’s spokesnome.  S.O.B can be found at many local distributors, restaurants, and bars in 34 counties across Pennsylvania. 

Wine for the event will be featured from Stone Villa Wine Cellars located in Acme.  Randy and Debbie Paul took their favorite hobby, wine making, and turned it into something they could share with friends in 2020.  Keeping the tradition of Randy’s grandmother alive who was famous for her dandelion wine, the couple turned 150 acres of picturesque land located in the foothills of the Laurel Highlands into a beautiful, and tasty, venue for concerts and weddings.   Locals can be found on weekends sitting outside enjoying some music and the beautiful lakeview while enjoying a bottle of Chambourcin, a medium bodied, spicy with cherry notes and currant bouquet wine, or Stonegria, a crisp, fruity, and slightly citric wine that is perfect for a summer afternoon.   

  

America may remember the Whiskey Revolution, but cider is as diverse as wine or beer and was really America’s first and most traditional beverage.  This year, Hickory Hollow is excited to introduce you to Tattiebogle CiderWorks. The property nestled upon the Chestnut Ridge at an elevation of 1600 feet is perfect for growing juicy, delicious apples and crafts cider using only the finest juice from the no-spray, heirloom trees from their property in Acme.  The region’s only cidery, Tattiebogle just recently opened and serves as homage to the settlers of the Laurel Highlands who hailed from England, Ireland and Scotland. If you get the chance, try the Wee Geordie, a blend of hopped apple cider, Citra, and Chinook hops typically found in West Coast IPA’s, some call it the gateway cider for beer drinkers.  If you like sweet and tart, try the Ciara, a black currant apple cider enhanced with pear juice which makes it a “sweet drink” to enjoy while camping. 

Distilleries have come a long way since 1795, and with the recent changes in alcohol laws, people are enjoying the refined distillery experience that is becoming more popular in the local region.  For this year’s spirit tasting, Hickory Hollow is showcasing Kingfly Spirits located in Pittsburgh.  Kingfly Distillery transforms your drinking experience by using traditional recipes and adding a bit of innovation and discovery to the artisanal, small patch productions.  The Distillery allows customers to rediscover a zest for life when they sample the one of a kind, flavorful, aromatic, and complex product. Campers will be able to sample rum, gin, and bourbon including signature cocktails from Kingfly Spirits this weekend.  

Summer is the perfect time to visit some of Somerset County and the Laurel Highlands wineries, breweries, cideries, and distilleries so don’t hesitate to ask the camp office for some recommendations and directions. Hickory Hollow invites our campers to raise a glass and join in on the spirits tasting Saturday, July 24^th.  Drinking alcohol can lead to a lot of laughter, crazy antics and fun times, so always remember to drink responsibly and enjoy in moderation. 

Ernest Hemingway once said, “I drink to make other people more interesting,” and “Always do sober what you said you’d do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut.”    

Christmas In July

I’m not sure why, but the hot summer days of July usually inspire people to start thinking about Christmas.  Over the decades, we have all heard the saying “Christmas in July” and many people take it to heart with large celebrations.  Christmas in July has been popular since it’s origin in 1935 when Santa made an appearance at a girl’s summer camp in South Carolina.  The jolly old guy entertained the campers with Christmas songs, gift giving and filling camper laundry bags with candy.  Shortly after that in 1940, Hollywood popularized the concept with a movie comedy called Christmas in July.  This year, thanks to the pandemic and a scaled back version of Christmas 2020, kids and adults alike could use a bit of Christmas magic.  

Hickory Hollow Campground will be honoring the tradition of Christmas in July with some fun festivities on July 17 and 18th.  Campers are encouraged to decorate their camp sites with holiday décor, shop at the camp store for some seasonal bargains, and arrange special gift delivery from Santa and his elf. 

Pulling off a July Christmas party can be fun and easy when you put a summer spin on it.  The first thing to consider is how you will “deck the campsite.” Maybe your site is close to a small tree that can be decorated with fun summer items like flipflops, sunglasses, or Frisbee’s.  That small artificial tree just sitting in the spare room would also work decorated with some popcorn garland, painted seashells or glitter pinecones.   Lights are always great, so go ahead and string up some inside and outside the RV for that festive glow that is sure to get other campers in the spirit.  Decorated camp sites will be judged at 9pm on Saturday, July 17 at Hickory Hollow, so you have plenty of time to get the site festive and join in on the fun.  Let your campers decide how festive they want to get, but even the smallest decorations can add that little bit of magic to the weekend. 

Christmas is certainly more than the exchange of gifts but organizing a secret Santa gift exchange with some fellow campers, or prearranging a special surprise to be delivered from the campground Santa might be fun.  Prewrapped gifts can be dropped off at the office to be delivered during the afternoon on Saturday, July 17th when Santa will be riding his golf cart through the campground posing for photos and entertaining with the kids. 

