New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced that construction to improve the Nicks Lake Campground and Day Use Area in Old Forge, Herkimer County, will continue through May due to ongoing facility improvements and upgrades. A new opening date for the 2019 season will be announced in the coming weeks.

“The 2019 camping season is nearly here, and we are excited for millions of visitors to explore all that our campgrounds have to offer. As part of preparing DEC’s facilities for visitors, we identified additional improvements and upgrades that are necessary to provide a high-quality experience at the Nicks Lake campground and have revised the opening of this facility to ensure this work is successfully completed.  Ensuring our customers have the best experience possible is of paramount importance for us, and we are look forward to the completion of this, and many other improvements at our facilities,” said Commissioner Seggos.

The $1.5 million in infrastructure and facility improvements at Nicks Lake include replacing water lines throughout the campground, installing an underground electrical distribution system, updating campsites #75 and #77 to current accessibility standards, and building a new D-Loop comfort station.

DEC is contacting all current reservation holders. The public was notified beginning last fall, through both the DEC website and the reservation service website, that use of the facility in the Spring of 2019 could be impacted by these improvements. For any further questions or additional information about camping with DEC, please contact our information line at (518) 457-2500. Several nearby DEC campgrounds that may interest visitors include:

• Limekiln Lake
• Brown Tract Pond
• Alger Island
• Eighth Lake

Additional information about DEC’s campgrounds can be found on DEC’s website.