Boundary County blends luxury camping with small-town spirit

Tourism in Boundary County has grown in recent years, but Munro Murdock, co-owner of North Haven Campground near Bonners Ferry, says the area’s small-town charm remains strong.

“I think Bonners Ferry will always be able to maintain its small-town feel because we don’t have a Schweitzer Mountain Resort or a Lake Pend Orielle right here, and the real estate pricing elevated by those key attractions,” he said. “But I think Boundary County will continue to grow with the continued development of the Three Mile area.” 

Just off U.S. 95 in the Three Mile area, travelers interested in glamorous camping — including options to stay in a luxury covered wagon or teepee — can find North Haven Campground, purchased in 2022 by Munro and Rachel Murdock. It is the northernmost RV site and campsite in Idaho. 

Around Boundary County, vanlifers will also find Blue Lake RV Resort in Naples, the Idaho Lodge and RV Park in Bonners Ferry and the Hemlocks RV and Lodging in Moyie Springs. The county boasts an abundance of lodging options as well, such as the Northside School Bed and Breakfast, the Kootenai River Inn and Casino and the Dodge Peak Lodge. 

“We all want to be successful in our businesses, and we all have our unique niche; the bed and breakfast is very different than a cabin,” Murdock said. “They’ll refer people to us; we’ll send people to them if we don’t have something. It’s a positive kind of ‘coop-etition.’” 

The summertime travelers who find themselves in Bonners Ferry are typically exploring the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, sometimes along the International Selkirk Loop, other times enroute to popular destinations like Glacier National Park or Banff. But many also want to stay put in Bonners Ferry for its numerous attractions. 

“It’s people in the city getting away into nature; anybody who’s living in an urban environment thinks this peace and quiet is heavenly,” Murdock said. “It’s also seeing family. It’s fishing, hunting, hiking, kayaking, huckleberry picking.” 

Part of the attraction is also the county fairground and the historic downtown area, for which city officials began a revitalization effort in conjunction with non-profit Rural Development Initiative in March. 

In the 2023 Comprehensive Plan of Bonners Ferry, there is an emphasis on creating more consumer interest in the downtown area with a healthy mix of retail, service and entertainment, while also not foregoing the historic charm that defines the city. 

“There’s a certain character and culture for everything, for businesses, for families, for communities,” Murdock said. “There’s a lot of people who have been here for a long time and are heavily invested in this county. We’re new here, so we’re trying to integrate ourselves and be respectful to all that.”