Gazing out onto acres of land, my eyes resting upon lush gardens, alluring pieces of art and a happy dog named Sally enjoying the miles of greenery in her wake, it becomes clear that such peace and tranquility truly is priceless.
And, at Shire Camping, they really couldn’t agree more.
They say nothing in life is free, but try telling that to Don Wilbur who, over a decade ago, decided to put a sign for free camping down on his waterfront lot in New Horton.
“I was living by myself here and I thought, ‘Well, it would be nice to have company,’ so I put a sign out for overnight rooms and, of course, back then you couldn’t do that; I got a letter from the tourism board saying I couldn’t do that,” he said. “But that’s been changed. So I put a sign across the road for family camping and it just evolved little by little.”
A frugal alternative to Fundy National Park
Situated on a nature conservancy just 15 minutes from Fundy National Park, outside the fishing village of Alma, Shire Camping has served as a sort of “outdoor hostel” for those looking to explore the beauty and wonder of New Brunswick at an affordable price.
Don and his son, Jeremy, have been managing the upkeep of the property across the road from Jeremy’s childhood home, and always leave it open for guests to come and go as they please.
“It’s by-donation, so if someone has a couple bucks they want to put in the donation jar, that’s great, if not, that’s also fine,” says Jeremy. “You know, it says ‘Free’ on the sign and if, at the end of the day, no one pays nothing, no one pays nothing.
“But most people are pretty generous – pretty thankful for it. And if they can’t pay anything, sometimes they help out and do something around the place, whether they paint a little picture or help put in some of the winter’s wood or they share a story. It’s all about karma and what comes back.”
The Shire has charm coming from every turn and crevice, with quirky art fixtures and the neighbouring HaHa cemetery adding an authentic and mystical feel to the scenic view. It has roughly 10 to 15 spaces open to campers with tents, small vehicles and tent-trailers, and also offers three trailers for use which Don has fixed up for guests.
And while you do not need a reservation to camp out on the lot, with last summer being their busiest yet, it’s best to call ahead and check for availability.
“We’re having a great time, a wonderful season,” says Don. “I put out a guest book at the beginning of summer and it’s pretty much filled up.”
Money can’t buy happiness
Don says running this place is more of a hobby than a business, getting more enjoyment out of people visiting and giving what they can than he does from turning a profit.
“Everybody is welcome here, whether you’re wealthy or not … You don’t have to be rich to enjoy life.”
With people dropping in from all over the world, many hailing from Germany and France, Don says the Shire tends to draw a very respectful and diverse group of people all looking to connect and have a good time.
“I’ve had no trouble hardly at all with anybody and they clean up after they leave; it’s very respectable people that come here,” he says.
“I find that the people who come like to socialize with other travellers as well, so we have a little circle around the campfire and they enjoy each other. They talk about their travels and where they’ve been and where they’re going, and it’s just a social thing where people can meet other people and it encourages fellowship with one another.”
The Wilburs both highly value this neighbour-oriented, collaborative oasis and extend an open invitation to all who share this ideal of camping. In fact, it’s exactly this strong sense of community (along with a love for Lord of the Rings) that gave the campground its name.
“I was in Australia working up in Port Douglas and saw a sign that said ‘Now Entering Douglas Shire;’ where here we have parishes and counties, the shire is a community,” says Jeremy.
“So me and a friend one night were throwing around ideas about our beautiful little town in New Horton and we thought we’d tack on ‘Shire’ to the end of it just for fun and, over the years, it just caught on, and more and more people started calling that area the shire. So when we started the campground, I made sure to call it ‘Shire Camping.’”
The future is bright for the Shire
When asked whether or not they hope to expand the site, Jeremy says it’s possible they could offer other amenities in the future, such as public washrooms, showers, electrical hookups and a playground. But in order to maintain a campground of that capacity, they may have to start charging their guests for occupancy, even if only at a low rate.
“If the honour system were to work then that would be the donation, because some people are really generous and some people can only do what they can, so I really like that idea,” he says. “But at the end of the day, a big campground like that with 25 to 30 sites would still need someway to keep it running.”
Don, on the other hand, believes the Shire is perfect just the way it is.
“You never know what’s going to happen in a day or how it’s going to turn out, and you don’t get bored. I sit outside and watch the traffic and people come in; I guess it’s just the fun of the unknown … It works from the heart.
“It’s just fun to do, what can I say?”
If you go …
Shire Camping
790 NB-915
New Horton, N.B.
E4H 3T5
506-874-3133 or 506-227-4652
Be prepared for your camping adventure