One of the best things about Zumwalt Campground is the sound we make. Sometime when you're there, stop and with eyes closed just LISTEN to the sweet cacophony of music, laughter, and wind in the trees...pure magic!
Unfortunately, not everyone is thrilled with the sounds emanating from ZCG. There has been a long history of tension between Zumwalt campers, the event organizers, and people living nearby. In recent years, things have been better between the locals relaxing their expectations for Fair weekend a bit and campers being a little mindful about how much sound we make and when.
Unfortunately, not everyone is thrilled with the sounds emanating from ZCG. There has been a long history of tension between Zumwalt campers, the event organizers, and people living nearby. In recent years, things have been better between the locals relaxing their expectations for Fair weekend a bit and campers being a little mindful about how much sound we make and when.
what the law says
The Lane County noise ordinance stipulates that from the hours of 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. no sound should be louder than 50 dB as measured at 50 feet from the source of the sound. As a comparison, a conversation at 3 feet away is about 60-65 dB and normal piano playing is 60-70 dB.
what really happens
Zumwalt Campground is an acoustic event. That is to say that the organizers tend to frown on amplified music and largely give non-electrified musical instruments, including hand drums, a pass. There have been people that have brought full on PA systems and they usually get shut down pretty quickly. This is not to say that we can't have our fun. On Saturday night, the drum circle at the bonfire is full on. No one is holding back and you can faintly hear the drumming across the park. In the individual camps people play music all night long on acoustic instruments without any difficulties.
One of the coolest things about ZCG are the islands of sound that are encountered as one walks about. If someone fires up their stereo too loud that effect is lost. It's fine to play recorded music for your camp, but be mindful of those around you.
One of the coolest things about ZCG are the islands of sound that are encountered as one walks about. If someone fires up their stereo too loud that effect is lost. It's fine to play recorded music for your camp, but be mindful of those around you.
generators
The use of generators has been the source of problems in camp in the past and organizers of ZCG discourage the use of these machines unless they are needed to support electric medical devices. Only the most quiet generators can satisfy the noise ordinance above, and what might seem like quiet to one camp can be quite intrusive to surrounding neighbors. Most long time campers have dealt with this situation many times over the years. If you need to have a generator in camp, you may not operate it from 10 PM to 8 AM (security will shut you down). Generators must be attended at all times during operation (no firing up the generator and letting it run all day while you are in Fair). If you have any questions about the use of generators, email the event organizers at [email protected].
where should i camp at Zumwalt?
The most frequent complaints I hear about Zumwalt Campground is from people who are camped in the wrong location for their needs, or more rarely, a group of people insensitive to the needs of people around them get in the wrong location. As a general rule, the waterfront and bonfire pit are the centers of late night activity and noise. The whole east side of the camp tends to be more noisy and freaky overall (Guess where the author camps?). Across the road to the west is Quiet Acres where it is generally accepted that late night and loud shenanigans are a no-no. That's not to say there isn't any activity! However, people in that neighborhood go out of their way to respect the sonic needs of the folks around them. So if you plan to get a little crazy at Zumwalt (You know who you are!) be sure to get camped towards the lake. For those folks that need placid late nights, camp by the forest.