CAMPGROUND REVIEW - Bayshore County Park in Brown County Wisconsin (and Steve's Dad)

We decided that we wanted to be closer to Green Bay to help out with Steve's family during this time of need. We chose Bayshore County Park, which is close to Green Bay. It is part of the Brown County Parks System. On the waters of Green Bay just South of  Dykesville on highway 57.

Half of the sites in this park are first come first serve. Half are reservable. It is a wonderful way to run a county park. At least the average camper travelling past has a chance of getting in! The parks that allow themselves to be reserved completely full never give spontaneous or traveling campers a chance to get in. I understand the logistics of having a full park means more money. Having the option for first come first serve at least on some of the sites makes it fair for everyone. Enough of that.

So we loaded up early in the morning, and headed out to find one of their empty sites. Their website does try to give an updated daily tally of how many first come first serve sites are available. It said there were seven open sites in the electrical loops. We knew we were coming into a weekend, so it would be really good to get settled into our site on a Thursday. We could pay day by day, to continue to hold our site up to 21 days.

Camping is $32 a night with electric and water at each site. Some sites are 50 amp and some are only 30 amp.   There is a nice clean bath and shower house, along with a coin operated laundry room. 

The park itself is beautiful with tall trees and paved roads, sites and lots. It is situated on the ledge of the Niagara Escarpment at the southern base of the Door County Peninsula. There is a winding road that goes down between the cliffs to a pebbly beach area and large parking lot with boat launch. There is a very nice picnic area including some children's attractions like a huge wooden ship climbing apparatus toy as well as a big inflatable bouncing pad. 

Cellular signal is very good, we pulled in 5G on our phones. All of the Green Bay TV stations are available via broadcast antenna. 

Here is a map of the park from their website:

Here is a link to their website

Bayshore County Park, Brown County Wisconsin

Bay Shore Park is located along the bay at 5637 Sturgeon Bay Rd, New Franken WI approximately 15 miles northeast of Green Bay on State Highway 57, and 30 minutes from Sturgeon Bay (Door Co).  

107 wooded campsites

90 sites with water & electric ($32.00 per night)

15 sites with no hookups

2 group sites (Up to 20 individuals and no more than 8 tents. Campers, motor homes, and pop-ups are permitted on group sites). 

Site have asphalt pads, fire rings, and picnic tables

Pets allowed on leash

Amenities include:

Boat launch

Firewood

Free WIFI near the playground

Dump station

Hiking & biking trails

Ice

Jump pillow (hours vary)

Laundry

Playground

Showers and restroom facilities (registered campers only)

Bay Shore Park campsites are available both; at a first-come, first-serve basis and online reservations. All even numbered water and electric sites (2-88 and 266) are available at a first-come, first-serve basis; the remainder of the sites at Bay Shore are online reservable only (this includes the odd numbered water and electric sites (1-87), the primitive sites (200-214) and the group sites (300-301).

We decided to hook the Saturn on the back of the motorhome to tow along. I could have just followed behind Steve driving it, because it's only about 50 miles. But he wanted to tow it just for the fun of it. We would have the Saturn available to buzz down back and forth to his dad's Hospice Center.

We chose one of the non-reservable sites, site 80. We walked over to the pay kiosk at the camp host site near the entrance to the park. It is possible to pay online with a credit card through the kiosk, or cash or check is allowed in an envelope.  

Although the sites are closer together than what we are used to in the rustic National Forest, they are still nicely spaced apart with tall trees and well kept landscaping.  Every other site has a dual water spigot. Make sure you have enough hose along if you wish to hook up to water. There is also a dump station and potable water near the entrance if you just wish to fill your tank.

   

We got all set up on our site number 80, and then headed over for the day to spend with Steve's dad at the hospice center. We buzzed back to the campground for a little while at lunch. Then we went back again for late afternoon and evening rotations with other family and friends.

We set up scheduled times with the other family members to come and go to be close and have someone near his bedside as much as possible.

When we weren't at the hospice center, we were relaxing in the campground. The temperatures had gotten very cold and the winds had climbed way up. We were getting wind speeds of 20 to 30 mph up on that cold bluff!

We did get a pretty good cell signal so we were able to stay in contact with family members as well as tether to the Roku stick and watch some TV shows.

We did sit outside for a little bit but the cold winds blew us back inside! 

We spent the next week or so at the campground. We were going back and forth to the hospice center and back to the campground. It was a lot easier than driving all the way back up to Oconto. 

One evening we managed to drive down by the boat launch area and caught the sunset. The winds were crashing in with white cap waves out in the bay. 

It was fierce and pretty and stormy all wrapped up into one. 

On Sunday, after an extremely long and pleasant visit with Steve's dad, we invited Steve's brother Pete and wife Cindy over for a meal at the campground. Good to relax and unwind a little bit.

By Monday, things were taking a turn for the worst with his dad's health. We returned with heavy hearts to the motorhome for the evening. We kind of drowned our sorrows a little bit in some beverages. 

We flipped on the TV to find a marathon of Laurel and Hardy. Just what we needed to take our minds off things and laugh a little. 

Steve's dad, 

the beloved patriarch of the Pfundtner family, 

passed away 

gently and painlessly 

in his sleep.  

Rest in peace, Pops.