Camp Nelson can be reached from Porterville by 33 curvy miles [4] on California State Route 190 with an elevation gain of 4,439 feet.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP covers an area of 1.2 square miles (3.2 km2), all of it land.

This region experiences warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 71.6 °F.

Apart from the annual festival, visitors come to Camp Nelson to see the grove of Sequoias near Belknap campground.

Electricity reached Camp Nelson in 1951 and in the mid-1960’s, the road was upgraded to all year access.

[23] After some complicated financial dealings, the property and business were sold to Jim and Bonnie Hood in June 1987.

In a case that attracted national attention, Bonnie Hood was murdered August 19, 1990 as she slept at the lodge.

Ron Peterson sold the Lodge to Steven Huth and Mike Quatacker.

Aten held a few conferences and special events in the Lodge, but it was never open to the general public.

The primary aim of the Conservancy was to acquire the six and a half acre Camp Nelson meadow.