“Our campers here are just good down-home folk,” explains Missy, the office manager at Atwood Lake Campground in rural Wolcottville. “We watch everybody’s children, everybody watches your children. The families eat dinners together. It’s a down-home, low-key campground.”
“We’re not just Atwood campers, we’re Atwood family,” she said.
Atwood Lake Campground is surrounded on three sides by Amish farms and on the north side by the lake. Missy informed me that Atwood Lake, run by a lake association, is only a fishing lake, meaning you can’t go faster than 10 m.p.h.
Atwood Lake Beach
A large beach area is available to campers for swimming, sunbathing, and playing. Near the beach is the boat area with piers for boats.
The campground sits way off the road, so it’s very quiet. The only sounds I heard were the whizzing of fish line where a young boy was fishing, some laughter from campers gathered around talking, and from the Amish farmer cutting hay in his field that bumps up against the campground.
The facilities are rustic and have that familiar campground feel to them, but unlike much of Indiana’s flat lands, this place is situated on rolling terrain which makes the area interesting and reminiscent of a state park.
Three cabins are located by the pond, and of course, sites are available for tents and RVs so there’s something for everyone.
A Family Tradition
Charlie Atkison, who has been camping at Atwood Lake Campground for over 40 years, said some third generation families have come back to set up their campers.
“You’d be surprised how many campers in here now, they grew up in here. So their parents camped here, they camp here, and they’re bringing their kids here.”
Still, newcomers are making their way here as well. One couple relatively new to the area said they love the peace and quiet they’ve discovered here.
Another lady enjoys driving her golf cart up to the edge of the property to watch the Amish farmers work in the field.
“Seeing the horses gallop and play during the evening, well, it just makes me feel warm and happy inside.”
Warm and happy: that’s what camping is about – and family, too!
