Planning, Themed Weekends Alan Lehman Planning, Themed Weekends Alan Lehman

Themed Weekends Are Back

It All Begins Here

Themed Weekends Are Back: Your 2026 Season Preview at Hickory Hill

For years, families have come to Hickory Hill for a lot of different reason, but our themed weekends are right at the top of the list. This year is no different, and we’re excited to kick off another season of easy, memory-making fun starting May 1, 2026. The themes are here, the calendar is stacked, and the only question is: which weekend feels most like your crew?

Ready to start plotting out summer? Here’s the fastest way to make it real: check availability and pick your dates.

What a themed weekend feels like

Hickory Hill’s themed weekends are the kind of trips your family talks about long after you’ve unpacked. It’s not just “a weekend at the campground” — it’s a weekend with a built-in vibe. The theme gives everyone something to look forward to, something to join in on, and something that makes the whole park feel connected.

For you, that means less time wondering “what should we do today?” and more time watching the kids light up because there’s always something fun happening nearby. For the kids, it means they’re part of the action — the kind of day where they make a new friend at an activity, come back to the campsite full of stories, and fall asleep fast after a day that actually felt big.

And for the whole crew, it’s the perfect balance: join in for as much as you want, then drift right back to the best parts of camping — pool breaks, playtime, slow mornings, and campfire nights that stretch a little longer than planned.

The season starts with a bang (May and June)

Opening month brings that “we’re back!” energy, then it rolls straight into the weekends families plan around.

A few highlights to circle now:

Peak-summer weekends (July and August)

This is where the calendar turns into full summer mode. Think splashy days, happy chaos, and the kind of weekends where bedtime happens fast.

A few can’t-miss summer favorites:

And if you’re the “squeeze every drop out of summer” type:

Want to scroll the whole lineup in one place? See all events and themed weekends.

How to pick your weekend like a pro:

If planning feels overwhelming, here’s the simple approach that works every time:

  1. Pick one “anchor” weekend your family will be excited about.

  2. Choose your stay style next (RV, tent, or a cabin-style stay) to match your crew.

  3. If it’s a holiday week, grab it early. Those are the first to get snapped up.

Ready to plan your Hickory Hill summer getaway?

Hickory Hill opens May 1, and this season is packed with themed weekends made for real family fun. If you’re dreaming about pool days, campfire nights, and the kind of weekends that turn into “remember when…” stories, now’s the perfect time to make it official. Check availability and book your stay, then start the countdown to that first campground morning: coffee outside, fresh air, and a full day of fun ahead.

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Planning, Area Attractions Alan Lehman Planning, Area Attractions Alan Lehman

Your Finger Lakes Basecamp

Your stay, your way

Hickory Hill Camping Resort: Your Finger Lakes Basecamp for Summer

For over 40 years, families have returned to Hickory Hill Camping Resort for the same simple reason: it feels like summer the moment you arrive. It’s the kind of place where kids make fast friends, neighbors wave from the next site, and the best parts of the day happen in the in-between moments, coffee outside, a spontaneous game, a campfire that runs a little long.

And this season comes with a meaningful milestone. Hickory Hill has been family-owned for decades, with the Lehman family at the heart of its story, and 2026 marks a new chapter as Alan and Andrea Lehman step in to carry the legacy forward. The goal stays the same: keep the traditions people love, add fresh touches, and make it even easier for families to build “remember when…” weekends.

Want the story behind the place before you plan your trip? Watch this short video about Hickory Hill’s rich history.

Hickory Hill opens May 1, 2026. If you’re already thinking about summer, you don’t have to wait to start planning. Check availability and book your stay.

Choose your stay style

Hickory Hill is a “stay your way” kind of campground. Whether your ideal weekend is classic tent camping, rolling in with the RV, or having a comfy place to crash after a full day outside, you can build the trip that fits your crew.

You’ll find options that include:

  • RV camping (hookups and features vary by individual site, so it’s best to review the site details as you book)

  • Tent camping for that back-to-basics, under-the-stars feeling

  • Cabins, cottages, and lodges when you want campground fun with indoor comfort

When you’re ready to pick your home base, check availability and choose your dates.

What to do at the park

Some campgrounds are a place you sleep between day trips. Hickory Hill can absolutely be your basecamp for exploring, but it also has plenty of “we never even left the park” kind of days.

Make it a pool day

Summer here has a rhythm. A swim, a snack, a break in the shade, then right back to the water. Hickory Hill features two heated pools and a spray park (seasonal), so it’s easy to build your day around splash time.

The classics that keep everyone happy

A few on-site favorites that tend to become part of the routine:

  • Jumping pillow energy for kids who wake up ready to move

  • Mini golf for low-stress family competition

  • Playgrounds for quick “just one more minute” stops

  • Basketball court for pickup games and family challenges

  • Hiking trails for a quieter reset in the middle of the fun

  • Dog park for campers traveling with their four-legged family members

Traditions that make it feel like Hickory Hill

This is where the “people come back every year” part really shows up. Classic campground traditions like bingo night are part of the fabric here, and the kind of thing families look forward to as soon as they start talking about dates.

You’ll also see a mix of familiar favorites and newer additions. Expect fun ways to get around the grounds (including golf carts, with rentals available in limited quantity), plus fresh ideas designed to add energy without changing the laid-back feel.

