This Southern Tier campground is reopening with fresh owners. What's new at Hickory Hill

What’s old is new again at a popular Steuben County campground.

Hickory Hill Camping Resort at 7531 county Route 13 in the town of Bath is back in operation after a five-year hiatus.

The Lehman family has reacquired the property nestled in the Southern Tier’s scenic rolling hills. The family owned the 210-acre site for 40 years before it was purchased in 2019 by a Watkins Glen company, which rebranded the park as a KOA Campground franchise.

“The universe spoke to us and created an opportunity for my family and I to continue creating stories and memories for families and friends in the camping industry,” said Randy Lehman. “We took ownership back on Jan. 24 and we've been putting a team of people together. We're basically starting the business from scratch again.”

Lehman enlisted Mercedez Cornish as activities manager, and the Hickory Hill team is busy bringing the resort back to life before it opens up to campers May 1.

What does Hickory Hill Camping Resort offer?

Hickory Hill boasts around 250 campsites. It offers 20 rental units — cabins, lodges and cottages, along with 75 seasonal sites for visitors who park their trailers for extended stays. Over 150 more sites are available to rent on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.

Each site has water and electric, while most include sewer and cable TV hookups. Wi-Fi is available throughout the property.

Hickory Hill features two pools and a splash pad, putt-putt golf, a jumping pillow, a community fire pit, hiking trails, basketball and pickleball courts, and an activity hall with seating for 150. Campers can also rent out a pavilion for events like birthday parties and reunions.

The resort hosts special theme weeks to keep the experience fresh.

“When you go camping, most of the time within five minutes you meet your neighbor and you strike up a conversation with them,” said Lehman. “It's like there's no inhibition there. Compare that with staying at a hotel, where it's rare that you ever get to know who is staying next to you. It's just a whole different feel and atmosphere at a camping resort.”

What changes are coming to Hickory Hill?

The KOA signage around the resort will be replaced with Hickory Hill branding. A new website and social media presence are in the works. In the meantime, sites can be reserved by calling 607-776-4345 or emailing reservations@hickoryhillcampingresort.com.

The resort has drafted a fresh mission statement that details its core beliefs.

“That's really what we're using as our foundation for how we build this business and how we're going to be treating our customers,” said Lehman.

Hickory Hill will be open May 1 through October. The water attractions open up Memorial Day weekend, with the peak season from mid-June through Labor Day weekend. Some special events, like a kickoff weekend to mark the resort’s debut, will be held throughout the year.

Where do Hickory Hill campers come from?

Hickory Hill visitors include a mix of campers from faraway states to just down the road in Bath.

"I know a woman has a seasonal here and she's five minutes away. They love it here," said Cornish. "It's their home away from home. It's a good getaway. We do have a good mixture from all over New York state as well as out-of-state, too.”

Lehman said some campers will stay for a bit on their way to other destinations like Niagara Falls. Most are drawn to the RV lifestyle.

“They enjoy getting out and having a chance to sit around the campfire and just make some memories and share stories,” he said. “They like being outside, seeing the stars. It’s a chance to get away from home and forget about some of the challenges or worries they might have. It's kind of a mini escape for them.”

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How has Hickory Hill evolved over the years?

The 2024 changes continue a constant evolution of Hickory Hill over the years. It was founded in 1962 and had grown to about 125 campsites when Lehman purchased the park as a 23-year-old in 1979.

Lehman steadily grew the park and its amenities over the next four decades, adding more and more to the Hickory Hill experience.

“We just expanded the activities and the different things that campers can participate in. That really helped to drive the business,” he recalled.

“We look forward to greeting people coming back to Hickory Hill. We've been thankful and blessed to be honored with this second opportunity to get back into the business again. Two of my children are actively involved in helping us get it off the ground. We just feel honored to be able to be back in the seat again. We welcome campers to come join us.”

This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Hickory Hill Camping Resort back under Lehman family ownership in 2024