HOUGHTON — As restrictions lift on campgrounds and the residents who fill them, local campgrounds are opening back up. 

The Houghton RV Park reopened on June 2. It had been taking reservations before that based on a projected start date of June 12. Bookings have been filling fast, said Greg Bettis, an assistant at the park. June and September still have plenty of openings, but July is heavy, and August is sold out. 

“That’s pretty normal for here,” said Greg Bettis, an assistant at the RV park. “It’s pretty popular.”

Lake Linden’s campgrounds reopened on Friday, instead of its typical Memorial Day start. While June is not usually a busy month for the campground, booking had been slow to start, said Clerk Bob Poirier. Things are starting to pick up; shortly before the close of business Monday, he had taken 25 reservations for the day. 

“We’ll hopefully get back on target here and salvage the rest of the summer,” he said. 

Hancock’s campgrounds will reopen on June 15. Reservations can be made at cityofhancock.com.

State park campgrounds are preparing for a June 22 reopening date. They are also working on reopening state forest campgrounds, which open on Wednesday. 

Baraga State Park brought its first staff back on at the start of the month, some of whom were returning from prior seasons, said Kelly Somero, working out-of-class unit supervisor at the park. New staff began their training Monday. 

“They’re excited to be here, and we’re very grateful to have them,” she said. “I think we’re going to have a great season. We’re glad to see things are returning to normal.”

The park is also putting the finishing touches on a $1.2 million upgrade that began last year. It became the only Upper Peninsula State park with full hook-up sites for water, sewer and 50-amp electrical, Somero said. Electrical service for 20/30 or 50 amps was also added or upgraded for other sites, she said. 

The total number of sites was reduced from 114 to 95 to accommodate more pull-through sites.

Campground operations will look slightly different than before, but should be familiar sights after the past three months, Somero said. The offices will have shields like those in grocery stores. People are being asked to wear masks if they’re able in public buildings like the park’s main office. The number of visitors allowed inside buildings at any time may also be limited, Somero said. 

“It’s things they have been seeing already, publicly and locally in other businesses,” she said.