Putting a Christmas spin on some outdoor games, like sack races or treasure hunts, could be a fun way to liven up a Christmas in July outdoor party.   Abby, Hickory Hollow’s Activity Director, has some organized crafts and fun activities planned for the children during the weekend, so please check out the schedule in the camp office when you arrive. 

An ugly Christmas sweater might not be the coolest idea for a hot July afternoon, but think about making a statement with a Christmas themed t-shirt or an ugly tropical shirt.  Holiday parties usually involve some shimmer and glitter, so ladies, go ahead and wear those rhinestone earrings or fancy tops with your jean shorts or keep it simple by just wearing red, white and green and adding a few accessories to show off your Christmas style.  A Santa hat, holiday socks, Christmas LED bulb necklace or sunglasses would certainly do the trick.   

We might be celebrating Christmas in July, but after spending time in the hot summer sun, you’ll want to cool off with some beverages.  If you’re trying to bribe Santa, eggnog might not be the best beverage to serve on a hot day, but a nice cold Miller Lite might do the trick.  Remember to keep lots of thirst-quenching non-alcoholic drinks on hand as well, to keep everyone hydrated on those hot summer days.  For a refreshing holiday twist, try adding some fresh berries, mint leaves, or cranberries to an ice cube tray and toss into drinks for a festive splash.  You can even put small sticks in them and give to the kids for small popsicle like treats.  Frozen hot chocolate is another cooler version of a winter favorite that is yummy for the kids and can easily be turned into an adult cocktail by adding a shot of liqueur to enjoy while sitting around the campfire.   Let the kids try a new smore activity around the campfire this weekend too; just put some marshmallows on a skewer and give them an icing pen to decorate them like snowmen.  Fun, and it keeps the dirty hands out of the marshmallow bag.  Try adding some food coloring to your popcorn and make it red and green for a festive treat or serving cut out gingerbread cookies decorated in a summer pattern to add a little fun to your camp snacks.  

    

If you are camping at Hickory Hollow this weekend, we encourage you to join in on the Christmas in July festivities. But whether you participate or not, remember the idea of Christmas is simple; loving others and sharing the gift of time and good cheer are the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas, no matter what time of year you celebrate. 

“Cool” Camping on Hot Summer Days

It’s hot outside now, but families usually start thinking about camping in the winter months when they start to get the cold weather blues and can sometimes forget the importance of planning to stay “cool” in the hot summer months.  Summertime is the season when people take the RV out on the open road, but it can also be a time of extreme heat.  Today’s modern RV’s have excellent climate control systems but they can still get hot and stuffy as you travel during the hottest months of the year. 

When you hit the road this summer, keep these tips in mind to help keep your camping trip “cool” no matter how high the thermometer goes.

Camping in a RV can be “cool” when you travel to Hickory Hollow Campground located in Somerset County, PA.  Somerset County, typically sees an average July temperature of about 80 degrees making it a great destination for mid-summer camping.   Located in the heart of the Laurel Highlands, Hickory Hollow Campground accommodates today’s larger motorhomes with wide roads, tree lined drives, scenic mountain and wooded areas, and gentle breezes softly blowing off Lake Ann.

Motorhome drivers have the option at  Hickory Hollow Campground of using back-in or pull through sites which provide an opportunity to orient the RV so the sun shines on the side with the least number of windows keeping the RV a bit cooler on warm days. The shaded campsites are popular with our campers, but so is the large, clean swimming pool located just a short distance from the campsites.  In the heat of the summer, the pool can be a great source of cooling off, along with a refreshing cold drink.  If you forgot your sunscreen or drink, no problem, just visit the camp store and check out the large assortment of “camping necessities” available. 

Staying “cool” while camping takes some planning, so do your research and ensure that the campground you choose has the right amp to properly run your air conditioning unit and equipment.  Remember, it doesn’t matter how good your air conditioning is, it is only as good as the power on which it runs and you could easily burn out your unit if the amp isn’t correct.   Small fans can offer a littler support to your air conditioning unit and can be the perfect addition to use under that awning or at night in the RV.  By strategically placing a few fans within your RV, you can keep the air circulating and your campers cool. There are many portable and mountable fan options available, as well as battery powered fans so find one that meets your expectations.  Proper maintenance is also crucial to keeping air conditioning units running and it is important to perform regular cleaning and filter changes throughout the course of the summer.

