Staff Writer
LINNEUS — A new campground has opened its gates in Linneus, and started off with a bundle of excitement in its first week by inviting a group of Hodgdon kindergartners to the site for a day of fun. 
Pioneer Times photo/Ben Austin
PLAYING WITH THE KIDDIES — Denise Blake, owner of Rockwater Campground, gives kindergarteners from Mill Pond School hayride tours through the campground during their visit last Thursday, June 19.
Roger and Denise Blake, owners of the newly established Rockwater Camp Ground and residents of the greater Houlton area for all their lives, sponsored an end-of-the-year field trip for two classrooms from Mill Pond School. The 45 kindergartners and 10 chaperones visited the area last Thursday for a day full of games and snacks.
The youngsters enjoyed numerous outdoor events, including sack races, hay rides, kickball and roasting marshmallows. Not even a small rain shower could hinder the children’s spirits as they paraded around the campground playing games.
“[The day] went very good,” explained owner Denise Blake. “We got a call, probably an hour after the kids left, from people in Houlton, and their kids want to come out and camp already. There are a lot of people who are coming from the surrounding area.”
The Rockwater Camp Ground, which officially opened on June 7, is a rustic, back to nature, themed family area. The compound consists of three cabins and several camping sites. Ideas for the camp ground sprung up in 2003, when the Blakes began piecing together the land around their house. The Blakes were able to pull together six separate parcels, giving plenty of open space for the cozy camp ground.
The site also includes a natural pond, walking trails and play areas, and continues to grow daily. The site is located on the Hodgdon Mills Road, right on the main ATV and snowmobile trails. The trails will make it convenient for people around the area to locate, and will add a sense of excitement for non-local Rockwater customers.
The opening of Rockwater appears to come at the perfect time, as many local families who tend to travel in the summer will be looking to stay closer to home this year due to high gas prices.
For more information on the Rockwater Camp Ground visit their Web site at www.Rockwatercabins.com, or call Roger and Denise Blake at 532-9607.
