Opinions on campground/camping on my property??

Agree ++++

When my children were young, we would camp a lot ... we started with tent camping, then went to a self contained, pull behind, pop-up camper. My biggest complaint was feeling like I was on top of someone else when camping.

At the time, we only had 1/2 acre, but going to a camp ground where the 'neighbors' were |---| close bugged me. They were closer than the neighbors in our neighborhood!

I would suggest the first building you erect with your fallen timber would be a 'general store' where folks could buy the 'basics' they may have forgotten ... bug spray, first aid supplies, ice, firewood, flashlights, batteries, toothpaste, soap, calamine lotion, matches, worms and 'stuff' for fishing.

I totally agree with what Nicky suggested, each campsite a bit secluded ... think staggered sited, one in front by the path, the next farther away from the path, the next closer to the path, repeat, and a few 'family or group' sites with a singular fire pit.

The most wonderful site we've ever camped at (close by) was only about 30 acres. They had permanent sites for small pull behind campers. They had family sites (clearings with plenty of bushes and flora to make each site a bit secluded if need be). Sites in the woods and sites in the clearing. They had two very small lakes. One was for swimming, one for fishing. There were trails in the woods and they took the time to identify various trees, flora and fauna with permanent ID's.

They had a bath house, a commissary which included a small game room (pool table).

They had events going on during the summer ... Bullfrog jumping contests ... movies (projector on a white sheet hung in the tree branches), hay ride (essentially an empty hay rack pulled by a tractor around the camp ground). There were paddle boats & canoes in the swimming pond.... the best bullfrogs (for the contest) were caught in the fishing pond!

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http://homesteadingfamilies.proboards.com/

Have you checked your zoning? Are campgrounds an allowable use, or will you have to seek a variance? In the latter case, are your neighbors likely to object?

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"I love all of this mud," said no one, ever.

OK, lets just assume for the moment that you go ahead and build yourself the spiffiest little camp ground.

How are they going to find it? And why would they come to it?

I've seen that asked, but not answered by you. What would be the draw you would have to bring customers into the area, and into your facility?

Just because you make a camp ground doesn't mean you'll inherently have campers on it.

it would have to be a truly spectacular place to make me leave home and go camping. I have all I would ever want here, pond, woods, lawn, house, campfires, etc..

why would I want to leave

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Brenda Groth
http://restfultrailsfoodforestgarden.blogspot.com/

I think it is a dandy idea.

My experience with camping is that the more primitive the camping, the nicer the campers are. No electricity eliminates a lot of sources for noise.

Things you will have to deal with. Serious erosion control plan. All weather roads in and out.

Lots of raccoon-proof trash cans and pick up garbage daily. Twice a day would be better.

Yellow jacket and mosquito control.

Pumping out the out houses and odor control in out houses, replenish TP often.

Fire control. Not only fire rings but a way to put out any fires your guests start.

Allow fireworks or not? You aren't going to get many campers if you don't allow pets. How about ATV's?

There has to be something to do for campers besides sit on a log and look at each other. Hiking? Fishing? Bird watching?

It's easy enough to get listed in all the camp ground guide books. Reservation system? You really need to be set up so that someone answers the phone when it rings. No answer and people go to the next name on the list.

I doubly agree with this!!

I don't think most campers have land of their own to leave behind.



I think keeping it small and private and secluded and marketed towards "dry" families (heck make them sign a "rules" contract if you have to) and build some fun little things for the kids would be a good draw for city folks that aren't looking for a party campground.

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You are confined only by the walls you build yourself.

Oooh what about a "green eco friendly" draw? Composting toilets and primitive skill classes?

What about a "survivalist" camp? Then you could charge people to live on twigs and bugs!

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You are confined only by the walls you build yourself.

I have worked at a campground and don't think I would ever own one. It is a headache! You definitely want to check into the insurance. Also, call your tax department and see how much your taxes will increase when you convert part of your property to campground. If you have a county that is online, check out what similar campgrounds are paying for real estate taxes. The cost of insurance and taxes may be cost prohibitive. I am not saying to give up this dream, just make sure you consider everything before jumping in! Good luck with whatever you decide.