    

Seasoned campers offer a little bit of advice and suggest purchasing a RV that has good quality windows and plenty of them that open wide.  When choosing your own site option is available, which is not always the case during peak season, aim to park the RV in a shady spot at the campground. Keep your shades lowered during the hottest points of the day, and open the windows to let fresh air in during the cooler evening hours.   Cover large picture windows with ultra violet protective shades or a reflective bubble product called Reflectix.  Remember to cover the skylight in your RV shower area also, as this typically is a large exposed area that invites the heat in.  Ensuring there is enough ventilation in the RV is also important if you want to stay cool in the heat of summer.  Ventilation allows you to pump the warm air out and bring the fresh air in, so make sure your vents are clean and free from blockage.   To help with ventilation, open the windows on the shady side of the RV and close them on the sunny side of the RV.  The use of awnings or tarps are another opportunity to provide some afternoon shade when you’re trying to stay cool outside the RV. 

As camping becomes more and more popular, new and exciting technologies are changing the way RV’s are powered and cooled.  Solar power is becoming a popular alternative for some seasonal campers at Hickory Hollow campground as well as the rest of the country.  Drive through a campground and you will see RV’s with solar panels on their roofs and maybe even the latest lithium ion batteries.  Hopefully someday, we will see many more self-contained RV’s that get all the electricity they need to run air conditioners, microwaves, and other devices using solar power, thus giving the environment a healthy boost.    

RV’s are great and offer the camper the convenience of taking their kitchen with them.  However, cooking indoors in a RV can create a lot of excess heat, so think about cooking outside on a camp stove, the grill, or using a Dutch oven over the campfire as a cooler option for some delicious meal alternatives. 

Staying cool in your RV this summer is possible – just remember these 4 points — locate-ventilate-insulate-coordinate.  And the most important thing to remember when camping in the summer, turn off the TV, shut down the computer, and get outside and enjoy all the wonderful amenities that the campground has to offer. 

Check out Hickory Hollow’s website or camp office for a list of activities for this weekend.   You won’t want to miss the Duck Race Memorial Fundraiser for Tika Hetrick and Cory Roadman on Saturday, July 10 at the pool at 10 am.  Ducks are $5 and all money will go to purchase a campground memorial for the couple.  

“When the weather is hot, keep a cool mind. When the weather is cold, keep a warm heart.” – Ajahn Brahm

Make it a Red, White and Blue Kind of Weekend

Camping is a favorite tradition for America’s hard-working men and women and Hickory Hollow Campground invites you to spend the Fourth of July at our friendly campground located right in the middle of “America’s County”.  Summer is made for camping so why not take time to bask in the summer sun and celebrate the nation’s freedom.  It is estimated that approximately 20 million households are planning to camp during the upcoming fourth of July weekend according to the monthly research report put out by KOA.  Did you know that Pennsylvania is listed on the report as the third most popular state for July 4^th camping, right behind California and New York? 

Hickory Hollow is kicking off the holiday weekend with some all-American favorite activities you won’t want to miss.  What’s more American than an outdoor Flea Market which will be held on Saturday, July 3 from 9-2 pm, or America’s favorite pastime, BINGO?  Our popular golf-cart/lawn chair BINGO will be held both Saturday and Sunday evenings from 6-7 around the Pavilion. Abbie, our Activity Director, has some great activities planned for the kids so stop in to the camp office and check out the schedule.  The Fourth of July wouldn’t be complete without some music and dancing so plan on joining DJ “D” Saturday night from 7-9 under the Pavilion and DJ Poosa on Sunday night.    

July 4^th has been celebrated with festivities like fireworks, parades, barbecues, and family gatherings since 1776.  Just because you are away from home, and hopefully camping at Hickory Hollow Campground, doesn’t mean you can’t include a little red, white, and blue into your weekend.  If you are looking for some fireworks, the Somerset Jaycees and local sponsors invite you into Somerset on Friday, July 2^nd for their wonderful explosive celebration with the fireworks set to start around 9:30 at the football field located at 645 Columbia Avenue.  If you’re planning to leave the campground and head over to Idlewild and Soak Zone in Ligonier on July 4^th, they will end the day with a firework display also. 

Many times, campers will opt to have their own little sparkling celebration on the 4^th by lighting up the summer evening with the crackling glow and trail of light from Sparklers.  Everyone seems to love this backyard tradition, but it’s important to take precautions and keep safety in mind when doing so.  Kids get excited when they start waving a sparkler around, but keep in mind these “little fireworks” made of chemicals and metal can reach very high temperatures causing burns to little hands and legs.  Please follow these tips for safe sparkler use while at home or the campground. 

• Only use sparklers in open outdoor areas
• Never hand a lighted sparkler to another person, give them an unlit sparkler and then light it in their hands and only one at a time.
• Stand at least 6 feet apart from others when holding sparklers.
• Be aware that sparks can ignite clothing, so avoid loose fitting clothes that could catch on fire.  Wearing closed toe shoes is best to prevent foot burns.
• Always drop the used sparkler wire into a bucket of water to prevent burns and fires as the wires remain hot for a long time after the flame burns out.

