Our New Workamping Location - Watkins Glen KOA New York

Watkins Glen New York (72 degrees, blue skies, scattered showers)

Our site

We have arrived at the campground where we will be workamping this summer and fall.  It is Watkins Glen KOA in Watkins Glen New York.  This is a beautiful campground in the Finger Lakes area a few minutes from Senecca Lake.  We were warmly greeted by the owner Paul and his nephew Sam and quickly shown to our site. 

Afterwards they took us in the golf cart and showed us all around.  Let's just say this is a large campground! They offer many amenities to their campers and the grounds are really beautiful.  Spring has just barely arrived and the trees are just starting to leaf out. 

Our Commitment: We will be working about 32-40 hours/person and will have every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday off.  We are paid for all hours work and pay $150/month for our full hook up site.  We also receive free cable and laundry,  propane at cost,  and discounts in the kampstore. We will be here from May 1st until October 15th. 

There is one other workamping couple, a house keeping staff,  and eight Summershiners (more about that program later in the post).

Office

Owners: This KOA is a privately owned campground. Some of them are corporately owned by KOA.  Paul and Cam are the owners and live in their motorhome on site.  The have turned over management to their nephew and his wife and they live in a home on site.  Everyone is very actively involved in the campground. They have owned it for twenty years and have added so much to the campground since purchasing it.

Responsibilities:   I will mostly work in the office taking reservations over the phone, checking in campers, and selling items in the campstore such as firewood, ice cream, and groceries.  I've been told I'll be dipping a lot of ice cream during the hot summer evenings.  John will work outside with maintenance, mowing, and initially installing some new cabins that just arrived.  More about that later.

Indoor pool and work out room

The indoor pool is beautiful and a very large size.  It was built in 2009 and is spotless.   There is also a nice fitness center on the second floor overlooking the pool. 

 

 

Hot tub

I told the owners if they could not find John, that he'd probably be in the hot tub.  We had one in our home and it's the one thing he has really missed.  There is also a nice workout room with good equipment.  I forgot the code when taking the pictures so I couldn't show you inside.   

Fitness Center

Sites near office, some are pull thru

One room cabins

There are lots of cabins spread out throughout the campground.  Some are sleeping cabins with a TV and small fridge, others include a kitchen, bathroom, and linens.  We have sizes that can accommodate 4-8 people.   It will take me awhile to understand what each one includes.   They are very popular and almost always sold out way in advance. 

Two room deluxe cabin with bathroom

Lovely view of ravine from the cabins deck

Large pull thru sites near playground

Primitive tent area

Below are the new super deluxe cabins that are being installed.  They can sleep up to eight and each come with a large deck.  John will be working on these for several weeks with the contractor.  They are "supposed" to be ready to occupy by June 1st.   

 

New 'super deluxe" cabins

Our most popular camping area is called Sunset Acres and is located at the back of the campground. Tte sites are large with nice patios, fire pit, gliding chair, and lamp. 

 

Paul, Sam, and John working in the shop preparing wood for the new decks

I really like this pavilion.  The area to the right is a nice picnic area and it looks over the wooded ravine.  The area to the left is the workshop.   

Trails End Pavilion

There are lots of activities for children.  The shipwreck play ground is pretty cool.  There is even buried treasure that can be dug up and redeemed for anything in the campstore.  

Pirate Ship Adventure Playground

In the summertime there is a special children program staffed by the SummerShiners.  They are college students who have had special training in providing activities for the family.  They organize movies in the evening, special skits, laser tag, T-shirt tye dying, group campfires, and lots more.  The students live at the campground and we are expecting eight students and one advisor starting Memorial Day weekend.  During the day they also help out in the office and with general maintenance of the campground. 

SummerShiner Lodging

There is a lodge just for the Summershiners and includes a cabin for the boys and a separate one for the girls. The third cabin is for the advisor and also has a kitchen.  

Putt Putt

Very popular jumping pillow

Well, I have a suspicion that we are going to be very busy.  Our first impressions have been very good.  We will tell you more about our day to day activities in future posts.  And. of coarse lots about the area.  We'd love it if you'd come visit and stay for a few days. Just be sure to make your reservations soon.