U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, has announced the partial closure of campgrounds at Raystown Lake in Hesston.

The move is due to staffing shortages that prohibit the safe operations of these facilities ahead of the 2025 recreation season, the Corps stated in a news release.

Seven Points, Susquehannock and Nancy’s Boat-to-Shore campgrounds will remain closed until further notice, according to the report.

According to a post on raystown.org, Nancy’s Boat-to-Shore is the only closure, as the other two campgrounds do not open until April 4 for Seven Points and Memorial Day weekend for Susquehannock.

Nancy’s Boat-to-Shore Campground is a boat-to-shore access only campground that is normally open year round, the post states.

If the federal government avoids a shutdown and the hiring freeze on seasonal employees is lifted in the next several weeks, all facilities should be able to open for the 2025 season, according to the post.

While the Senate passed a continuing resolution to keep the government operational, expected to be signed by President Donald Trump, the continuation of the hiring freeze may affect scheduled recreation and stewardship events, which may be reduced or canceled.

Visitors center, beaches will open

The Raystown Lake Visitor Center, as well as day-use facilities such as beaches, overlooks, picnic pavilions, walking trails, boat launches, disc golf courses and the mountain bike skills park, will remain open.

Leased areas and concessionaires, including Seven Points Marina and Raystown Resort, will operate according to their respective schedules.

Visitors who have paid reservations that have been cancelled due to campground closures will be refunded via Recreation.gov. All refunds generated within the Recreation.gov system will be communicated through email. For assistance, go to https://help.recreation.gov/helpcenter.

The Corps will continue to prioritize tasks essential to public health and safety, such as dam operations for flood protection and emergency response readiness, the news release states.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, oversees operations of numerous Flood Risk Management and recreation sites throughout the Susquehanna and Potomac River Basins.

Closures do not impact recreation areas on Jennings Randolph Lake located in Garrett County, Maryland, and Mineral County, West Virginia, or projects that are operated and maintained by nonfederal entities. The Baltimore District has various agreements where USACE-owned property is managed by city, county, or state governments, and/or private individuals. There are 12 properties in two states that fall into this category:

Kanakadea Park, East Sidney Lake and Dorchester Park in New York and Bald Eagle State Park, Kettle Creek State Park, Aylesworth Park, Curwensville Lake, Mill Cove, Tioga Little League Fields, and Mansfield Veterans Park, Lake Raystown Resort and Seven Points Marina in Pennsylvania.