Adopt the “sparkler safety cup” idea this summer which will help prevent those little hands from getting burned while playing with sparklers.  Take a plastic cup and poke a hole in the top which will allow the sparkler stick to be held from inside the cup thus preventing any close contact to the sparks. 

If fireworks aren’t on your itinerary, maybe a festive flick will do the trick as you relax quietly with the puppy in the RV.  Think about watching “Independence Day”, “Top Gun” “The Patriot” or “Captain America” to stay in the spirit of the holiday. 

Fireworks and sparklers certainly add a little color to our 4th celebrations, but so can your camp snacks and drinks.  For the adults who are into “firecracker cocktails,” just remember “If you drink a fifth on the fourth, you may not go fourth on the fifth”.  Here are a few easy, fun recipes that will have your campers bursting with excitement.   

Make this year memorable by counting your blessings and truly appreciating your freedom.  Hickory Hollow wishes everyone a happy fourth of July and God Bless America!

It’s Not Where You go, It’s Who You Travel With That Counts

Oh June 20, the date many of us look forward to after a long snowy winter in Somerset County.  The day that summer officially begins, the hot sun starts to shine brightly and the pool water feels so refreshing.  The day when kids trade in their iPads for swim goggles and pool noodles and the dog breathes a sigh of relieve that he is no longer obligated to sit through another virtual learning session but can go outside and run and swim alongside the kids.  The day when mom and dad pull together the last details before setting off for their summer vacation. 

If you’re a camper, summer vacation usually includes a few weeks spent at Hickory Hollow Campground, the perfect vacation spot for kicking back and relaxing, swimming, hiking and enjoying the summer sunshine and often times a good shade tree.   This summer, when you’re planning those fun adventures, remember to include your furry friends too. The reasons to bring your pet along with you camping far outweighs leaving them behind.  Your dog is part of the family and if left at home, can sometimes be a source of distraction as your mind drifts back home wondering how “Lucky” is doing.  Pets can also keep your camping kids entertained as you catch an hour of quiet time under that shade tree or a few minutes catching up with old friends.  Dogs are great for helping to keep the campsite free from fallen hotdogs and graham crackers, and maybe that golden retriever even helps you gather a few fire sticks to start that campfire. You will be able to catch those beautiful sunrises a lot easier if your dog is camping with you, and probably guaranteed a kiss in the morning, or a late night snuggle to warm you up on those chilly evenings as well. 

Dogs and cats can be great companions, but unfortunately, not every dog will be a great camper so please consider the following when deciding if you should bring “Barkley” to camp or not.  Is your dog a yapper?  Remember no-one wants to be woken up by someone else’s barking dog when they are enjoying some down time.  Does your dog seem overly protective or aggressive around other dogs, kids or people?  Please remember that the campground is full of many little ones, new faces, sounds, and smells so if you have to muzzle your dog to ensure everyone’s safety, maybe leave “Killer” at home this time.  Hickory Hollow does have a leash requirement, but will your dog come back when called if he got off the leash? The mountains surrounding the campground are beautiful, but can be very vast and scary for “Bullet” the boxer who is trying hard to get away from unfamiliar activity.  We don’t want to have to call Somerset County Search and Rescue to locate our missing friends because of not preparing properly for the animal’s safety.  Dogs left unattended in a RV can be very troublesome for neighboring campers as well, with excessive barking and no one knowing if the pet is in danger or just voicing his dislike of being left alone. If your dog isn’t used to being left alone or crated, and you have a ton of activities scheduled that doesn’t include “Fido” perhaps a dog sitter would work better while you’re away from the campground. 

July 4^th is right around the corner and dogs and fireworks don’t usually mix, so keep this in mind when camping over the holiday.  Noise phobia is a fairly common fear in dogs and unpredictable noises like fireworks, thunderstorms, loud laughter, and children screaming can truly frighten them as can bright displays of light from campfires and sparklers.  Firework displays around the local area are scheduled to be set off on July 2,3, and 4^th from different venues but the sound may carry into the campground on either of those days.  Please also remember that locals have been known to set fireworks off at random times during the holiday week, so please have your pet secured at all times for his own safety.  Never pull a dog out or try to force him closer to the fireworks if they appear frightened and allow them to hide in their crate or under a bed for comfort.  Try to drown out the noise from the fireworks by turning up a radio, keeping your RV windows closed, and turning on a generator or air conditioner to help block out the sound.  Noise blocking earmuffs are also available for dogs to help combat the overabundance of noise especially around July 4th. 

Noise is not the only safety concern when camping with your pet.  For safety reasons, it’s best to never leave your pet unsupervised at the campsite.  Keep them away from hazards such as food which is too readily available on the picnic table for them to snatch, hot grills and hot food that they may pick up quickly, campfires and hot coals, lawnmowers, and golf carts.  A fenced in dog area, located behind the office, is available at the campground for your dog’s enjoyment to run off leash.  Please follow good dog etiquette and dispose properly of all dog waste promptly and be courteous of other dogs and owners while enjoying the enclosure.  Lake Ann is an attractive component of Hickory Hollow and dogs have been known to take a dip or two in the refreshing water or chase one of the geese.

