Camp Wopowog
Camp Wopowog was a rustic early-20th-century summer resort on the banks of the Salmon River State Forest.
Resort of a Thousand New Experiences
Just over the Moodus border on the East Hampton banks of the Salmon River State Forest. An early 20th-century booklet calls Wopowog "The Resort of a Thousand New Experiences," claiming that "here every prospect pleases, and no one puts on style."
"Here every prospect pleases, and no one puts on style."
Camp Wopowog was a rustic summer resort that accommodated 400 adult and children campers from the early 1900s to the early 1960s. The name Wopowog is derived from a Native American word that means "the crossing place" or "the land at the narrows." Camp Wopowog contained Adirondack-style cabins, tennis and handball courts, high-dive platforms, docks, and boats. In its cabins and tents, Wopowog featured athletics and the "healthful" countryside, "rich in wildwood charm." The biggest selling point for Camp Wopowog was the Salmon River State Forest, just a few steps from the cabins.
From Summer Resort to National Jewish Camp Ramah
Camp Wopowog's own story didn't end when the resort era closed. Its later chapters, briefly touched on above as "Camp Halburn and Camp Ramah," connect this small East Hampton site to a much larger piece of American Jewish educational history.
The Jewish Theological Seminary establishes Camp Ramah, a network of Conservative Jewish summer camps, opening its first location in Conover, Wisconsin.
The third Ramah camp nationally, Camp Ramah in Connecticut, opens on this East Hampton site, following locations in Wisconsin (1947) and the Poconos (1950).
Rabbi Ray Arzt joins the Camp Ramah in Connecticut staff, later becoming camp director in 1961.
The camp relocates to Palmer, Massachusetts, continuing today as Camp Ramah in New England. Rabbi Arzt directed the camp through both the Connecticut and Palmer years, until 1969.
The State of Connecticut purchases the former camp property, which becomes part of the Salmon River State Forest it borders today.
Salmon River State Forest
The first purchase of lands which comprise the Salmon River Forest was made by the State Board of Fisheries and Game in 1934. The Forest now contains nearly 6,000 acres located in the towns of Hebron, Marlborough, Colchester, East Haddam, and East Hampton, Connecticut. Included in the forest area is 1,300 acres that are leased from the United States Government.
One of the early and notable settlers in this area was John Carrier, who was reputed to be the executioner of Charles the First and who fled England when the monarchy was restored. His family name still exists on the land records of the area.
The towns in this area were settled during the early part of the 1700s and were typical of early New England settlements. Streams and ponds were dammed to furnish waterpower for grist mills, tanneries, and later paper mills.
The Salmon River and its tributaries each had more mills trying to operate by the middle of the nineteenth century than the water supply could support during periods of minimal precipitation. At North Westchester, for example, during low periods the grist mills had to operate at night and the paper mill by day.
The easy accessibility of the Salmon River and its tributaries has made the forest a very popular fishing area, no wonder this was such a big selling point for people staying at Camp Wopowog.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions people most often ask about Camp Wopowog.
What was Camp Wopowog?
Camp Wopowog was a rustic summer resort in East Hampton, Connecticut, that accommodated about 400 adult and child campers from the early 1900s through the early 1960s, featuring Adirondack-style cabins, tennis and handball courts, high-dive platforms, docks, and boats.
What does "Wopowog" mean?
Wopowog is derived from a Native American word meaning "the crossing place" or "the land at the narrows."
What happened to Camp Wopowog after it closed as a resort?
The site later operated as Camp Halburn, then as Camp Ramah in Connecticut from 1953 to 1965, the third camp in the nationally significant Camp Ramah network. It relocated to Palmer, Massachusetts, in 1965 and continues today as Camp Ramah in New England.
Is Camp Wopowog still open today?
No. The State of Connecticut purchased the property in 1969. The land is now part of the Salmon River State Forest.
Where was Camp Wopowog located?
Just over the Moodus border in East Hampton, Connecticut, on the banks of what is now the Salmon River State Forest.
What activities did campers do at Camp Wopowog?
Campers played tennis and handball, swam and dove from high-dive platforms, boated on the river, and spent time outdoors in what an early camp booklet called the "healthful" Connecticut countryside.
