PROVO — In the beginning, there was no plumbing, no electricity — only wooden tents — and people still fell in love with the rustic atmosphere of Aspen Grove.

That was in 1960.

Now, the family-centered recreation camp in Provo Canyon is making plans to remove some of its nearly 90-year-old cabins in favor of new lodging that's more deluxe and less "rough."

"All of the indicators show us that our guests are wanting the nicer facilities more and more and more," Aspen Grove camp director Glen Parker said. "But I'm sure that we're always going to be romantically involved with some of those rustic cabins."

Aspen Grove, which is owned and operated by Brigham Young University's alumni association, used to serve as a summer school for BYU's students in the 1920s. The students went to Aspen Grove during the summer to study biology or other science subjects.

Because there was no plumbing, the students had to heft their water uphill from a nearby stream, and at night, they slept in wooden tents, which were primitive, A-frame, wooden structures.

Since then, the camp has built several newer lodges with individual bathrooms and common living areas, but the rustic wooden tents still serve as housing during the summer time while the family camp is going on.

Parker says the tents are less preferable because the bathroom is shared with other tents, and they are farther away from the main lodge.

"(The tents) were never built with it in mind that they were going to last this long," Parker said. "Originally, they were going to build tent platforms and put canvas tents on them, but then they thought that just for a little bit more money, they can build a wood tent. They lasted much longer than anyone ever thought."

Aspen Grove has several phases of the project that will ultimately result in three new lodges, two new cabins, a remodeled cabin and remodeled main bathroom.

The first phase will start with a new lodge located near the dining hall. The planned three-story lodge, with 12 bedrooms on each floor, will provide housing for 100 guests.

The lodge will ultimately be connected with two other lodges, which, if built according to plans, will be built side-by-side and connected with underground parking.

Although the camp's capacity of 408 guests is already booked years in advance for each summer season, the new lodges will not be adding any more beds, according to county code. Guests do not have to be BYU alumni to attend the camp.

Parker said estimated construction costs are still under wraps, but all of the expenses will be paid with fees the camp generates from its guests each summer.