When traveling with your pet, make sure you have a checklist of those essentials to bring along.  A non- breakable food and water dish, medications including flea and tick preventatives, a reflective leash for night walks, pet friendly bug repellant, tick removal tools, first aid kit, dog brush, and soft clean bedding for inside the RV or tent. Never leash a dog outside during the night, they may protect you, but who is going to protect them from the night critters.

Camping with your dog is a great way to get away from it all and bond with your best buddy.  Camping can introduce your dog to many activities that will keep them healthy and mentally stimulated while developing their social skills and build on the relationship you already share as best friends.  “The world would be a nicer place if everyone had the ability to love as unconditionally as a dog.”  – M.K. Clinton

Celebrate Dad at Hickory Hollow

Father’s Day, Sunday, June 20 usually brings nice weather and plenty of opportunities for family fun at Hickory Hollow Campground.  Whether you opt to spend some quality time just you and Dad or get the whole family involved, the campground has some great ways to spend Dad’s day.

Have you ever wondered about the history of Father’s Day and how it became declared as a national holiday?  Celebrations for Mother’s Day go back as far as 1860’s and this paved the way for Father’s Day which dates back to 1908 when a church in West Virginia held a sermon to honor 362 men who were killed the previous year in a coal mining explosion, most of them fathers and this became the country’s first ever event to strictly honor fathers. The following year a woman named Sonora Dodd, one of six children raised by her single father, started her quest to establish Father’s Day as a national holiday. States celebrated celebrations individually for fathers since around 1910, but in 1972 President Richard Nixon signed it into law and Father’s Day became a recognized holiday.  

Hickory Hollow has come to know many great fathers, uncles, brothers, grandpaps, and father figures who have camped with us over the years and we celebrate you!  Lots of great memories have been made while camping on Father’s Day weekend.  Some big fish — lunkers, monsters, giants, whoppers and a few tiddlers — have been caught, and many stacks of pancakes have been consumed, usually by the campers – not the fish. This year will be no different as we kick off the weekend with our annual fishing tournament on Saturday, June 19 at 9 am along the banks of Lake Ann. The lake has been stocked with some great fish and they are “jumping” to join in on the excitement of Father’s Day weekend.  On Sunday, June 20^th treat Dad to the traditional “all you can eat” Pancake Breakfast when owner Doug starts flipping the delicious cakes at 8:30 am. 

 

Dads work hard all year, and even harder to get the campsite set up for everyone to enjoy, so if he wants to just kick back and relax over the weekend, Hickory Hollow Campground is the place to do it.  There are plenty of nice cozy relaxing spots for him to pull up a lawn chair or hammock and relax for a few hours with his refreshing drink, music or mystery novel.  If dad is more adventurous, take him down to the pool and play some water games as the temperature starts to rise. Hickory Hollow welcomes you to get creative with cool ways to chill out together while celebrating Father’s Day, so here are a couple of fun games you can try.  Start a beach ball blaster game in the grass and invite some kids or dads to join in, or hang some water balloons from a pole and try your hand at balloon pinatas.  How much fun would it be for the family to try their hand at batting practice – fill some small balloons with water, grab a foam bat and make Dad be the catcher – the family will be laughing hysterically every time Dad takes the impact from the hit and gets wet. Go ice excavating together – have Dad fill a bowl with small trinkets and water then freeze – the kids can try their hand at uncovering the treasures using small utensils trying to crack into the ice.  These activities can be so much fun for the entire family and Dad will be thrilled that there is very little expense and planning needed to carry them off.   

The fun is endless at Hickory Hollow Campground with so many organized activities and your endless imagination, but if Dad is looking for more adventure check out some of the local attractions and activities available this weekend. Somerset County’s Aero Club will be hosting their 71^st annual Fly In event (8:30-3pm) complete with airplanes, car show and chicken BBQ (noon) Sunday June 20^th. If Dad is a baseball fan, the Pittsburgh Pirates host the Cleveland Indians this weekend, and every Saturday night is race night at Jennerstown Speedway located about 20 miles from the campground with engines revving up at 6 pm.  Caddie Shack, located about 20 miles from the campground, is now open for the season and is home to a 50- acre adventure park that includes a grand prix track, bumper boats, miniature golf and arcade.     

If Dad is looking to explore, remember that June 20^th is also known as National American Eagle Day, so venture out to the local state park or Somerset Lake and you have a good chance of seeing a bald eagle. If you are fortunate to see one of these incredible birds of prey, take note of their beauty, large size and the astonishing ability to soar at extreme heights.  These majestic birds symbolize many things such as freedom, courage, honesty, inspiration, victory and pride, many of the wonderful aspects that fathers have, so it’s fitting that we celebrate both of these wonderful species on June 20^th.   

