Under the guidance of Madge Lake Developments, a section of wild bush at Duck Mountain Provincial Park will soon be transformed into The Woodlands at Madge Lake, a fully serviced seasonal campground for 100 private sites.
After nearly four years of due diligence and working with the provincial government, the Kamsack-based company will finally be entering a bush clearing and construction phase this summer to realize a vision of a brand new, long-term seasonal campground that will be ready for the late 2021 or early 2022 camping season.
Madge Lake Developments partners, Fred Perepiolkin and Robert Ritchie are excited about offering the long-term rental model, which is relatively new in the provincial parks setting.
“By leasing long-term, your campsite is guaranteed and ready for use all season long,” explained Ritchie. “Those who lease sites at The Woodlands will have access from May to October, but they can leave their camper, equipment, or boats on their own personal site throughout the winter. Not only does it provide an off-season storage solution, it also mitigates the costs associated with hauling trailers, boats or equipment out to the lake each year.”
Ritchie added that a long-term campsite lease is one favourable solution to combat the typical aggravation of trying to book a provincial campsite.
“When provincial campsite reservations open, it can feel like playing the lottery. What do you do when those sites are fully booked in minutes? What do you do if available dates don’t work with your booked vacation? With a lease, your campsite is guaranteed for a number of years. You choose your spot – it’s yours.”
Each Woodlandscampsite will include access to firewood, a potable water hook-up, a sewer hook-up, and a metered 50 AMP power hook-up. Minimum lot sizes will run 40 feet by 80 feet and the maximum size will be 50 feet by 100 feet. Sites are currently being pre-sold in term leases with a choice of three or five years. The choice of campsite will be offered by first-come, first-serve. Currently, 20 per cent of the sites have already been chosen and leased.
As long-time friends who grew up together in Kamsack, Perepiolkin and Ritchie said spending time at Madge Lake was very special and that they are driven by a passion to ensure the provincial park will not only endure, but thrive.
“This is our backyard,” shared Perepiolkin. “We loved growing up here and we have great memories of spending time at the park. We want to ensure future generations can continue to enjoy it.”
Before the latest addition of a long-term campground, the partners had to jump through a number of hoops to realize the preservation of their childhood stomping ground.
“There was a significant amount of work we had to do to get to this point,” offered Ritchie, partner in Madge Lake Developments. “Because the new campground will be located within the provincial park crown land, we had to ensure a site assessment addressed any environmental, heritage, or archeological concerns.”
Back in 2017, the provincial government put out a formal tender to select a private company to manage the assets within Duck Mountain Provincial Park. In 2018, Madge Lake Developments won the bid, proceeding with a two million dollar renovation of the existing condos, cabins, concession and marina.
The updated amenities aim to supply visitors with everything they need to make the most of their holiday time in the park. The Pickerel Point Marina offers visitors premium fuel sale, private boat slips, as well as pontoon boats, fishing boats and kayak rentals. The Pickerel Point Concession Stand is open for the duration of the season, offering carnival style eats and treats.
More information on The Woodlands at Madge Lake can be found at the Madge Lake Developments website: www.madgelake.info.
