No Individual Campfires?

[Chattyaholic]

Is it correct that there are no individual campfires allowed at Ft. Wilderness?

DH and I have been camping 30+ years and I don't recall EVER staying in a campground where you couldn't have your own campfire.

We LOVE sitting by our own campfire (we're not ones to join a big group fire) in the evenings, and we do a fair amount of cooking over a campfire as well.

That would be one BIG disappointment camping at Ft. Wilderness and not being able to have our own campfire.

Does anyone know WHY they don't allow it?

 

[clkelley]

That is correct. Not sure why, except that it keeps folks from tearing up the trees around Ft. Wilderness and keeps fire hazards down.

I have heard reports that they are now allowing those fully enclosed outdoor fireplaces. (Not in writing on Ft. Wilderness paperwork, but by individual security folks.)

Each site has a grill, folks do have fires and cook on those.

Carol

 

[jmkms]

No, you are not allowed to have campfires at your site. I believe because it is usually so dry in FL that they don't want to risk a forest fire. I have read some people take their own enclosed rings and they are supposedly allowed to use them? I'm not sure about that.

We cook with our campfire alot too, but we don't mind not being able to if we're at the Fort.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Current FW rules state charcoal fires only in the grills. No open fires allowed otherwise.

 

[Rhonda]

I just called Fort Wilderness directly to get the official answer - because we have a Coleman fire pit that we would like to use next week!

The front desk says we are allowed to use it, as long as it has the screen all the way around it, and we keep the top on it. It can be used with charcoal for cooking, and with wood for just having a fire. There's a little door on the side of the screen that can be opened to hold a stick in there with marshmallows!

 

[flrickd]

If you can have a fire with an enclosed pit I will have to get one. You have a Coleman? Do you know what model? How do you clean and store it? We have a 31ft Minnie Winnie RV and storage is not great. Thanks

 

[Rhonda]

We have a Coleman fire pit like this one: Coleman fireplace

One night, when we roasting marshmallows, a FW security guard stopped at our site and walked up and said "Good - that's what I like to see. This is the correct type of fireplace."

You have to keep the sides on it, as well as the top. But, you can open the little door on the side to add wood or roast marshmallows.

 

[flrickd]

Thanks I like yours, looks like it would be safe, and I like the little side door for roasting marshmallows or hotdogs.