A weekend getaway at Collinwood Park

By Kristen Miller
Staff Writer

Collinwood Park, for some people, is their home away from home, according to camp manager Louis Schmidt, who says 90 percent of his repeat customers live within a half-hour from the park.

The park is located on Collinwood Lake, just four miles from Cokato and Dassel off of Wright County Road 31.

It offers six miles of hiking trails, a beach, fishing pier and boat launch, a playground, and volleyball and horseshoe courts.

There are 40 RV sites available by reservation for $18 a night, and tent sites are first come-first serve for $16 a night. There is also two group camp sites that accommodate 50 people per site.

Each site is equipped with a picnic table, 30 amps of electricity, and in some areas, water.

The parks showers and restrooms were recently remodeled and are “first class,” according to Schmidt. He tells his campers, the restrooms are better than the Holiday Inn because they have a water softener.

Fourth of July weekend was booked far in advance, and when asked when his busiest time of the year was, Schmidt said, “Every weekend.”

The camp is open from the last weekend in April through the last weekend in September.

Collinwood attracts many corporate campouts, family groupings, and scouting events, according to Schmidt. This year, the park will host three cross country track meets.

The camp also offers firewood, ice, a vending machine, and ice cream.

Collinwood Lake provides good fishing, especially walleye, according to Schmidt.

The lake was recently sprayed for algae by the lake association, helping with clarity of the water.

Throughout the years, the 308 acres of park land has become a refuge for wildlife including deer, wild turkeys, and pheasants.

The park was once three farmsteads that were purchased by Wright County Parks, according to Schmidt.

For more information or to make reservations, call (320) 286-2801.