Some campgrounds are built for convenience—just off the highway, easy to find, a stop along the way. Camp Overflow is not one of them. Tucked deep in the Berkshires on the shores of the Otis Reservoir, this family-run campground has been a destination in itself for generations. And that’s exactly how Cheryl and Craig Morton like it.
More than 60 years ago, Camp Overflow opened as a way to catch the overflow of campers coming from the state park about two miles down the road. Now, it’s a popular retreat all its own, run by the same family for three generations.
“Craig used to work at the camp as a young man in the summertime,” Cheryl shared. “Then in 1986, his grandparents asked him if he wanted to take over and buy the campground from them. They thought he had the ability to do all that since he had been working for them for years.”
By 1987, Craig took the reins alongside his mother. Five years later, when he and Cheryl got married, she stepped into the family business, too. Together, they’ve poured their lives into Camp Overflow, watching it grow and evolve while keeping the spirit of the place intact.
And now, another transition is taking place.
“Our son Logan is getting involved more and more in order to start taking it over from us,” Cheryl said. “So, we’re keeping it going.”
That family-feel is woven into the fabric of Camp Overflow. Many of their guests are third- and fourth-generation campers. Kids who once spent their summers fishing off the docks, now return with families of their own—keeping the connection with the Mortons and the park alive.
Camp Overflow isn’t about flashy amenities or packed event schedules. It’s about slowing down, enjoying nature, and spending time together.
“We don’t have a game room,” Cheryl explained. “We have a foosball table in our boathouse. We have activities once a week on a Saturday. We have bands on holiday weekends, but we’re not overloaded with a lot of that. People who come here know we don’t have all that. But so many families love it here because they’re all together.”
Families come for fishing, hiking, and the beauty of the Berkshires. Some visit to experience well-known cultural destinations like Jacob’s Pillow, a historic dance festival, or Tanglewood, where the Boston Symphony Orchestra performs each summer. And the Berkshire County area is reason enough to make the trip. According to Cheryl, Camp Overflow isn’t a place people pass through—it’s a place they seek out.
“We love just listening to the families and listening to their camping stories. That’s a big part of what we enjoy.” Cheryl said. “You can have your coffee out in front of the store and talk to people. You’re constantly watching these kids from the age of 3 to the age of 20 come through, year after year.”
And those kids? They see the campground differently than the adults do.
“I love seeing the campground through the kids’ eyes,” Cheryl shared. “The kids come down and they fish off our docks, and they’re so excited to get a fish. It could be the smallest fish ever, but they’re so excited.”
The close-knit, community feeling extends beyond the campground itself. Even the locals play a role in the experience.
“Our neighbors on our street greet our campers when they come in,” Cheryl said. “They say goodbye to them when they leave. They are very involved in our campground. We are very blessed for where we’re at.”
For decades, Cheryl and Craig have kept Camp Overflow true to its roots, making thoughtful updates while preserving the traditional campground feel their guests love.
“We’ve kept the basic footprint of the campground the same,” Cheryl said. “We upgrade a little so people have what they’re looking for—like now, we’re building new bathroom buildings. But we try to keep to the basics of what someone wants for camping in our area.”
But some change is inevitable. Over the years, Cheryl and Craig have noticed that fewer people are tent camping, so Logan suggested looking into small cabins. The pandemic led to a surge in RV sales, but now, Cheryl notes that some travelers are looking for ways to be in the campground without hauling a trailer. Cabins would benefit those travelers as well, so the Mortons are open to adjusting to meet those needs.
One of the biggest shifts they’ve made is in how they manage the campground itself. They went from pen and paper to CampLife and CampLife Pay, allowing them to accept online payments and reduce paperwork behind the scenes.
“We were all manual for all these years,” Cheryl explained. “We had an ATM machine for people because we didn’t take credit cards. That’s one of the things we had to change because it became apparent that people weren’t carrying cash or checks anymore. Everybody wanted to use a card. Now, they can do that and they can pay online. Time-wise, that’s helped immensely.”
With CampLife Pay, guests have the convenience they expect, and Cheryl and her team can run things more efficiently. The transition from manual systems to a campground management system was a big leap, but the all-in-one support that comes from having both reservations and credit card processing living together in CampLife has made all the difference.
“If we have questions, we just call CampLife’s Customer Success and get help,” she said. “Dan and Rebekah help us quite a bit. I’ve also talked to Nicole when it comes to accounting stuff. They’re all great. They put up with our questions and they never rush us.”
For Cheryl, these small conveniences aren’t just about keeping up with the times—they’re about making Camp Overflow a better experience for the families who call it their summer home.
As Logan steps up to take on more responsibility, Cheryl and Craig know that Camp Overflow is in good hands.
“This will be his fourth year taking more and more responsibility,” Cheryl shared. “We’re still here—and our daughter Amanda is involved as well—but we always tell our customers, ‘This is going to be your person. He’s it.’ He’s doing great, and every year gets better and better.”
Through it all, Camp Overflow remains what it has always been—a place where families can go to enjoy the simplicity of lakeside camping.
“You try to go with the times a little,” Cheryl said, “but we keep the footprint the same.”
And that’s exactly why people keep coming back.
At CampLife, we’re honored to support parks like Camp Overflow—parks that have spent generations creating spaces where families can connect, unplug, and make lasting memories. So if you’d like to see how CampLife’s tools can help streamline your campground operations while keeping your traditions intact, reach out today. We’d love to help.
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