The little things that make vacation easier

The best trips are the ones that feel simple. On-site conveniences like the camp store and laundromat help keep things smooth, even when your crew is running at full summer speed.

Themed weekends and events

If you’ve heard someone rave about Hickory Hill, there’s a good chance they mentioned themed weekends. They’re one of the biggest reasons families plan their summers here.

Hickory Hill’s themed weekends are what turn a regular camping trip into a weekend your kids talk about on the ride home. The theme gives everyone something to rally around, something fun to step into, and that “the whole campground is in on it” feeling. You can join in as much as you want, then drift right back to the good stuff, pool breaks, playtime, slow mornings, and campfire nights.

Want to see what’s coming and choose your vibe? Explore the themed weekends and events calendar.

Things to do nearby in the Finger Lakes

One of the best parts of staying at Hickory Hill is how easy it is to mix campground time with Finger Lakes exploring. You can do a relaxed morning at the park, head out for an afternoon adventure, and still be back for dinner at your site and a fire at night.

Here are a few nearby favorites that pair perfectly with a camping weekend:

  • Corning for a walkable downtown and the Corning Museum of Glass

  • Hammondsport and Keuka Lake for lake-town views and easy exploring

  • Watkins Glen for iconic scenery and a “wow” kind of outing

  • Penn Yan for browsing, wandering, and a change-of-pace afternoon

  • Dansville for nearby nature outings and waterfall-hike energy

If your trip style is “camping plus a day trip,” Hickory Hill makes that plan feel effortless.

A simple plan for a great day

If you like the idea of a loose itinerary that still feels like you made the most of your stay, try this:

  1. Slow morning at your site: coffee outside, breakfast, a stroll.

  2. Big on-site fun: pools, spray park, jumping pillow, mini golf.

  3. Optional adventure: a Finger Lakes afternoon outing.

  4. Best part: back to the campground for snacks, showers, and campfire time.

Ready to make it a Hickory Hill summer?

May 1 is the start line, and once you’ve got your dates on the calendar, the rest gets easy. Pick your stay style, build in a little pool time, circle a themed weekend (or two), and save room for those laid-back campfire nights that turn into your family’s favorite stories.

Check availability and book your stay, then let the countdown begin.

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History, Legacy Alan Lehman History, Legacy Alan Lehman

A Campground Built on Tradition

A Family Campground Built on Tradition

Hickory Hill’s Story: A Family Campground Built on Tradition

Some campgrounds are nice places to stay. Others become part of a family’s timeline.

Hickory Hill Camping Resort has been that kind of place for generations of campers in Bath, New York, where summer isn’t just a season, it’s a tradition. And in 2026, that tradition gets a fresh chapter: the park opens May 1, 2026, welcoming guests back with the same familiar feel people love, plus new energy from the next generation of the family.

If you want the quick, feel-good version of the story, you can watch this video about Hickory Hill’s rich history.

A campground with roots that go back decades

Hickory Hill was founded in 1962 by Frank and Evelyn Brundage. In 1979, the campground was entrusted to Randy Lehman, who took the reins at just 23 years old and spent more than four decades shaping Hickory Hill into the kind of place families return to again and again.

That long stewardship matters, because campgrounds aren’t just land and amenities. They’re the small details that get polished over years: where the fun happens, how guests are welcomed, what traditions stick, and how a place learns what families actually want from a getaway.

The “why” behind the loyalty

Ask people why they come back, and you’ll hear versions of the same answer: Hickory Hill feels like camping the way it’s supposed to feel.

It’s relaxed, welcoming, and built for together time. The kind of place where kids have room to roam, parents can actually exhale, and the weekend doesn’t require a spreadsheet to be fun.

Over time, those weekends start stacking into something bigger:

  • First camping trips that become annual traditions

  • Kids who grow up coming here, then come back with their own kids

  • “Remember when…” stories that get told every summer like a family ritual

Passing the torch, keeping the feel

In 2025, Alan and Andrea Lehman made a big leap, leaving their corporate careers to come home to the Finger Lakes and step into leadership at the family campground. It’s not a “reinvent everything” moment. It’s a “keep what people love and keep building” moment.

That means holding tight to the heart of Hickory Hill, the traditions, the easy fun, the sense of community, while adding thoughtful improvements that make the guest experience even better. You’ll see the park being cared for, the grounds being refreshed, and more ways to enjoy your stay without losing that classic, familiar vibe.

What that history means for your family vacation

When a campground has been family-run for decades, you feel it in the way the place operates. It’s not just service. It’s pride. It’s a sense of responsibility to the memories that happen there.

For you, that translates to a vacation that’s easy to settle into:

  • You can choose the “camping style” that fits your crew, from RV and tent camping to cabin-style stays

  • You’ll find plenty to do without feeling like you have to do everything

  • The park’s themed weekends and seasonal events add extra fun, but always with that low-pressure campground rhythm

Plan your next chapter

Whether you’ve been coming for years or you’re discovering Hickory Hill for the first time, 2026 is a great season to start a new tradition. The park opens May 1, 2026, and summer has a way of filling up fast once it’s on the calendar.

If you’re ready to make it official, check availability and book your stay.

And if you want to see the story behind the place before you pick your dates, watch the Hickory Hill legacy video here.

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