What to know about new Yogi Bear Jellystone Park opening May 5 in Broome County
Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort is almost ready to end its hibernation and kick off the 2023 camping season in the Southern Tier.
The Broome County campground located at 600 Boswell Hill Road in the town of Union is preparing to begin its first full year with the Yogi Bear branding. A grand opening weekend is planned May 5-7 with special events.
The former Pine Valley Campground reopened last year as Binghamton Bear Campground, but it began operating under the Jellystone Park banner late in the summer. May 5-7 will mark the official kickoff for the rebranded campground near Binghamton.
Here’s what you need to know.
What is Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park?
There are currently over 75 Jellystone Park franchise locations across the U.S. and Canada. The Broome County campground, along with the Hidden Valley Camping Area in Chautauqua County, marked the eighth and ninth U.S. locations to join the fold in 2022. There are now seven Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts in New York.
“We are very excited about expanding our presence in New York,” said Trent Hershenson, vice president of marketing for Camp Jellystone. “Transitioning a campground into a Jellystone Park location takes a lot of hard work. We are sure that guests are going to love all the changes and improvements that are being made at both the Binghamton and Chautauqua County properties.”
In addition to interactions with Yogi Bear costumed characters, Jellystone Park campgrounds are also known for providing attractions like pools, water slides, splashgrounds, jumping pillows, wagon rides and foam parties.
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What activities will I find at Jellystone Park?
The Binghamton Jellystone Park recently made a number of upgrades to the traditional experience at the campground. A floating obstacle course was added on the park’s six-acre lake, along with a new snowless tubing course, two jumping pillows, a pedal cart track, two gaga ball pits and sports fields.
A new recreation building with a craft room and an arcade was also installed at the venue, which is owned by Burke Campgrounds of New York.
Other activities featured at Jellystone Park include a hill slide, a low ropes course, gem mining, miniature golf, sand volleyball, basketball and pickleball.
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What about booking a stay?
Jellystone Park offers some unique accommodations for overnight stays. The park added four furnished glamping tents with mattresses and electricity. The term “glamping” is a blend of “glamorous” and “camping.” It was coined to describe a recent trend toward camping with accommodations much more luxurious than traditional experiences.
Jellystone’s four yurts are another glamping option. The circular abodes are a cross between a tent and a cabin, and come outfitted with creature comforts.
Guests can also stay in one of four Conestoga wagons. The wagons have an old-time, Oregon Trail appearance on the outside, but the interiors are outfitted with modern comforts like a queen-sized bed and bunk beds, plus full electricity, heat and air conditioning.
In all, the park has roughly 140 camping sites, with a mix of RV hookups and primitive tent sites. RVs rentals are available, and cabin rentals will be available in 2023, according to the park website.
What events are scheduled?
The campground will formally kick off its Jellystone Park era with a “Wake the Bears Fiesta” grand opening weekend May 5-7 with activities, games and giveaways.
Each weekend at the park features a special theme. Others in May include DIY Imagination, Pajama Party and Not All Heroes Wear Capes.
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Yogi Bear Jellystone Park opening on Boswell Hill Road: What to know
