From left, Bear Creek Town Clerk Kay Wiginton, Dale Flippo, supervisor of the Bear Creek Street and Sanitation Department and Twin Forks Campground Manager Melissa Taylor are standing where land is being cleared for new camp sites.
BEAR CREEK - When Twin Forks Campground in Bear Creek reopens March 1, those seeking recreation will have more camping sites to choose from, thanks to an ongoing expansion.
At the January Bear Creek Town Council meeting, a vote was taken to purchase tables for the new camping spots at a cost of $900 per unit for an overall cost of $11,700, with funding provided from the American Rescue Plan Act account, announced Mayor Rob Taylor.
After the expansion is complete, Twin Forks will boast a total of 94 camping spots, including on-water and off-water sites with electricity hookup along with primitive sites, with no electricity hookup, town officials said.
Taylor explained the expansion of the campground was necessary due to the consistent increase in campers at Twin Forks.
“Each year when we have the draw for the monthly campsites, we never have enough sites,” Taylor explained. “So, we’re adding some more utility sites, to be able to alleviate some of the (issues with) folks who are not able to get a campsite.”
The town is also planning to add a few daily campsites, the mayor added.
“So those in the local area who want to come camping will be able to,” Taylor added.
Campers at 50-amp sites to pay more
Due to an increase in power costs, the council also decided to increase fees for camping spots that provide 50-amp power hookups.
Before the increase, campers with water-front 50 amp spots were paying $375 a month. The council voted to increase that cost to $400 per month. Campers with 50-amp service who were paying $325 for off-water spots before will now pay $350 a month, according to the council’s unanimous vote.
“The 50-amp campers use more power and power rates are going up,” Twin Forks Campgrounds Manager Melissa Taylor pointed out.
There was not an increase for 30-amp spots, with waterfront campers paying $375 a month and off-water campers paying $325 a month, according to town officials.
As the number of camping sites available has increased, so has the number of campers on the call list, according to Melissa.
The annual drawing for campsite locations will be Saturday, Feb. 18, at noon, at the Bobby Bishop Community Center. The drawing is designed for campers to receive a monthly spot, Melissa noted. Weekend campers receive sites on a first-come, first-served basis, she added.
Campers seeking a monthly site will draw a number when they arrive at the community center, with the camper’s name written beside the number drawn, town officials explained. The camper, who draws the number one, for example, will get the first choice of a site, Melissa said, with the drawing going down the line from there.
Therefore, campers do not have to get to the drawing early and wait in line, Melissa said. The number drawn when they arrive will determine the order in which they can choose their camping spot.
Only two family members per household will be allowed at the drawing due to the large crowd expected, town officials said. Police will be at the drawing to monitor the crowd, according to town officials.
See complete story in the Northwest Alabamian.
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