As you celebrate your father or his memory this weekend, remember “A father is neither an anchor to hold us back, nor a sail to take us there, but a guiding light whose love shows us the way.” Hickory Hollow would love to see some fun photos of how you celebrated dad and his special day at the campground – so go ahead and post those special pics to our Facebook page.    

Fly Your Camp Spirit

Hickory Hollow Campground wasn’t around when the United States American Flag resolution passed on June 14, 1777, or even in 1916 when President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14 as Flag Day but we are as Patriotic as they come.  We thought it would be fun to test your knowledge of the American Flag as we recognize this special day.  Even though Flag Day is not a federal holiday, like Memorial Day and July 4^th, it is still recognized in the states of PA and New York as a state holiday.   The observance originated in 1885, when a teacher from Wisconsin placed a flag in a bottle on his desk and asked the students to write about the significance of the flag.  Wouldn’t this be a great family exercise to try this weekend when you’re camping at Hickory Hollow or even in your home, to see if the kids really understand the importance of what the stars and stripes stand for? 

Go ahead and fly that American Flag proudly and show your patriotism while camping this weekend or any time you’re at Hickory Hollow. Here is a little bit of trivia to get you started with the discussion. 

1. What time of day should the flag customarily be displayed?
2. If you choose to keep the flag up 24 hours a day, what do you need to add to the display?
3. What type of buildings should always have an American Flag flying above them?
4. How should the flag be hoisted up and down? 
5. What color is the stripes on the top and bottom of the flag? 
6. Was the designer of the American Flag a high school student?
7. Shipwreck Kelly, was famous for this flag craze started in Baltimore Maryland in 1929?
8. Six American flags have been planted on the Moon by US Astronauts, how many are still there?
9. What year was the fiftieth star added to the American Flag, and for what state?
10. Which state became the first to honor Flag Day as a state holiday?   Answers at the end of blog

Young boy walking in the woods and holding an American Flag.

Flags can be fun, so whether you choose Old Glory or a fun personalized RV flag, there are endless possibilities to show off your individual style. There are lots of creative flags and spinners to uniquely display the message you want to proclaim to fellow campers.  Maybe it’s a happy garden flag that says “Welcome to our home away from home” or “Home is where we park it” displayed outside your RV.  Take a walk through the campground and you will often see “husband and wife camping partners for life”, or “making memories one campsite at a time” flags. If you’re a seasonal camper, warm up to your new summer neighbor by gifting a beautiful personalized travel trailer flag offered as a RV-warming gift. After all, camping friends often become friends for life…. oh this summer is going to be so much fun! 

Personalizing your own little corner of the woods can be so much fun…and flags make perfect gifts that are great for just about anyone.  If you’re looking for a fun Father’s Day gift – check out the cool options available in the local stores or the internet. What dad wouldn’t like a flag outside the RV that says “This is how we roll” or “Welcome to our campfire – where friends and marshmallows get toasted”, or “I go camping to burn off the crazy”.  If your family is new to camping and Dad is still learning the ropes “What happens at the campground gets laughed about all year long” would be a fun flag.  If you’re camping and catching up with some friends for the weekend make a statement with “Welcome to camp Chugabrewski” or “Camp Wanabetipsee”, but remember Hickory Hollow is a family campground so please use good judgement.  The grandparents would get a kick out of receiving a flag stating “Camping grandparents – like normal grandparents only much cooler” or “Camping – is our retirement plan”.

Seasonal flags are great for targeting specific seasons, holidays or themes. They usually hang from a small metal frame and measure about 13” x 18”, and are a popular addition to many homes and campsites.  If you want to make a big impact with your theme, go for the larger house flags that measure approximately 28” x 40” and hang it proudly from a pole attached to your campsite.   Windsock spinners are pretty fun and are usually made from weather and fade resistant fabric that become animated in the wind, they are easy to hang and create a fun atmosphere around the campsite also.  Hickory Hollow certainly won’t be upset if we see flags with “Happy Camper” flying around the grounds, so go ahead and get creative and let’s see how each of your unique personalities shine this summer at the campground.  Share a picture of your campsite flag with us on Facebook…and let your uniqueness fly proudly this summer!

