There are a lot of campground review sites in the recreational vehicle ecosystem. They measure amenities, cleanliness, campsite size and on and on, but there are times when it is really difficult to assign a value to overall beauty. Among the many, there is one that comes to mind. It should be on everyone’s bucket list. Nestled on a cliff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean is the family-owned fifth-generation 100+ year old Libby’s Oceanside Camp in York, Maine. Our campsite was about 15 feet from the edge of the cliff, which had at least a 25 ft drop off to the ocean. When you see a sunrise over Libby’s, you are without excuse of recognizing the magnificent miracle of God’s creation.
York has an interesting beach, a mixture of rocks and smooth sand. The rocks are visible 24 hours a day. The sand beach, however, is revealed mostly at low tide. Looking out over the ocean is a lighthouse standing as a vigilant guardian of the shore. The Cape Neddick Nubble Lighthouse is a famous American icon as a classic example of a lighthouse, and locals will tell you that it is the most photographed lighthouse in America. We had to see this piece of Americana up close so we traveled through the narrow winding roads of York to get close. There is a park upon which it sits, but RVs are not welcome. Service Dog Charlie and I had to figure out how to maneuver a turn-around, while Chris walked up the hill to get a picture. It was worth it.
Our fellow campers at York were also wonderful. To our left was Heidi and Steve. Steve is a travelling nurse. Heidi is a photographer who captured us unawares watching one of the spectacular sunrises. Steve gets contracts across the country, but York is kind of a home base from their Airstream trailer overlooking the ocean. Carol and Ben were on our right. We spent an evening with them at their campfire swapping stories about our lives, our belief in God, how we met our spouses and our passions in life. Then there was Don the next afternoon. He was a retired NCAA basketball referee. I could have listened all night to his stories about the athletes and coaches he met along the way, but a storm blew in from the southwest and we had to hustle inside. It blew so hard that Chris and I thought we might end up in the ocean.
Libby’s started out in the 1920’s and it sprawled all across the cliffs overlooking the Atlantic. At that time, as with many stories we’ve been told at generational family-owned campgrounds, many transients were attracted to camping. Townspeople were not so welcoming of what they considered trouble-makers and hobos. And the politics of the day eventually forced the sale of about half of the original Libby’s, now occupied by expensive homes. But seasons change and so do campers. Today, Libby’s has a wholesome, law-abiding clientele that appreciates the down-home charm of a centennial campground and the historic town of York, which dates back to the mid 1600s. It’s definitely a slice of Americana worth visiting.
