t was minus-1 when the CLOSED sign came down at McGoverns RV & Marine Campground at Evergreen Park Wednesday morning.

Not exactly ideal camping weather, but for campground manager Mark Sather (photo) the most exciting time of the year.

He’s back in business for another camping season and will be on duty overseeing the facility until he puts the CLOSED sign back up at the end of September.

The campground Sather maintains is nestled in the quiet and picturesque beauty of Evergreen Park on the outskirts of the City of Grande Prairie and is a great place for mid-week or weekend getaways as well as a place to stay while attending events at Evergreen Park. There are daily, weekly and monthly rates available.

There is always something going on at the Park campers can take in whether it is a rodeo or chuckwagon racing; concert, convention, trade show, MMA fights or pow wow in the TARA Centre; or baseball tournament, archery event, trail riding and running, live horse racing, trotting around one of the two indoor riding arenas ... or just enjoying a nature walk.

Campers, when they get tired of their own cooking or need some entertainment, can head over to the Pines Restaurant & Casino or Pines Family Restaurant. Along with 99 slot machines and VLTs, the casino also offers off-track horse racing with a dozen screens showing races from across North America. There is also live music on weekends at the Pines and often mid-week free-to-play slot tournaments.

Anyone holding a wedding at the Park can have up to 10 spots at the campground put on hold for their guests for the big day.

The campground offers free wi-fi, firewood, fire pits, safe and visible children's playground, very clean public washroom/shower and laundry facilities as well as a dumping station.

Daily rates are $35, weekly they are $200 and monthly $600.

For more information or to book a reservation contact Sather at 780-933-1464 or campgroundmanager@evergreenpark.ca or phone the Evergreen Park office at 780-532-3279.

Here are the features and amenities at the campground, which has over 70 camping spots:

• Full-service sites complete with power, water & sewer
• Free wi-fi
• 30-amp electrical service
• Clean public restrooms
• Modern/clean shower facilities no extra charge
• Laundry facilities
• Safe and visible playground area complete with modern equipment
• Picnic tables, fire pits & firewood
• Walking distance from The Pines Restaurant & Casino and Pines Family Restaurant
• Between two championship golf courses
• Archery range
• Walking/running path
• Horse trails
• Short drive to centre of city
• Best weekly and monthly rates (power included) in Grande Prairie area