The following is a report from The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Several federally operated campgrounds at one of Pennsylvania’s most popular summer destinations will be closed indefinitely due to “executive-order driven staffing shortages.”
Raystown Lake, in Huntingdon County, is the largest lake entirely within Pennsylvania. The 8,300-acre lake is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and, according to a news release from the agency’s Baltimore office, staffing shortages will require staff to focus on “dam operations for flood protection and emergency response readiness” ahead of the 2025 season.
According to the Army Corps, the lake’s Seven Points, Susquehannock, and Nancy’s Boat-to-Shore Campgrounds all will be closed until further notice. All told, more than 300 campsites will be closed as a result of the announcement, including boat-in-only sites.
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has targeted cutbacks at a slew of government agencies, including the Army Corps.
In addition, farther north in Tioga County, Tompkins Campground on Tioga-Hammond and Cowanesque Lakes will also close, along with its swim beach and boat ramp. Tompkins has approximately 125 sites.
Avid campers know that lakefront campsites are difficult to obtain in the summer, in Pennsylvania and beyond, and many are reserved well in advance of the season. According to the Army Corps, refunds will be provided to campers who made reservations through Recreation.gov.
Click here to read the full report by Jason Nark at The Philadelphia Inquirer.
