The Old Orchard Park Campground in Oscoda, Michigan, is the largest campground in northeast Michigan. The park overlooks Foote Pond, which was formed in 1916 after the Foote Dam was constructed on the AuSable River. The park is open from March through November.
Old Orchard offers 525 campsites, including primitive camping on tent sites, waterfront sites with water and electricity, and modern sites. Other amenities include a water system approved by the Department of Health, three sanitary dumping stations, three bathhouses, and an old-fashioned country store for groceries.
Visitors can cruise around Foote Pond in rented pontoons, row boats or paddleboats. Campers can enjoy the nature hiking trail or the fitness trail or play shuffleboard near the large public pavilion. There's a playground for the kids and occasional recreational activities, such as volleyball, scavenger hunts and hayrides, for everyone.
Fish for bass, walleye, pike and perch in the campground and for salmon in the spawning runs downstream. Old Orchard has two boat ramps and a handicapped-accessible fishing pier.
As of January 2011, a modern reserved site cost $35 per night with a two night minimum. A modern electric site cost $20 per night, a primitive waterfront site costs $18 and a primitive back lot site is $16. Discounts are available for stays of 21 or 30 days. A lottery is held every September for Old Orchard's seasonal waterfront and back lot sites. Lottery winners pay $900 for a waterfront site and $750 for a back lot site. The price entitles the winners to the site from May 1 through October 31.
