History

Where We Came From

Peach beach is located in the heart of Maryhill, Washington on the shores of the Columbia river, surrounded by Fruit orchards. Peach beach is privately owned and operated by the 3rd &  4th generations of the Gunkel Family, that also own Gunkel Orchards.  Peach Beach RV Park was originally a peach orchard. It’s development began and when the popular Maryhill state park got full and people would phone the Gunkel’s to ask to stay in the neighboring orchard.

This arrangement worked for a few years until 30 to 40 people started pitching tents in the orchard. With up to 100 people sleeping, playing and eating amongst the peaches, sanitation and liability became an issue. We researched the possibilities of us having our own campground and found it feasible so we started out developing 10 grass covered tent sites along the bank of the Columbia river. A portable toilet was provided to solve the necessary sanitation problem.

After a while we found that the small campsites were not enough to satisfy the public so put in permits to expand. We removed some peach trees and established 12 Full hook up, all that the county would permit us to have, 57 water and electric hookups, and 11 tent sites. We built a restroom building with three showers,  sinks and toilets, handicap accessible for each men and women.

During the summers we are busy with wind surfers, fishermen, and just overnight travelers. Normally the weekends are our busiest time, week days you are likely to pull in and get an available site. We get a regular crew of windsurfers and few fishermen that have been coming for 10-15 years to stay at peach beach for 3 months during the summer. Due to this in about 2007 we were allowed to add sewer hook ups to 9 of our water and electric sites.