Lawrenceville Campground to Close for 2025 Season Due to Staffing Shortages

A federally-operated campground in Tioga County, Pennsylvania, will be closed for the 2025 season due to staffing issues. 

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District, announced the closure on March 13. The agency oversees recreational areas at Tioga-Hammond and Cowanesque Lakes, which will be affected by the closure.

According to an article published by WETM on March 15, Tompkins Campground, located on the northern shore of Cowanesque Lake, will be closed until further notice. This closure includes the campground’s swim beach and boat ramp. The USACE cites staffing shortages as the reason it cannot safely operate these facilities for the upcoming season.

In addition to Tompkins Campground, recreational and stewardship events at Tioga-Hammond and Cowanesque Lakes may be reduced or canceled due to staffing challenges. 

However, other facilities will remain operational. Day-use areas at Cowanesque Lake, including picnic pavilions, walking trails, a disc golf course, and various boat launches, will remain open.

Ives Run Campground and Lambs Creek Recreation Area, also under USACE management, will continue to operate as scheduled. These facilities will offer their full range of amenities, unaffected by the closures at Tompkins Campground.

The USACE has assured the public that anyone who has already paid for reservations at Tompkins Campground will receive a refund through Recreation.gov. Affected customers will be contacted via email, and a dedicated webpage has been created to assist with the refund process.