“Interest has really spiked over the past couple of years so we know the demand is there for more campsites,” said Rachael Stine, the park’s general manager, adding that eight of the new campsites will be available by Memorial Day with the remainder available by Father’s Day.
Jellystone Park at Lake Monroe has numerous amenities, including Yogi Bear’s Water Zone, which includes water slides, water blasters and dozens of interactive water features that spray, splash and dump thousands of gallons of water, including a 30-foot tall Giant Hydro Storm that dumps 500 gallons of water. The water zone opens May 12.
This year, the park is also adding a shade structure for its Water Zone area as well as GaGa Ball, a type of dodge ball game that is played inside an octagon or hexagon shaped pit. The park has also created a soccer field and it’s bringing back its volleyball and basketball courts, which had previously been used for other activities. The park has made improvements to its entrance and exit areas and installed new signage.
Additionally, the park has expanded its summer recreation program and offers new activities and themed weekends.
Jellystone Parks are famous for providing fun, family activities and themed weekends that include everything from crafts and games to wagon rides. Birthday parties with the bears and daily appearances by Yogi Bear™ are also very popular.
Themed weekend activities, such as Mardi Gras themed weekends, include parades, cookouts and dances, while Christmas in July weekends include campsite decorating contests, campsite caroling, cookie and ornament making activities. The increasingly popular Halloween themed weekends include costume and campsite decorating contests and trick or treating activities.
Upcoming activities at Jellystone Park at Lake Monroe include a Fiesta Weekend May 5 – 7 with a fiesta party on the jumping pillow; maraca making as a craft activity; a chili pepper eating contest; and a Saturday night dance party. The park’s Hawaiian luau weekend will be July 28 – 30 when the dress code will include grass skirts, leis and tropical shirts. There will also be hula lessons; a pineapple eating contest; and the park’s third annual Mr. Jellystone Pageant in which guests can dress their favorite guy with an Avant garde look for the runway walk. A Chocolate Lovers Weekend will take place Aug. 11 – 13 and will include a chocolate Slip N Slide; candy bar B-I-N-G-O; a chocolate pudding eating contest; chocolate finger painting; and opportunities to make your own chocolate pretzels.
Daily activities include wagon rides; arts and crafts; visits with Yogi Bear, Boo Boo™ and Cindy Bear™, plus games and entertainment. Guests also have free access to park amenities such as a jumping pillow, playground, splash park, pools and recreation center. Other amenities, such as gem mining and 2 or 4-seater pedal karts, can be used for a small fee.
Tent sites and rental accommodations are also available for Jellystone Park campers who don’t have an RV. The park’s 20 cabin rentals include five recently upgraded Hoosier Hideaways, each of which now has new screened-in porches, outdoor furniture, outside barbecue grills and concrete pads for picnic tables. The interiors of these cabins have recently been remodeled with new futons, new sinks and kitchen appliances. In addition, the park’s five white pine cabins now feature bunk beds, which are popular with families with kids. Other cabin rentals include eight “Cozy Lodges” and two “Deluxe Lodges,” which are ideal for a larger family with a full kitchen and bathroom.
The Jellystone Park at Lake Monroe is located off Highway 37 at the Monroe Reservoir/Harrodsburg Exit. The park is open from April 28 through the end of October. For more information and special offers, please visit www.lakemonroejellystone.com.
END
