From the moment we arrived, owners Jodi and Jason Digby made us feel like we had been coming to Pyott’s West Campground for decades, much like so many of the other folks who stopped by the big deck outside the store to grab a tub of minnows, arrange delivery of firewood, pay their seasonal fee or simply to say hello. It quickly became obvious that this was more than a campground. It was a community.

Top Tips for a Weekend at Pyott's West Campground

• Pyott's West Campground sits on Lake of the Prairies, with daily, weekly and seasonal sites steps from the water, the Dockside Diner and the boat launch.
• Don't leave without trying Jodi's cheeseburgers and deep-fried pickles at the Dockside Diner (open Friday to Sunday, 4–8 pm).
• The lake is a serious walleye fishery—a half-day guided trip can easily produce dozens of fish.
• Twenty minutes away, the village of Inglis offers a National Historic Site with wood-fired pizza at The Shop, co-owned by musician Del Barber.
• Planning insight: seasonal sites and summer weekends book up fast—reserve ahead, especially for peak July/August dates.

Settling into a Site

Tucked into a bend of Lake of the Prairies, Pyott’s offers two options for daily, weekly or seasonal camping. At water’s edge, campers are close to washrooms, showers, the playground, store, filleting shack, boat launch and the Dockside Diner.

As the landscape rises away from the lake, Pyott’s has added dozens of sites, each equipped with water, septic and power hookups on either 40' by 60' or 60' by 60' lots nestled between equally large greenspaces for maximum privacy. Best of all, these high rise sites offer spectacular views of the lake along with light breezes to whisk away any of those flying pests.

It’s up here that my husband Ivan and I are escorted to one of a couple of RVs that the Digby’s keep for friends and family. Back in the day, we were avid campers, starting in a tent and progressing to a tent trailer, but we’ve never been treated to this kind of luxury! Outside, there’s a firepit with Adirondack chairs, a tidy gravel site and that sweeping view of the lake and sky.

Burgers by the Lake

From the moment we arrived, staff and campers were asking the same question “Have you had one of Jodi’s burgers?” And now it was our turn. The Dockside Diner is a the most adorable little take-out stand nestles between the lake and campsites. And it’s where we were not disappointed by Jodi’s hefty cheeseburgers (say yes to bacon), topped with onion, tomato, lettuce and all the fixings. There was no chance of finishing the gravy-rich poutine or my favourite—deep-fried pickle spears—so those got tucked into our RV fridge for midnight snacks. The Dockside Diner is open Friday to Sunday from 4 to 8 pm and is a truly a must-visit on your stay at Pyott’s.

Tom and the Walleyes

After a dead-to-the-world sleep in that posh RV, we’re up early to meet Tom McCullough of Tom’s Guide Service at the Pyott’s dock. It’s Ivan’s first time on a guided fishing trip so I’m looking forward to a day of no fishing net work! We boat out to one of Tom’s preferred spots on Lake of the Prairies and I’ve barely let my minnowed hook drop before Ivan is setting his hook and Tom is reaching for the net. It’s a sign of things to come for the entire outing.

In between a very busy schedule of baiting, netting and photo taking, the fun and friendly Tom fills us in on the history of the lake that’s a 56 km (35-mile) long reservoir on the Assiniboine River that was formed by the Shellmouth Dam in 1964 and fully operational by 1971. It was created to control flooding in Brandon, Winnipeg and along the river and has since become a prize fishery, especially for walleye.

In the space of four hours—which flew by with lightning speed—Ivan and I boat in excess of 40 fish each. Truth be told, he easily outfished me on this trip, landing a few near Master Angler walleye and a couple of feisty Northern Pike. I’m willing to let it slide for the sake of marital bliss. Just this once.

Perfect Pizza in Inglis

Truth be told, I’d be perfectly happy moving on to the crispy chicken Caesar salad and another order of fried pickles at the Dockside Diner, but we’ve been invited to the village of Inglis, just 20 minutes away, for dinner.

After a tour of the Inglis Grain Elevators National Historic Site that features five preserved Prairie elevators along with the most charming museum, we walk the path up to The Shop at Inglis. The doors open to a bustling eatery inside the cozy converted machine shop where Del Barber and Haylan Jackson have created a space that’s no doubt the envy of every small town everywhere. This writer can hardly express how quickly and seriously she fell in love with the place.

The food is truly topnotch, with a menu featuring a few curated appetizers—we opted for the smoked walleye dip with sourdough crisps—hearty salads and wood-fired pizzas as the main attraction. The Angry Beekeeper has prosciutto and jalapeno and comes bubbling hot out of the oven just in time to get a drizzle of local Wendell Estates honey.

The Cattle Call delights us with smoked brisket, pickled red onion, barbecue sauce and a crave-worthy topping for horseradish cream. We box up half the pizza only to make room for velvety crème brulee. It all gets washed down with local craft brews and exquisite cocktails including a modern (and seriously delicious) Mai Tai.

Roasted Marshmallow Latte Anyone?

Sunday morning we gather on the deck of the store to swap fish tales and enjoy handcrafted brews from The Camp Grind Coffeehouse. I’m sipping on a heavenly roasted marshmallow latte while Ivan has a rich Americano sweetened with honey.

Later in the day, campers pop in for ice cream treats, icy drinks and to stock up on groceries, bait and snacks. As a souvenir from our time at Pyott’s, I choose a couple of jars of locally made jam and a handmade necklace featuring a fluttering dragonfly. The store also has a huge selection of hats, T-shirts and hoodies for cozy nights around the campfire.

Basecamp for Adventure

I was looking forward to coming back to our cozy camp spot at Pyott’s—but first, a little neighbourhood exploring. In Gilbert Plains, look for the adorable mint green building at the corner of the main drag. Inside, there’s flowers, curated gifts and specialty coffees along with treats for an evening snack. I picked up rosemary and lavender potato chips along with a rhubarb sparkling beverage. Yum!

Tucker’s General Store in Roblin is part antique shop, part ice cream bar and all charming. Stroll through the many rooms inside the converted train station. And if you need an afternoon brew, pop in to Timber-House Coffee where specialty coffees, beautiful gifts and stylish merchandize await.

And just a stone’s throw away from Pyott’s, there’s scenery to spare including the Shellmouth Dam and Reservoir, Asessippi Provincial Park and an Instagram-worthy herd of Texas longhorns too.

Plan Your Adventure

• Getting There: Pyott's West Campground sits off PR 482 near Roblin, Manitoba, on the west shore of Lake of the Prairies, about a 10-minute drive from the Saskatchewan border.
• When to Go: The camping season runs May 13 to September 30.
• Where to Stay: Daily and weekend camping can be booked by calling 204-564-2308, or through the Book Online page on the campground's site.
• Food & Drinks: The Dockside Diner is open Friday to Sunday, 4–8 pm; the Campgrind Coffeehouse serves specialty coffee and ice cream on-site.
• A Detour Worth Taking: In Inglis, the grain elevators historic site is open from the May long weekend to the September long weekend, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., with guided tours available by reservation year-round and admission charged. Afterward, The Shop, the wood-fired pizza restaurant run by Del Barber and Haylan Jackson, is worth the stop—reservations recommended for dinner given its small-town size.