Crater Lake RV Park, located in Prospect Oregon, includes fifty-four RV sites available to guests. The Lee's are the current owners of the property, having acquired it in 2002 after owning a B&B for nearly fifteen years. Mr. Kolstad joined them in the business in 2016. The area provides a considerable amount of outdoor recreation such as hiking, fishing, horseback riding, boating, hunting, and biking, to name a few. Hiking and biking trails lead from the park to the Rogue River and Crater Lake National Park is a 30-minute drive away. Prospect holds festivals during the summertime with parades, carnivals, and games for visitors of all ages. In addition to the festivals, the area includes many local wineries and shops. The city of Ashland is the home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival that typically draws in visitors from around the area.
Crater Lake RV Park is located in the southwestern area of Prospect, Oregon. The property features fifty-four RV sites in total on approximately ten acres of land. Full hookups and Wi-Fi are included at every site, and there is a restroom and shower building for patrons. Each site is spaced apart from one another, and the environment is surrounded by a number of pine trees. The Rogue River is a two minute walk on the trail that leads from the park where guests can have the opportunity to fish for their breakfast, lunch, or dinner meals. The trail expands forty miles up the river, leading up to Crater Lake National Park. Guests who intend to spend time outdoors could hike or bike on the trail as well. The center fire circle area has a smaller building known as "the theater" with a stage and lighting. The theater is where live entertainment happens on Saturday nights between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Fire pits can be arranged for at the office, and firewood is available for purchase at a reasonable price. According to the owners, the state of Oregon's policies regarding firewood require visitors to 'buy it where you burn it' to prevent the transport of insects and diseases. For this reason, Pam and Jim ask that guests do not bring their own firewood.
From Memorial Day through Labor Day, each Saturday morning there is a coffee club where the owner provides complimentary coffee, fresh muffins, tea, and hot chocolate for guests. In the evenings of each Saturday, the property holds a group campfire with complimentary hot dogs, chili, s'mores, and lemonade.
The business is in close proximity to several hikes that direct hikers and bikers to waterfalls. Within a mile and half of Crater Lake RV Park, there are trails to three waterfalls that guests can explore. Additionally, starting from the highway near the RV park, there are over 200 miles of off-road vehicle trails. The owners recommend visiting Shady Cove, especially if guests plan on rafting in Rogue River. Crater Lake National Park is a thirty-minute drive from Crater Lake RV Park. The Crater Lake Trolley is available in the national park, which tours along the Rim Drive, and visitors can see the lake. The trolley makes several stops along the way for visitors to take pictures. A fair amount of live theater is in the Rogue Valley with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Oregon Cabaret Theater in Ashland, the Craterian, the Holly Theater and the Collaborative Theater Project in Medford, and the Camelot Theater in Talent. Summer also brings the Britt Festival, located in Jacksonville. All are around an hour's drive away.
Crater Lake RV Park is also located near Lost Creek Lake Marina and Diamond Lake. These lakes provide opportunities for boating, kayaking, fishing, or sailing. Guests could also have the opportunity to go horseback riding at Diamond Lake Corrals, Rube Long Meadows, or Tipsoo Trail.
Pam Lee and Ron Kolstad, the owners of Crater Lake RV Park, have made it one of their goals to provide guests with good memories during their stay. The smaller events such as the Saturday morning coffee club, Saturday evening campfire, and live music are just a few ways that the owners try to achieve this goal and to help guests visit with other occupants at Crater Lake RV Park. The owners mention that staying at Crater Lake RV Park can give guests the feeling of camping in the woods and being out in nature. One guest in particular commented, "The bathrooms and showers are clean, and the owners/managers are on-site and easily reachable. Most, if not all, sites are full-hookup, shaded, and include a picnic table. The location is great and it’s a good jumping-off point for a visit to Crater Lake National Park." A fair amount of guests have found the location of the property to be convenient to them, as it is in close proximity to many local shops and dining options. Additionally, on holiday weekends such as Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day, instead of the regular Saturday morning treats, the property provides a complimentary Sunday morning pancake breakfast for guests.
The owners try to interact with guests as much as they can and they try to let visitors know that they are there to help if ever needed. Creating a homey atmosphere for the RV park is an important element to the owners as they hope for guests to feel as though they are staying with family. Crater Lake RV Park is open to guests of all ages, from young families to retired couples. During the summer season, it is the busiest time of operation for the property as visitors from various parts of the world come to experience being in the outdoors while the weather is relatively warmer. Maps that provide information on the local waterfalls and other attractions are given to guests upon arrival. The community includes many wineries, festivals, and small theaters with entertainment.
During the summer, there are several local festivals and events. In late summer, the town of Prospect holds the annual Jamboree and Timber Carnival with a parade that includes custom cars, motorcycles, fire engines, horses, kids on bikes, and music. Some activities such as lawnmower races and bed races occur, as well as a fundraiser pancake breakfast hosted by the local Search and Rescue. At the carnival, there are various booths, games, and competitions such as ax throwing, log rolling, and sawing.
Another notable local event is the Music in the Mountains Festival, hosted by the Prospect Historical Hotel, located about a half-mile from Crater Lake RV Park. Some of the provided music at the festival consists of Bluegrass, Folk, Country, and Americana. The event includes food, craft booths, and several shaded areas for visitors to set up folding chairs and blankets to lounge on.
Every year, Oregon gives free fishing weekends for the purpose of encouraging visitors and locals to spend time outdoors. All fishing license requirements are waived during these times. The appointed weekends vary annually.
Pam and Jim Lee owned a bed and breakfast in Bend, Oregon for fifteen years prior to owning Crater Lake RV Park. They both enjoy working with people and meeting new visitors who stay at the park. They have owned the property since it was built in 2002.
Many additions to the RV park have been made over the years. For example, the restroom and shower building, which was recently built in 2020. In the near future, they hope to add a laundry facility to the property.
In the past, Prospect, Oregon was primarily a logging community. The plans for the town were that the railroads would come through and help aid the economy but they never did. Logging is still done in the area but not as much as there had been in the past.
Located in the area of Crater Lake RV Park is Hershberger Mountain Lookout, a D-6 cupola-type structure that was built in 1925. On December 29, 2000, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building served as an aircraft warning station during World War II. In the 1980s, the place was refurbished. At the top of the lookout, a view of the Upper Rogue River, the Crater Lake rim, Mount Thielsen, Mount Bailey, and Mount McLoughlin, can be seen.
46611 Oregon 62
Prospect, Oregon 97536
United States
RV Park
Pam Lee and Ron Kolstad
