Fantasy Island Campground

We are your family friendly camping destination!  Located on Packer Island, along the banks of the Susquehanna River, between Northumberland and Sunbury, Pennsylvania. We open on April 15th and close for the season on October 15th of each year.  We have approximately 100 sites.  All of our sites have water, electric, and sewer hook-ups. Each has a poured concrete patio, and are 30 or 50 amp capable. All of our transient sites have a fire ring and plastic picnic table. We also offer cable TV and free WiFi.

Park History

Fantasy Island Campground is unique, in that it once was an amusement park with a rich history.  Around 1900, the land was leased from James C. Packer, a Sunbury millionaire who owned the island, to create "Island Park."  The park began with very few amusements other than picnic facilities. Vaudeville shows and motion picture shows were later added and became a large crowd draw.

In 1923 Steila M. Wiest of Shamokin bought the land that housed Island Park, for an amusement park. In 1925, the crown jewel of the park, a dance pavilion, was erected. Some of the nation's biggest names in entertainment filled engagements there, including in it's later year's, names like Chubby Checker and Dick Clark. After the completion of the dance pavilion, an 80' by 100' swimming pool was built.  The pool held a total capacity of 737,000 gallons of water.  While the pool was being built, a roller coaster was also being constructed. After 2 years of construction, the "Island Flyer" was officially opened in 1926. The park also featured a carousel, built by the world famous Dentzel Company of Philadelphia. The carousel measured 50 feet in diameter, with 3 rows of animals, 50 in total, plus 2 chariots. (The round building that housed the carousel still stands and is what we currently use as our rec-room.  It is a very unique feature of our park.)

Unfortunately, in 1972 Hurricane Agnes swept through the area, causing historic flooding.  Much of the park was destroyed. The relic of the park, the dance pavilion, sustained excessive damage and had to be torn down.  An article from Sunbury's "Daily Item" newspaper referred to the demolition of the popular dance hall, as "an end of an era."  The land was developed into a campground in the late 70's and thus, Fantasy Island Campground was born.