By Wayne Clark
The Valley Times-News

It’s been a busy summer season on West Point Lake. For the most part, the campgrounds have been full on the weekends, there have been lots of boats on the water and the beaches have drawn well.

“Overall we have had a good season,” said Susan Kramer, a park ranger for the West Point Project. “Monday was the final day for camping at Amity Park and Holiday Park. It was also the final day for our beach areas at Rocky Point, Earl Cook and Yellow Jacket.”

Kramer said that the 117 camp sites would remain open at R. Shaefer Heard Park through Oct. 28.

Sites 1-54 will remain open through the winter. Whitetail Ridge, which is located near Holiday Park, will remain open through Nov. 25th, when it closes for the winter.

Of the West Point Project-managed parks, R. Shaefer Heard is the most popular destination and has the most camping sites. Holiday Park, which is also very popular with campers, has 112 camp sites plus two group camping areas. Amity Park has 75 sites and Whitetail Ridge 58.

“When we open the parks in March,” said Kramer, “the parks are usually around 80 percent filled for the first few weeks, but as the weather gets warmer it gets up into the 90 to 100 percent range.”

Robert Van Patten, who’s a gate attendant at Amity Park, said he’s worked at a lot of parks on a contract basis, but Amity is his favorite place.

“It’s such a pretty park,” he said. “My wife, Rebecca, and I have really enjoyed being here. We’d love to be here again next year.”

The Van Pattens along with Mickey and Dot Livingston have taken turns greeting those who are arriving at the park.

“We love working here,” Van Patten said. “We opened up April 20 and close on Labor Day. We’ve been really busy on the weekends.”

Amity Park has 75 sites open to the public. Eleven more are reserved for church groups and Scouting groups.

There’s also a volunteer village for those who volunteer throughout the year.