Flag Answer Key:  1: sunrise to sunset  2: a light shining on it 3: government offices 4: briskly  5: 7 red alternating with 6 white stripes   6: Robert G. Heft was 17 years old when he designed the flag  7: climbed his 1^st flagpole at age 7, then set the world record in 1930 sitting on top of the Steel Pier in Atlantic City for 49 days  8:  five  9: July 4^th, 1960 the 50^th star was added for Hawaii- the 50^th state  10;  Pennsylvania

Cooking in the Great Outdoors

Hickory Hollow Campground makes camping easy, but it takes a bit more planning if you are going to be cooking in the great outdoors.  Cooking over an open fire is great but can be an entire adventure in itself, but one definitely worth the effort. With the proper planning and prepping, a scrumptious meal can be easy, and enjoyable for everyone.  It’s important to remember the best food for camping is non-perishable, sturdy enough not to get squished in the cooler, nutritious, and filling. 

Unlike your kitchen, the open fire doesn’t come equipped with a 350 degree oven and a timer set for 30 minutes.  Instead, this form of cooking requires gauging and controlling the level of heat for the best results.  Prepping is key, the less chopping and mixing that needs to happen at the camp site the better.  This will present less opportunities for cross contamination or foodborne illness, and definitely less mess to clean up.  Heavy duty aluminum foil can be a camper’s best friend when cooking over the open coals, so make sure you’re stocked well. If not, check out the camp store for a wide range of non-perishable camping necessities.   

Outdoor cooking can be experienced in many different ways, you can make it quick and simple or plan it as a family event for the day.  Most people agree, no matter how you cook it, the food cooked at camp always taste delicious. With so many methods to choose from, maybe you want to try and experiment with a few different methods to see what kind of fun creations you can come up with.  Everyone’s familiar with the propane grill, but have you tried using charcoal lately, or a wood fire? You can’t go wrong with the purchase of a Dutch-oven, long handled cast iron pie maker or extendable skewers. If you’re on a budget, teach the kids a new trick and try foil cooking or the tin can method for a tasty layered meal. Get creative with your cooking, try various seasonings and BBQ sauces, and don’t be afraid to experiment with something new. Use the pie iron to make tasty tacos. Just spray the iron and fill with small tortillas then add 2 tablespoons each of prepared taco meat, refried beans and shredded Monterey jack or cheddar cheese. Add jalapeno peppers for a little zest, then trim off any excess tortilla with a knife after closing the iron, cook over the open fire and voila, Mexican made easy.  Try it with fish for a healthier fish taco alternative.   For a breakfast alternative try making some French toast in that pie iron also.  Just dip bread in egg batter and cinnamon then spray the pie iron with nonstick cooking spray and heat over the coals left over from the late night campfire. So easy but so delicious.  Check out the recipe attached for easy campfire doughnuts, something else you may never have tried but worth attempting. 

Taste of Home recommends foil packet meals as one of the best camping hacks because they taste amazing and cleanup is a snap.  Individual meal packets can be prepared at home prior to camping and stored in the cooler until ready to cook.  One of my favorites is grilled sausage with potatoes and green beans, try it using the recipe from allrecipes.com

Use your grill and an old muffin tin to make simple poached eggs. Coat the muffin tins with cooking spray and crack an egg into each hole. Place on the grill and grill over medium high heat for 2 minutes or until desired doneness.  Try adding some chopped peppers and onions to spice them up a bit.

Treat the kids to banana splits before bed in place of the traditional s’mores.  Cut a whole unpeeled banana halfway through from end to end. Place marshmallows and pieces of chocolate bar in the slit. Wrap banana in the foil with the cut end up. Place in coals for 10 to 15 minutes until chocolate and marshmallows are melted.  Open foil carefully and scoop from the banana peel the delicious treat.  For an even faster dessert try Skillet Bananas.  All you need to do is melt some butter in a skillet, add some frozen orange juice concentrate, and some cinnamon and stir to mix. Slice some bananas into the warm sauce and toss gently.  Yummy!!

I’m sure you have roasted a marshmallow, but have your tried roasting an apple over the fire? Place an apple on a cooking stick and roast over hot campfire coals until the apple peel splits and ‘sizzles’. Carefully peel away the skin (adults should help kids with this) and roll the apple in cinnamon-sugar for a tasty alternative.  Instead of the traditional graham cracker and chocolate bar s’mores, be a little creative and try fudge-stripped cookies with a marshmallow in between. Or how about using peanut butter cups in place of the Hershey chocolate bar layered between chocolate graham crackers instead of the plain ones.  

Outdoor cooking can really be a fun adventure for the entire family but with the right equipment, it can be so much easier.  Don’t be fooled into thinking you need a bunch of fancy gadgets to cook delicious treats while camping, but Shekitchen.com recommends starting your camping journey off with one or more of these handy essentials. Campfire tripod and Dutch Oven and lid lifter, cast iron skillet or loaf pan, pie iron, campsite popcorn popper, portable grill, and extendable skewers, and of course a good cooler  —  packed correctly.     

