Green Lake County Park is located on the North Shore of Green Lake, just south of Spicer, Minnesota. The area itself is known for being a place with various marine activities—something the campground tries to promote. They also provide various in-park activities for their guests and a camp store that serves fresh ice cream. The Green Lake County Park is one of six such parks owned by Kandiyohi County in Minnesota.
The Green Lake County Park has 61 total campsites available with both seasonal and regular rate options. Of the 61 campsites, 7 are tent spots complete with electricity, while the remaining 54 are all RV spots with full hookups—water hookups, 30/50 amp electrical hookups, and sewer hookups. Other features the 61 campsites provide are picnic tables, fire rings, and shaded areas with tree cover. The campground itself also caters to its patrons by offering shower facilities, laundry facilities, shelters for rent, and a camp store. One unique thing about the camp store is it has fresh ice cream by the cone. It also sells various meats, produces, dairy products, ice, and other basic camping essentials. Additionally, on the property there is a camp game room, a playground, a basketball court, a sand volleyball court, and a beach on the lake.
For those looking for a quieter city that offers a wide arrangement of water activities like kayaking, paddle boarding, and canoeing, Spicer, Minnesota is likely able to offer those qualities. With a population of just under 1,200 people, the small town is settled right on Green Lake, making it a popular attraction for marine activities. As the campground itself also is located directly on the shore of Green Lake, many of the guests that come and stay at the Green Lake County Park are there to participate in the various recreational activities on the lake. These activities include kayaking, fishing, boating, and swimming, among others. The campground caters to these visitors by renting out paddleboards, kayaks, pontoons, and more. There are also guide services available for fishing. One guest commented, “we rented paddleboards from the folks here. The family that owns this was super friendly and helpful, and we got some very high-end paddleboards to enjoy. The owner also brought us chairs to sit by the lake! Loved their hospitality.”
Laurie Anfinson and her husband Dean—the property managers—have a few local attractions they recommend to their guests. Big Kahuna Fun Park is nearby and has various activities such as bumper boats, mini-golf, go-karts, and a mini-arcade. There are three golf courses in Spicer, Minnesota, as well as six others in nearby towns. Guests looking for a drink may visit one of the many wineries in the area, including The Glacial Ridge Winery. Complete with its own apple orchards, the winery sells apple cider and caramel apples while the apples are in season, in addition to its various beverages. A couple of restaurants nearby Laurie and Dean also suggest visitors eat at are O’Neil’s and Zorbaz. O’Neil’s is a local spot where guests can have a casual dining experience and enjoy American cuisine. Zorbaz is another local restaurant that serves Mexican cuisine, pizza, and a variety of custom and unique dishes.
Nearby the Green Lake County Park is the city of New London. Known as "The City on the Pond" because it is surrounded by ten different lakes all within ten minutes, visitors of the town may also participate in a wide arrangement of marine activities. New London also hosts an abundance of specialty shops, art galleries, historical attractions, recreational activities, and dining options.
The property managers of Green Lake County Park are Dean & Laura Anfinson and their family. They have been running the park for the past 23 years, but the property itself has been in the campground business for more than 30 years. The park was originally owned and operated by a family who established it as a campground on the shore of Green Lake. However, when they retired, instead of selling the property, they decided to donate it to Kandiyohi County. At that time, Dean & Laura were next-door neighbors with the county administrator who was hiring property managers for the campground, and they fit the criteria.
In modern times, Kandiyohi County is known by some as an ideal vacation place for those who wish to fish, boat, and camp because of the trees, hills, and grass, in addition to the abundance of fresh-water rivers and lakes. The area has some historical significance as well, which the county is proud of. Before the county was created—which has been around for just over 150 years—the land was used as a fishing and hunting grounds for both the Chippewa and the Sioux Indian tribes. When it was later established as a county of Minnesota in 1870, they named it after the Indian word Kandiyohi which means “where the buffalo fish abound.” The slogan of the county is “where the lakes begin.”
Kandiyohi County owns six county parks, of which Green Lake County Park is one of the newest. Of the remaining five, the Saulsbury County Park is the only other park also settled on Green Lake, though on its southern shore. The other four are all located on various lakes in the nearby area. Established on the east and west sides of Big Kandiyohi Lake, the largest two-county campgrounds are called the Big Kandiyohi Lake County Park West and the Big Kandiyohi Lake County Park East. The remaining two county parks are known as the Diamond Lake County Park, which is settled on the western shore of Diamond Lake, and the Games Lake County Park, which resides on Games Lakes on the east shore. Though differing in size and locale, they all offer similar features and amenities, as well as activities and attractions.
12381 North Shore Drive
Spicer, Minnesota 56288
United States
Campground
Dean & Laura Anfinson
