By Press Times Staff

BROWN COUNTY – Brown County Parks hosted a Media Open House Tuesday, May 24, at the soon-to-be open Brown County Reforestation Camp campground – the first campground to open in Brown County in more than 40 years.

Parks Director Matt Kriese said the much-anticipated campground will officially open Friday, June 3, with the earliest arrival at 3 p.m.

“Construction is drawing to a close, and the sites are ready to accept visitors to create (lifelong) memories,” Kriese said. “It is not often, if ever, we focus our work on development of a new campground; however, with the support of the Brown County Board of Supervisors, County Executive Troy Streckenbach and the community, we will be ready to open this 51-site campground (on June 3) and we cannot be more excited.”

Streckenbach said the Greater Green Bay area’s recent ranking as the third Best Place to Live in the country by U.S. News & World Report highlights the importance of a continued need for “investments in Brown County’s community assets that help drive our region as a high-quality tourist destination.”

“This campground offers a variety of new amenities so that visitors and residents alike can enjoy the beauty of the outdoors with the unique ability to hear a lion’s roar or other animal sounds at night because of its location next to the NEW Zoo,” he said.

Kriese said the property will offer a variety of amenities including full RV hookups, small tent sites and two restroom and shower buildings, with walking access to the NEW Zoo and Adventure Park, hiking, biking and horseback riding trails.

The county invested $1.2 million to develop the campground and anticipates about 20,000 visitors a year.

Kriese said it’s estimated to generate around $125,000 in annual revenue.

Sites will only be reservable online, at browncountyparks.org.