How to pack a cooler to keep food fresh longer according to allrecipes.com* 

• Chill all food and drinks before packing them.
• Seal food in waterproof container to keep it dry and uncrushed.
• Pack food in layers, with ice between the layers
• Keep the cooler as full as possible.
• If possible, have a separate cooler for drinks so the cooler doesn’t lose its cool every time someone opens it to get a drink.
• Keep the cooler in the shadiest spot you can find.
• Don’t drain melted ice water – it actually helps keep food cool longer.

Hickory Hollow Campground doesn’t care what your preferred camping cooking method may be, but we would love it if your shared some of your favorite camp recipes with us on our Facebook page. 

Julia Child once said “the comforts of life’s essentials are food, fire, and friendships”. 

The Mountains Are Calling

Hickory Hollow Campground

Family camping takes a little bit of effort, but the payoff is huge.  Family camping at Hickory Hollow Campground allows you to come face-to-face with nature while offering a dynamic, ever-changing canvas for campers of all ages to explore and create memories for years to come. Over the last year, we have all experienced far too much screen time, whether you were participating in zoom meetings for work, online virtual school or just trying to stay connected through social media, you are probably ready to get in touch with nature and enjoy a digital sabbatical. You may not realize how scarce fresh air has been in your day to day life recently, but let me assure you, Hickory Hollow has enough to go around and last all summer long. 

Along with fresh air, Hickory Hollow also has a fresh new face working with us this summer.  We are proud to welcome Abbie Mack, a familiar face at the campground, as the new Activity Director.  Abbie is the daughter of seasonal campers, Kevin and Anna Mack and is looking forward to assisting with the children’s activities, crafts, and the many events being held this summer.  A certified lifeguard, Abbie is looking to creatively keep the kids engaged with some cool new activities while enhancing some of the traditional favorites for all ages. 

Memorial Day weekend kicks off with a corn-toss tournament, and the much-anticipated chain saw demonstration by Bill Schaudt Wood Creations. If you are looking for sasquatch, a friendly little black bear, eagle or even a gnome don’t miss this really cool demonstration from one of the industries best carvers.  After the demo, go ahead and fire up the grill and get those BBQ aromas filling the grounds, then get ready to try your luck with golf-cart/lawn chair bingo, a favorite from last year.  This Memorial Day, as we remember the fallen hero’s and those who fight for our freedom, remember “it takes the best in each one of us to make a better world for all of us.”

Hickory Hollow knows the importance of building strong relationships and that’s why we offer fun activities that the entire family can participate in.  Studies show that outdoor experiences make children more environmentally conscious, help them manage stress, and reduce restlessness and boredom. Spend some time exploring the beautiful mountains and lake surrounding the 75-acre campground as a family, or visit one of the many local attractions to learn more about the beautiful Laurel Highlands. Just imagine the look on your child’s face when they reel in their very first rainbow trout caught proudly on Lake Ann. Or see the gleam in their eyes when they come back to camp with some beautiful photos taken while participating in the nature scavenger hunt being held on June 12. This is a great opportunity to study bugs, learn to identify trees and flowers, sing a song while hiking, identify animal prints, and just enjoy all nature has to offer together.  Family members can all join in on the fun under the pavilion for DJ dance nights and compare your era of dance to the new generation.  DJ Poosa will be happy to play all genres of music so maybe we can get a dance off going this year.  Grandma can show us her mambo, dad his cool funk moves, and the teens the newest Tik Tok move.

One of the best and most relaxing camping activities is stargazing.  At Hickory Hollow we have the perfect environment to settle in and explore the night skies.  A clear sky, blanket, and a nice warm fire is all you need to enjoy this camp favorite.  If you are into astronomy and the celestial stars you might want to check out one of our local wineries called Vin De Matrix, located about 10 miles from the campground and inspired by the star Vindemiatrix, the third brightest star in the Virgo constellation.  The rustic tasting room is filled with some amazing photographs of the night sky along with some beautiful pottery, jewelry and prints from local artists. Schedule your individualized tasting during the week or you can pick up a bottle of their local wine Saturday mornings at the local Farmers Market located at Georgian Place in Somerset to bring back for your star gazing activity.  

When a family makes memories together, it’s an experience they will never forget. From a day or week spent exploring everything the campground and the local area has to offer, to an evening roasting s’mores around the campfire, these memories will last forever.  Hickory Hollow makes this activity easy too, just swing over to the camp store and pick up a ready made s’more kit along with any other essentials you may have forgotten.  While visiting the store, check out the new shipment of t-shirts that have just arrived.  Maybe you want to purchase one for Santa to deliver when he makes his annual visit to the campground in July. 

There are endless opportunities to reconnect with loved ones while camping, so whether you’re fishing, hiking, or teaching the kids a new skill like cooking over an open fire, adventure awaits you at Hickory Hollow Campground.  Abbie, and the entire Hickory Hollow staff are looking forward to s’more fun with you this summer!