Wyanoake Camp

[OldCamper]

I am trying to track down information about a camp I went to in the 1950's called Wyanoake. I can find nothing on the web. Believe it is long gone! Does any one have any information that they would care to share? Apprecaite any help!
Thanks

[Grant]

My grandfather and his brothers attended Wyanoke back in the 1920s. That was one of seminal events that led him to eventually obtain a property on the Lake. We still have some of his swimming medals. It was his Wyanoke experience that also led him to recommend us (his three grandsons) to attend Camp Belknap, which remains and thrives today. As a young Belknapper, I traveled to Wyanoke for many swimming and riflery competitions. It was a beautiful site. Unfortunately, too many of the old-school camps have been forced off the Lake due to chaning economic and social pressures. What a shame, because the camp experiences on the Lake remain some of the best times of my life. In fact, my son and I were just talking about his pending return to Belknap -- his sixth year there. Now I feel old. I'll try to find some Wyanoke information.

[madrasahs]

http://tourist.wolfeboro.com/index.p...opic&p=114#114

The founder's grandson invites Wyanoke inquiries at: dbentley@metrocast.net There is at least one other person who collects Wyanoke memorabilia in the Lakes Region.

Ditto, Grant -- including the medals (and my own).

Wyanoke, formerly a forest retreat, is now "all McMansions" -- for strangers to admire.

[Melvin Clarp]

I attended Camp Wyanoke from 1969 until its closing in 1975. I made many lifelong friends from my summers at Wyanoke.

Up until the mid-70s, Winnipesaukee had a rich history of private and non-profit summer camps. I have fond memories of competing at swim meets at Camps Alton, Belknap, Idlewild and DeWitt.

As another poster suggested, economic pressures forced most of the private camps out of business by the mid-80s. When real estate values are skyrocketing, it's pretty difficult to absorb rising property taxes with a seasonal operation.

On the one hand, I feel a great sense of loss seeing all those mega mansions on the old Wyanoke property on the shores of Winter Harbor. On the other hand, I wish I could afford lakefront property on Winni.

[camp guy]

Melvin Clarp is correct about the rich heritage of camping in the Lakes Region - both private and not-for-profits, and both boys and girls. Many of the private camps are no longer in business due to any number of specific factors, however, all the private camps shared the economic pinch of increaased taxes, greater competition to get campers and qualified staff, and the temptation to sell out for the land value. Many of the not-for-profits enjoy substantial tax relief, year round financial support, and have programs which aren't effected by a fluctuating enrollment. Some of the former camp locations have been developed into very beautiful housing areas, and, as in the case of the Wyanoke development, the developers have paid very close attention to preserving the beauty of the natural surroundings. Some camp areas have been developed and the preservation of the natural beauty was the first thing to go in the development. A sad sad story. Say, Mel, if I may use the familiar, if you are down this way, stop in. Oh, by the way, if you go to the restaurant on the dockside in Wolfeboro you will find if totally different from your last encounter with the restaurant there. The new restaurant, Dockside Grille, is fabulous, and you can get a chocolate milkshake, too. You probably haven't seen this name in a post before, but I'm sure you know who this is.