By Paul Post
Ryan and Camille Parker had a dream and made it come true with the purchase of 40 pristine, riverfront acres just north of Corinth village.
When they bought it in February 2022, Camp Hudson Pines was a more than 50-year-old operation that had seen better days.
Recently, the Parkers hosted a public reception to celebrate the growth and expansion of their business, which now features a full range of camping options from traditional tent, RV sites and cabins to new glamping experiences in addition to a warm, cozy tiny house and a remodeled Airstream outfitted with every modern convenience.
“We have so many different ways to stay here,” Ryan Parker said. “We want to welcome people who have all different comfort levels with the outdoors, at different price points. One of the most rewarding things for us is to have people come who have never camped before and have them experience the Adirondacks and outdoors.”
The property, off Route 9N on the west bank of the Hudson River, is about equidistant to Lake George and Saratoga Springs, and all of their many attractions.
“There’s adventure all around,” said Gina Mintzer, Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce executive director. “That’s a big reason people visit and hopefully invest and come here to live. Outdoor recreation and tourism continue to define the Southern Adirondacks as a premier destination.”
Camille Parker said the campground’s top user group is people staying overnight to attend concerts at Saratoga Performing Arts Center.
Ryan said business is up this year, primarily from Metro New York and Hudson Valley guests. However, there’s been a significant dip in visits from Canada, which accounted for 10 percent of business last year, as relations between the U.S. and its northern neighbor have cooled since President Trump took office.
Two of the campground’s five cabins are for year-round use through Airbnb.
“We get a lot of people who come to ski at West Mountain and for ski races,” Ryan said. Some guests come in winter to attend Skidmore College hockey games.
“We really feel very interconnected with our business community,” he said. “We aren’t an island. We’re sending people to restaurants, stores, telling them where to whitewater raft and go rail biking. All of these things make this a vibrant, fun area for people to come and visit. Where they stay is just one part it.”
“This is a special place,” Ryan said. “It has long been a place where people come together to connect with each other and disconnect from the outside world and technology, to create lasting memories.”
Originally from Utah, the Parkers live full-time in Silver Springs, Maryland where Ryan is an attorney.
“I love the outdoors, I’m section hiking the Appalachian Trail,” he said. “We decided we wanted to buy a campground and looked at different areas. Some were nothing more than a field with hookups. We wanted to be in a forest and found this place, which we could afford, in an estate sale.”
“It was a real leap of faith,” he said. “But we came here and saw such a beautiful area. This is the kind of place we want to be and spend summers, and we think other people want to do the same. It’s really been fun and rewarding.”
Campground amenities include a heated pool, boat and kayak river access, a camp store, playground and community activities that foster connection and relaxation. The Parkers have also built comfortable, named trails through the woods.
Mintzer thanked the entrepreneurial couple “for believing in this destination, for choosing to invest here. It’s your time, resources, talent that enhances our region, appealing to residents and visitors alike.”
Corinth Supervisor Eric Butler and Fort William Henry Hotel Sales Manager Scott MacFarland took part in a ribbon cutting event to celebrate the Parkers’ success.
MacFarland attended as a show of support for Camp Hudson Pines, a fellow Lake George Chamber member.
Unlike similar entities, which foster business-to-business relationships, the tourism-oriented Lake George Chamber focuses on connecting businesses to visitors and vice versa, Mintzer said.
MacFarland said the 2025 summer season has gained momentum after getting off to slow start because of poor spring weather. “Now we seem to be firing on all cylinders, looking for a big finish into fall that will hopefully continue into next year,” he said.