Village Squire, 1980-07, Page 18More
mighty fine
campgrounds
The second of a two part series on good
places to camp in Southwestern Ontario
Some of the finest parks and camp-
grounds are right here in this area. We
outlined some in the last issue. These are a
few more for you to consider when you're
looking for a change of pace.
WINDMILL PARK
Al and Diane Sherwood and family are
hosts at Windmill Park, a family camp-
ground 39 kilometres west of Stratford on
Fullarton Road.
The 193 sites lie in sunny, moderately
shaded and deeply shaded areas. The lots
are arranged on dead end streets with only
16 sites on each street to aid dust control
and children's safety. Some lots are
unserviced; the rest have hydro and water,
and 89 also have sewers. Rates vary from
S6 to $8.60 daily; weekly, S36 to $51;
monthly, $144 to S204; seasonal, $385 to
5445.
Facilities include flush toilets, showers,
Laundromat, store, firepits, dumping sta-
tion, rec room with fireplace, picnic tables
and picnic/rec shelter. Recreation involves
children's playground, craft sessions, ball
diamond, shuffleboard, horseshoes, hay-
rides, dances, movies, bingos, ping pong,
pool table and a supervised heated
swimming pool 28 feet by 52 feet with an 11
foot diving well.
Local attractions are seven golf courses
within 39 kilometres; Shakespearean Fes-
tival and Rothman's Art Gallery in Strat-
ford, St. Marys quarry and Walt Tkaczuk's
Hockey School, and fishing at Fullarton
Conservation Area, two kilometres away.
Al Sherwood contends camping is an
economical vacation that allows visitors to
stay in the area longer; for example,
campers can stay a week and attend
theatre three times rather than only once.
WINDMILL Park, west of Stratford
PG. 16 VILLAGE SQUIRE/JULY 1980
Neighbours from Mitchell, St. Marys,
St. Thomas and Stratford enjoy Windmill
as well as tourists from Northern Ontario,
northern States and centres such as
Sarnia, Toronto, Woodstock and Brantford.
Although the official season runs from
Victoria Day week -end until Thanksgiving
week -end, 80 sites were booked by May 2.
From an owner's viewpoint, Al Sherwood
explains it's important to have campers
between week ends because a season lasts
only 90 to 100 days but must support a
whole year.
Campers become involved in park dec-
isions and activities, such as adding
playground equipment, participating in
Windmill Olympics on Labor Day week end
and choosing a Windmill Queen. One
annual camper is a magician, another a
clown; they entertain fellow campers.
London Ministerial Association supplies a
minister for non -denominational church
service each Sunday. Collections are given
to charity; last year half the money went
to the Woodstock Disaster Fund.
Windmill has certain rules. Alcoholic
beverages are allowed only on one's own
campsite. Quiet hours, 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. on
week days and 12 a.m. to 7 a.m. on week
ends. are expected to be kept; rowdy
guests are asked to leave . Sherwoods feel
the rules are based on good citizenship and
good neighbours. The people who don't
like the rules don't come back, but others
return annually to Windmill because it has
the kind of family camping they want.
THALENSVII.LF
Two kilometres southeast of Listowel
approximately orn kilometre off Highway
86 is Thalensviile. a small secluded camp
used primarily by local residents for
week -end and group camping and family
reunions. Jacob and Hendrika Thalen are
the owners.
The park has 40 sites, some with
electrical and dump connections. Rates are
S4 per day, S4.50 with hydro. Charge for
family reunions depends on group size.
Guests can stay for a day, week, month or
season.
Facilities consist of flush toilets, showers
and picnic tables. Nature trails and four
ponds are located on 30 acres. Three
ponds, two with islands, are stocked with
rainbow trout; the fourth is reserved for
swimming. Another focal point of the park
is a 40 -foot -by -100 -foot pavilion equipped
with seats and picnic tables.
The pavilion and park are used by clubs
such as Boy Scouts for meetings and camp
outs. Area businesses treat their staff to
corn roasts or pig roasts at the camp-
grounds. People visiting friends and
relatives in the area will camp at the park
as well as travellers passing through.
Thalensville accommodates singles as well