Local campgrounds fill up as summer arrives
Matt Leenhouts, manager of the Nugget Campground in St. Regis, said reservations have the campground booked pretty solid through the middle of August. (Monte Turner/Mineral Independent)
Having a camper, trailer, RV or motorhome has always given people freedom to go when they want and stay where they want to, up until the summer of 2023.
Privately owned campgrounds are full to packed across the country, and that holds true in Mineral County.
Matt Leenhouts is the manager of the Nugget Campground just east of St. Regis. His parents owned it from 2015 to 2021 and then sold it to an investment group.
“It’s doing better this year than last year,” he said when asked how this seasonal business is going on the second day of summer. “Before and after Covid, we’re doing a lot better.”
If you have heard that campgrounds are booked up, Leenhouts said it’s true at the Nugget as well.
“Yep, pretty booked up until the middle of August,” he said. "Between the weekends like Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday we have a few openings. But the weekends, full.”
When Mark and Leslie Leenhouts bought the campground in 2015, they made a huge overhaul from when it was established in the early 90s.
“And then the new owners put a lot of money into it too,” Matt shared.
It’s a manicured park-setting with mature trees, paved roads, and amenities any traveler could ask for. 3 miles of walking trails in a non-developed forest on private property with about 90 RV sites and five cabins.
“Eastern Washington is where most of the guests are coming from, but surprisingly, we have lots of people from Missoula, Hamilton and Kalispell that come for a night or two,” he said.
West of St. Regis off the Little Joe Road is Campground St. Regis with 65 sites under the ownership of Dave and Loni Starman.
“We’re pretty full with reservations through the summer but we do have some overflow sites with only electricity if travelers can settle for just that,” said Loni.
This campground is 50 years old and she and Dave are the third owners keeping it open May 1 through Sept. 30 each year.
They, too, have a pool and laundry and other necessities for their guests. Both of these campgrounds do have gifts shops primarily with Montana goodies, but they are not open to the public.
A quick search of motel prices in western Montana seems to have $129 per night for two people as the least expensive. Again, if room is available. It's $45 with water and electricity to park for a night at Campground St. Regis, and 87 octane fuel is near $3.75 per gallon.