Bibb County commissioners approved a nearly $600,000 dollar deal with Warren Associates Inc. to renovate Lake Tobesofkee’s campgrounds at Tuesday’s commission meeting.
These additions will be funded by county SPLOST funds and will focus on tuning up campsites in Arrowhead Park and Claystone Park.
In July, commissioners met to discuss a separate $23 million dollar renovation plan with Lovejoy capital focused on “glamping” in the Duck Pond area. Don Renow has been coming to Lake Tobesofkee since he was a kid. He says it was always his dream to cruise out on the water in his own boat.
“This is the only lake that I boat on, so I know it pretty well,” Renow said. “You know docking here…[it] definitely could use some improvements here so I’m happy to hear about that.”
Since he restored his 1998 Bayliner Capri 3 years ago, Renow has had a boatload of fun cruising out on the water.
“The overall look of the lake is way different today than it was back then,” Renow said. “It’s still my familiar home lake, but it has changed a lot.”
Despite the changes, he sees room for more improvement.
“It would help if all the docks had docking cleats, and at least one dock could be 10 feet longer out like bigger boats like mine,” Renow said. “But also if they had courtesy docks where people could load on the boat without blocking the boat ramps, that would be great also.”
Arrowhead will receive 6 new docks, while Claystone will receive 3.
Warren Associates will rebuild RV parking areas in both parks and restore water and electrical access around the campsite. The company will also install 103 new picnic tables and benches. Renow says the improvements are needed.
“This is one of the hidden treasures in Macon… especially boating, but there’s also camping on the other side over here,” Renow said. There’s a lot of things that could be done here. Investing in this, it’s definitely needed and I think it’s a value.”
There is no confirmed timeline yet for the campground changes. Commissioners are still accepting bids for that July proposal.
