Camper Who? Camp-or you'll forget how much fun it is!!!

 

I just made that up! Maybe you didn't laugh, but I'll bet you smiled. Anyway, we're getting lots of calls from campers who wonder if the parks are open. Well, they are! Martin's Access, Larson Lake, Steineke, Silver Sioux and Ranney Knob are all available to Campers like yourself for a night or a weekend of outdoorsey fun.

 

The water and electricity are on at Silver Sioux. Have a hot shower to take your mind off of the expansive trimming and restructuring our crew has been working on in the campground. Many sites have received a make-over to make room for larger RVs. New rock pads and grass seed will improve camping conditions. Please join us to watch the grass grow, and don't trample it in the meantime. By the way, there is now access to water from nearly every electric site. Just our way of letting you know we care.

 

If you don't have an RV, and sleeping on the ground isn't your idea of a jolly good time, why not rent the Silver Sioux Lodge for the weekend? Amenities include a full kitchen, soft beds, a hot indoor shower, fireplace, charcoal grills, scenic views and peace and quiet. Nobody will pull their Lodge up next to yours in the middle of the night, cursing because their spouse can't back the thing up straight. And it's only $50/night. Warning: your kids might like it better than your house.

 

Keep an eye on our Education page, where soon you will find a list of things that are fun to do in Cherokee County Parks, or in your own backyard, compiled by the 5th Grade Graduates of the Cherokee County D.A.R.E. Program. All of my favorites are on there, but if we've missed anything, let us know! We'll add your suggestions, as long as they're family-friendly!

If you ever wonder what's happening here at the CCCB and you find that I haven't been diligent about rambling here lately, check out the Cherokee Chronicle Times website. Their talented staff does an awesome job of chasing us down for photos and progress reports, helping to get our message out to the whole world through their almost-daily publication and their updated site on the web.

 

Today, however, feel free to stay here and browse! Be sure to paruse the list of donors who have contributed to the Martin's Access Expansion! I get a big smile on my face when I add to the list. These are our heroes, folks! They have given so willingly and generously. We are all familiar with that feeling that we just can't stretch the ends to meet our own needs, let alone meet someone else's. Our donors bucked that sensation and gave us the money. I can't thank them enough!!! They gave that money to YOU for your new 80-acre Martin's Access Addition. Wow!

 

Anyway, the list is full of greatness. Take for example Cherokee Pheasants Forever, reaching a grand total donation of $30,000 after they surprised us with $5,000 more at our recent local PF banquet. Or Dr. Tom Gary, quietly mailing a check for $5,000 in our final stretch of fundraising, and expecting no special recognition. Or our local 4-H kids raising funds and thoughtfully voting to support our project, when 4-H and the community have so many other needs. Cherokee County is full of exceptional people, working together to make life great for everyone. I just hope we can build them a beautiful rural park to make them proud.

 

So where do we stand? With land acquisition goals well within reach, we have begun to build a park. I don't even need that hot cup of coffee in the morning with an exciting project like this on my plate! Our first steps include widening our entrance from the road, building a boundary fence, erecting signs, seeding the crop areas, and cleaning up old fence and scrap piles.

 

I am frequently asked if the new portion of the park will be open for 2008 spring turkey season. It will be a close call. I don't expect the county to hold the deed to the property until late April, and our developed parks close to hunting April 30. The answer, then, is probably not. But there are certainly gobblers in Martin's Access (saw a gobbler in full strut last week south of Cherokee, by the way) and plenty of good hunting spots within the existing 224-acre park.

 

Watch for a groundbreaking ceremony to announce public ownership! Come help us celebrate a victory for conservation and for the community! Details to be announced.......