I think there might be a nitch for what you are suggesting as long as you are on a main thoroughfare, and not too primitive. I see fewer and fewer tent campers these days. My favourite camping spot is Lost Maples Nature Reserve near Leakey, TX. The campsites are fairly close together, but staggered, as someone here mentioned, so there is some privacy as the bushes and trees screen each one. Each site has a BBQ grill and water faucet. The bathhouse is kept very clean and besides hot and cold water has electricity. That again, I think is very important. I don't need electricity at the campsite, but I surely need my coffee in the morning and would plug my pot in while taking a shower. As did many people -- coffee pots would line the sink counter.

The draw to me of primitive (tent or, in my case, tent trailer) is being out in nature, so a walking trail would be necessary for me to camp anywhere. With only 5 acres, I'm not sure you can provide that.

Not trying to rain on your parade -- but I'm not sure you have enough room to do what you are considering.

there are a lot of small campgrounds in our area and sometimes I wonder what are they thinking camping there !!! literally. But yours sounds nicer,.

people will camp anywhere, there is a pull trailer parked nearly on an expressway off ramp that camps there on weekends..sheesh..why?

but I had also thought of somthing similar here..only I thought about putting in a lot of those little cabins that you can get really cheap and also using chemical toilets. Mine would be more of a hunters campground if I did it, in the woods where they could go off to the state land to hunt and stay there at night.

possibly a bit more often..

so your's probably would work too

my concerns would be things like, kids drowning in the creek and suing yhour butt

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Brenda Groth
http://restfultrailsfoodforestgarden.blogspot.com/

I'm ready to camp there. Let us know!!!

We look for campgrounds that cater to families. One of our favorites has a once a week entertainment and the campers can also join in with their instruments.

Have you checked zoning? Insurance policy needs and rates? You'll be stuck at your place most of the time with a campground or you won't have it rented.

You said something about catering to church groups. How much will advertising cost? It would seem unlikely that local churches would wish to camp so close to home.

I believe you said that you value your privacy. If you have a campground such as this how are you going to have that privacy? If you had a lot of land, I could see being able to maintain your privacy with a campground but don't understand how you will with a campground. Sound carries pretty far. We sometimes hear cars on a road a couple miles away. I wouldn't think it'd be unusual for campers to go into and out of the property all hours of the night. How many animals do you have? Want to have? What will happen if your clientele harms, teases, or kills your animals?

I fear this kind of an operation could be an insurance (farm and business) and tax nightmare. I think you need to check out insurance cost before you do too much planning. I don't believe you'd make a profit with only one camper each night.

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Moms don't look at things like normal people.
-----DD

wannabefree
I understand your wanting to have the campground. And the idea of 'catering' more to groups is actually pretty good. You could do selective word of mouth advertising to start with. A few well placed words to the organizers of a few groups and you'll start getting a following. BUT you can also do the camping strictly by reservation which will control when and who is on your property. There are loads of groups out there (church, youth, 4H, scouts) and some businesses may even be interested in it for a primitive retreat. We did one once that included paintball fights. Had a blast and it was totally primitive. Good Luck

Me an my wife camped one time leterally on the Main drag by a Traffic Light in Muskogee,OK.

We called ahead asked about Tent Camping? No problem.Get there it was an Old Trailer Court,not even a Rest Room.Just slip behind a bush.

So yes people will camp anywhere.

big rockpile

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I love being married.Its so great to find that one person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.



If I need a Shelter
If I need a Friend
I go to the Rock!

We have friends that own this place: http://www.tipivillageretreat.com/

It's taken them awhile to build it all up but they are doing decently well.

There is another community of people here in Oregon that are trying to help support people that want to do Farm Vacations type of places. I wish I could remember the name of their organization, I'm thinking along those lines are what you are thinking?

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Idleness is leisure gone to seed