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Escambia County Names New Lake Stone Caretaker
May 23, 2013
The Escambia County Commission has named a new caretaker for the Lake Stone Campground near Century.
Since the inception of the Lake Stone Campground, the county has entered into an agreement for on-site caretaker and management services at the facility. Mervyn Simmons, who has served as the caretaker since February 2009, has submitted his resignation.
He will be replaced by Dennis Keith Cole under the same contract terms. Cole will be compensated at $850 per month with housing and utilities provided.
Comments
8 Responses to “Escambia County Names New Lake Stone Caretaker”
Lake Stone is a nice place to camp when you need a base of operations for a few days close in to work, for a family reunion, or just to spend a weekend out.
There is one complaint I have about past operations, and that relates to long term residents. I do not believe people should be allowed to take up semi-permanent residence in any municipal, county, state, or federal public park. When propane is delivered in huge tanks, trailer skirts appear, flower beds are planted, and a sense of permanence emerges, something is wrong. It immediately removes the feel of a campground being a vacation or weekend getaway. Instead, it becomes camping in a neighborhood.
Lake Stone’s policies need to be revised by the BCC to place a limit on stays that cannot be so easily modified by the Lake Stone manager. Let’s say 60 nights max per year, and not over 20 consecutive nights, with a minimum 10 days before you can register again. This keeps Lake Stone an RV traveler’s and weekend recreation park, not a residential trailer park.
Lake Stone should also become a part of ReserveAmerica.com. More people would then find and reserve sites online, and occupancy and revenue would increase, etc. As it stands now, Lake Stone is found by travelers by luck of the draw.
I must respectfully disagree with cygie on the wifi and cable.
Whether on vacation, or locally camping, wifi becomes a way of staying up-to-date with business or family affairs. Think about this from the perspective of being a tourist. If they can stop for a day or two and rest because this campground provides 21st century amenities, those people are also likely to venture out, get a tank of fuel, groceries, bait, propane, eat out, etc.. and provide some benefit to businesses and employees. If campground services are better up I-65 or down into Pensacola, North Escambia loses potential tourist dollars.
Cable TV is nice to have in campgrounds when poor weather sets in. Every night is not a sit out by the campfire night. Where DTV air service is marginal, CATV is nice to have.
Either way, Escambia County Parks and Recreation could provide the services to campers for a nominal fee. That way, if you do not want your family engaged in the internet or cable, don’t pay for it. Bring on the firewood!
Perhaps people travel to Lake Stone to get away from wi-fi and cable. If you need cable and wi-fi to go camping, then stay at home.
We live several hours away in Alabama, BUT some of our grandbabies live there in Century and we love to come down and camp. it’s easier than invading their home! It is a wonderful park as is, very peaceful and we love to play on the playground, ride bicycles and just relax. HOWEVER, I agree to catch a fish would be enjoyable. To have our grandson fish for hours and never catch a thing is rather disappointing for him and us.
My daughter has even rented the pavillion for birthday parties and that is a great place with the enclosed pavillion and well maintained restrooms.
THANK YOU to the State of Florida for the facilities, and the managment for such dedication to the park.
Does it have wi-fi and cable yet? if not they need to get with the program!
I don’t know who to contact about this, but it sure would be nice if there were some good fishing in Lake Stone. The past several times we have went, we have caught
nothing. The grass is really bad in the lake. It would be wonderful if the State would stock it and manage it, so there would be fish to catch. I know it would probably get fished to death, but with some regulations, I believe it could really be recreational and a benefit to the community and the state.
Here’s some info on Lake Stone, along with a contact number for info:
http://www.myescambia.com/community/lake-stone-campground
The last info I have had rates at:
Camping: $16/night ($18 non-residents) — including electricity and water hookups.
Camping (SENIORS) $9 residents ($16 non-residents)
CAN YOU GIVE US THE RATES YOU CHARGE FOR CAMPING NOW??? ALSO SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF CAMPING THERE WHEN WE VISIT….DO YOU HAVE FULL HOOKUPS? ETC…