Mill Pond Campground is an RV park located in Franklin, Vermont, a relatively small town in the northwestern corner of the state. There are 70 units that visitors can reserve, with a portion of those being available for weekly or monthly reservations. The business opens on May 1st and closes on October 1st each year. The owners, Laura & Doug, explain their goal is to create a family-friendly atmosphere that people of all ages can enjoy. They say their job is to "help families to create memories." They add, "We want children to experience Mill Pond Campground and later in life tell stories of fond memories to their children and grandchildren." Visitors are allowed to bring their pets with them and use the dog park that is provided by the campground. The current owners have been running Mill Pond Campground since 2004 and have added a few amenities such as a playground and shuffleboard court. Mill Pond Campground offers sites with travel trailers available to rent that are fully stocked as well.
Mill Pond Campground offers a total of 70 sites, most of which are RV spaces, while the remainder is tent camping areas. The RV sites come equipped with water and 30-amp electrical hookups. The owner of the campground, Laura, mentions that there is a dump station that everyone staying at the business can use. She also remarks that one of the more popular sites is Site 51, as she comments, "I sometimes call it Area 51 as a joke, but it's pretty popular because it's large enough for multiple families to camp together." Site 51 has a sufficient amount of space to accommodate up to three campers at a time, though due to the fact that there are only two electrical ports, two campers are more easily accommodated at Site 51. Laura explains that the spaces are all different shapes and sizes, but they all tend to be "large and spacious." The seasonal families have decorated and landscaped their sites flowers and/or stone patios
Other amenities that can be found on the property include a community center, a pond, a dog park, a general store, and a swimming pool. Bullpout fish can be found swimming in the pond. Laura remarks that there is much wildlife at the pond and that "you wouldn't believe how many different kinds of ducks we have, there are geese and great blue herons, and every once in a while, you can see Egret and snapping turtles." At the community center, patrons are able to use the electric fireplace and seating to read, visit with others, or play pool. People can check in and out at the main office building, which also doubles as a convenience store that sells a variety of RV supplies and snacks.
The business is located in a more rural area, with Laura mentioning that the nearest grocery store and a laundromat are roughly ten minutes away by car. Within the vicinity, there are several dairy farms and maple industries as well. Lake Carmi is found about half mile away from Mill Pond Campground, and is stocked with a variety of fish. One can find a golf course and ski resort nearby. Laura explains that the property is located between Montreal, Quebec and Burlington, Vermont, and she notes that both cities offer a variety of attractions. One noteworthy place in Quebec that patrons can spend time at is Granby Zoo, which has a variety of exotic and local animals on display. Laura also likes to tell guests about some of the eateries in the area. A few restaurants that she mentions by name are The Abbey Restaurant, Mill River, and The Phoenix House.
The owners, Laura and Doug, describe their business as being a "family campground," and they encourages patrons to bring their children and bikes. Every weekend the establishment has community campfires, wagon rides, and play bingo. There are other planned activities and themed weekends such as movie nights, horseshoe tournaments, paint & sips, potato sack races, Christmas in July, pig roast, and Halloween. Laura remarks, "Come spend a weekend or a summer with us and get those kids back to nature."
Mill Pond Campground has several policies in place to help guests enjoy their stay. The owners don't mind if patrons stay up in the later hours of the night or early hours of the morning, as long as they are quiet and do not disturb others. Laura and Doug want everyone to have a good time, but one person's good time cannot interfere with their neighbor's good time. Speed limits are strictly enforced. Smoking is prohibited inside any buildings and in the swimming pool area. Dogs are welcome, though the pet owners must provide the rabies certificate, keep pets on a leash, and pick up after their animals. Laura encourages people to bring their animals, remarking, "We have a dog park for your fur babies."
Many visitors have spent time at the Mill Pond Campground, a few of which have also left reviews of their experiences. One person wrote, "I have been camping here for years, and it's a beautiful place. There are many grassy areas where guests can do activities, including horseshoes. Also found on the grounds are a swimming pool and pond. The seasonal cost is reasonable." The campground is typically open from May 1st to October 1st, and the busiest time of the year most commonly occurs during the months of July and August. The general demographic of visitors that spend time at the campsite tends to be families. Laura and Doug note, "Our family can't wait to meet yours."
Mill Pond Campground first opened as a camping area in 1963. Around that time, the grounds only had a few tent locations, and there were no water or electricity hookups. Laura, the current owner, was led into the industry because she, her husband, and her children frequently visited the campground in the past. She remarks, "We had no intention of buying a campground. We were looking for land to build a house." After some time, they learned that this property was for sale and decided to make the purchase. Laura and her husband have been running the business since 2004. One aspect of the property that she enjoys about the property is meeting all of the people who have stayed at the camp. According to Laura, "We would have never met these people without the business. I have met people that lived about half of a mile down the road from where we used to live, but our lives had never intertwined before." A few of the patrons have come from other countries, including New Zealand.
Since obtaining ownership of Mill Pond Campground, Laura has made various changes and updates to the business to help improve the guests' experience when they arrive. Landscaping and maintenance have been some of the company's primary focuses, and Laura mentions that she tries to keep the land and amenities consistently clean. The campers that can be rented are a newer addition and something that was implemented after Laura purchased Mill Pond Campground. In the future, she would like to renovate or even build a new community center for the guests to use.
75 Mill Pond Rd
Franklin, Vermont 05457
United States
Campground
Laura and Doug Capsey
