A 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.