Prospect Lake Park Campground. Photo provided
At the end of last week, certified mail notices appeared in the mailboxes of the campers who’d put down summer 2022 deposits for seasonal rentals at North Egremont’s (Mass.) Prospect Lake Campground.
According to The Berkshire Edge, the envelopes they signed for contained a rude shock, and a returned deposit check. The campground would be closed for the 2022 season. Any winterized campers and other belongings stored on-site would have to be moved off the premises by May 31 or they would be removed by the owners.
The letter (click here to read it) was signed by Great Barrington attorney Peter Puciloski, who represents local developer Ian Rasch, of Alander Construction, who purchased the property from longtime owner Jim Palmatier on Jan. 20.
The letter assured campers that, “The new owners are excited to be running the camp and are looking forward to serving you,” but went on to inform them that improvements were necessary and that the new owners “had the camp examined in preparation for those improvements. The inspection of the electrical system revealed major deficiencies that must be addressed in order to ensure the health, safety and convenience of all of you. Please see the attached letter of Berkshire Engineering.”
Ian Rasch. Photo via Alander website
In the letter’s most consequential sentence, Berkshire Engineering President Mike Kulig stated, “It has been brought to our attention that certain necessary repairs and improvements will be made to the electrical system during which time the supply of electrical energy to the Septic System and the Public Water Supply Well will be interrupted.”
With a seasonal fee of $2,400 from May 15–October 15, the Prospect Lake Park Campground might just have been the most affordable summer living option anywhere in South Berkshire County. It originally opened as just a picnicking spot, in 1876, the country’s centennial year, with 2,000 feet of lake frontage and 125 campsites.
Various owners have been welcoming campers since the late 1950s with a no-frills, low-key vibe, and a playground slide set up over the water. Back in the day, a payphone in the rec hall was the only way to get in touch with the outside world.
