42mi from Tygart Lake Campground · 2 sitesGroaning Spoke Meadows homestead is what you might expect from a homestead, it’s rural, rough in places, constantly working and a work in progress, a mix of farm and forest, but most importantly to me, a place of beauty and rejuvenation. I take a lot of pride in improving the land that hosts us and am nearing the completion of a 5 year Wildlife Habitat Restoration program with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, forest management with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and farming with the Natural Resources Conservation Service. I look forward to sharing this treasure with you and hope you enjoy the fruits of these collaborations in the form of scenic surroundings, a huge diversity of birds and animals, and healthy trees and wildflowers.
You’ll be camping on 186 acres of private posted land made up of about 40 acres of farmland, 130 acres of pine and hardwood forest, converging streams, mountain biking and hiking trails, and a 1 acre fish pond next to a covered pavilion surrounded by lawns where you have access to potable water, porta johns, electricity, wifi, and additional firewood(fishing permit and wood for a fee). Remote campsites all have about 5 acres to themselves (plus the neighboring woods), and the campsites get slightly closer together and larger the nearer they are to the pavilion. The pavilion is the social center of the property and the appropriate place to mingle, and make new friends (and friendly noise). I ask that you keep things more subdued in the remote sites and choose the sites nearer to the pavilion if you or someone in your group has an extra “outside” voice. All sites have 10pm-8am quiet hours. Also, the remote sites do not permit powered music, but acoustic instruments are welcome.
The property also plays occasional host to Grindstone MTB mountain bike skills camps and private lessons for adults. If there is a bike camp running the campsites closest to the pavilion will be blocked, so there is no conflict with campers. The bike camps are limited to 8 riders, so there won't be more people on the property than if the campsites were occupied.
The sites closer to the pavilion are also the best choice for people looking to make day trips by car to the surrounding area (Ohiopyle State Park, Confluence, Youghiogheny Lake and River, Deep Creek, Big Bear, Fallingwater, etc), as the drive out of your campsite will be much shorter.
All sites are drive-up camping, with a very short walk to the camping area for the remote sites. In dryer weather a 2wd vehicle with a bit of ground clearance will suffice, but in the wet or snow 4wd is required. Good tires go a long way even for 2wd!
The distant neighbors of the surrounding area can make their own noise at times with an ATV or gunshot(especially during hunting season), but most adjoining parcels are also large and mostly unoccupied, so you won’t see other houses or humans. The neighbor across the road (½-1mi away) has a metal recycling business and there is sometimes the bang of a metal dumpster during business hours, so don't be alarmed. That being said, there is plenty of wildlife, including black bears, bobcats, coyotes, skunks, fishercats, racoons, etc, so you must use good food and trash management of your own or our provided bins . The animals are wild and don’t have any interest in humans, and I appreciate your help in keeping it that way!
I do have Freyja, a livestock “guardian” dog (her dedication is questionable, haha), who roams the property mostly around the farm area. She is skittish, very protective, and doesn’t see much of other humans or dogs. If you do decide to bring your dog in light of that, they must be on a leash and easy going with other dogs.
Every season here has it's own version of striking beauty and serenity, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!