A CAMPGROUND OWNERS RESPOND TO “FEAR” IN THE “MONDAY LETTER”

If you are looking for a campground and still experiencing a little FEAR…
Here is some encouragement.

Three campground owners talk about it….

Hello Dale,

We now own and operated a campground. We can so relate to this Monday
letter - FEAR! We looked and looked for 2 years fearing the leap into the
pool. We not only "jumped" we are drenched in our new life and love it. We
are Regional Directors of the Colorado Association and have met many
wonderful people in the process. Now that we have done it . . . we love our
new lifestyle. We are excited to purchase another someday. Keep the
letters coming.

Cathy Harbick
CCLOA Regional Director
Arrowhead Point Camping Resort

And another….

Good afternoon Dale,

I just finished reading your "Tuesday Letter" and would like to comment on
it.
Before we bought our park, we owned and operated a convenience store & deli
that had been in the family for years. We had just finished raising 5 boys
and had them out on their own. We knew we enjoyed camping and wanted a
"calmer" lifestyle! We had stayed here at this park and knew about the
beauty all around us and decided let's go for it.

We put our business up for sale, sold it and moved lock, stock and barrel. I
don't think that there was one person we knew who thought that we were not
making a grave mistake and I'm not going to say it was all pleasant but I
would not have traded the experiences for the world!

We definitely just jumped into a park that was in desperate need of TLC and
did not look back. We have brought a very rundown and undesirable place
into it's own and receive so many compliments on how very beautiful the
place is and we are very proud of it and it's reputation now.

I guess what I'm getting at is advice to those thinking about making a
change in their lifestyle and worried about whether it is right or not. No
one can look ahead to see what will be but if you have the desire to
interact with people who are out there to relax and enjoy themselves and you
never know what each new day will bring (or who for that matter!), if you
are not afraid to apply yourselves...what a WONDERFUL way to make a living.
We did not "strike it rich", and we never intended to, merely make a decent
living, enjoying the outdoors, meeting new people, acquiring new friends and
feeling really good about what we were doing.

Thanks for hearing me out.

Signed… A Pennsylvania Campground Owner

And one more….

Hi Dale,

We bought a campground a little over five years ago. My wife and I resigned
from 16-year careers with the U.S. Post Office and purchased a
campground/horseback riding stable with 124 acres in Shenandoah Valley of
Virginia.

This being my debut into business ownership, it was very scary. My wife and
I put everything that we owned into this property and failure was definitely
not an option. Not only did we have to learn the "campground" business but
also neither of us really knew anything about horses or how to ride and had
to learn the "horse" end of the business at the same time.

While we have enjoyed the experience and this was a wonderful stepping-stone
to something bigger, 30 horses keep us busy 365 days per year.

Rick Deschenes
Fort Valley Stable
Fort Valley, VA

 

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