My friends bought a campground

[TonyM]

TonyM,
 We will be at Goose Point May 7th - May 12th...60mi south of Roanoke.
 Stop by C18 if you are down that way.
 Jimmy

I might just come by I am working that week in Martinsville so I may drop through,..

How are the sites at 49-50  We have little kids dont know about being right on the water....

[Weezy]

I was simply shocked because you gave the impression of this decent campground when it really looks like a shanty town in Africa.  Im sorry but this is the way it is now....If I was you I would not tell anyone about it until it is the way you want people to see it.  I want to make sure that no-one here makes plans to go until they know the facts about it or anywhere else for that matter.  If I had loaded my two kids and wife up for a few days at a camp ground and got what I saw I would have been furious with you.  Let me tell you they have about 2 years worth of clean up and another 150,000 in work before I will take may family there.  If it was a couple of buddys wanting to get drunk and fish or hunt then maybe it wouldn't be so bad to fall over the waste high trash and junked cars.  The campers that you so nicely said were, "seasonal" had not moved in 20 years.  They are permanent.  I feel bad to say this but after you wrote so many nice things about it I was very disappointed.

WOW Tony! I started this thread because of my excitement about an opportunity that two of my best friends got to really do something cool. I have said repeatedly that the place was in need of many repairs. As a camper, and one who is always looking for a new place, I am proud of two young (30ish) people who are trying to make a campground come back to life. I camped there two weeks ago, and I did not see waist high trash or junked cars. It is probably not best for anyone to try it (and I'm sure no one will now), since you described it as a "shanty town in Africa." That's pretty harsh, don't you think? If you were expecting a Goose Point or Fairy Stone, sorry. These places have been lovingly cared for and maintained for many years. It is a campground that does need to be brought back to life after years of neglect. I would hate for you to be "furious" with me! I was simply expressing my excitement about two friends and their new venture. The questions about the place were a result. I feel like the camping community should give these decent, HARD WORKING people a chance. Sorry to sound off, but your comments were so harsh!

[TonyM]

WOW Tony! I started this thread because of my excitement about an opportunity that two of my best friends got to really do something cool. I have said repeatedly that the place was in need of many repairs. As a camper, and one who is always looking for a new place, I am proud of two young (30ish) people who are trying to make a campground come back to life. I camped there two weeks ago, and I did not see waist high trash or junked cars. It is probably not best for anyone to try it (and I'm sure no one will now), since you described it as a "shanty town in Africa." That's pretty harsh, don't you think? If you were expecting a Goose Point or Fairy Stone, sorry. These places have been lovingly cared for and maintained for many years. It is a campground that does need to be brought back to life after years of neglect. I would hate for you to be "furious" with me! I was simply expressing my excitement about two friends and their new venture. The questions about the place were a result. I feel like the camping community should give these decent, HARD WORKING people a chance. Sorry to sound off, but your comments were so harsh!

I am with you on the excitement I too love to see people making something out of nothing.  I am excited for them but and a big but, people should be aware of what I said.  Maybe I missed something but Jim also went out there and he took pictures.  He agreed with me.  I will be that way next week I will bring my camera and take some photos maybe you can tell me if I have the right place but it looked like the road dead ended in the area I described.  I am sorry if my sharing offended you and surely your friends know what they got into or they wouldnt have made the decision.  If they are pop-up fans they will turn it around and I look forward to visiting when they do.

[Weezy]

Tony,
Susan shared with me some of your recent emails to her regarding the campground. She too was shocked by your comments on this forumn.   :confused: Judging from your most recent communications with her, it appears that maybe you would possibly like to visit Middle Creek some time in the future. This is quite a change from "I'd rather sleep on a park bench" and "it looks like a "shanty town in Africa." What led to your change of opinion?

Here is what you said to Susan:

Thank you.  I am very excited about your venture.  It is too bad they ran
> it
> the way they did in such an awesome place to have all that trash.  I am
> very
> interested in coming out maybe in the fall.  I have 2 small kids so it is
> tough if there isn't "stuff" to do.  The state parks look like the best
> option for now but once they can do more than just cry your place sounds
> ideal.
>
> Tony Mardian


Just Curious!
Elizabeth

[middlecreekcampground]

Wow, look at all this talk about our new campground.  After telling my friend Weezy about a kind of mean email I received, she confessed to knowing the origin of it.  I felt the need to come on here and give a little perspective and history on Middle Creek Campground.  This campground was originally founded in the late 50's by Mr Campbell as a hunting camp at the edge of the Jefferson National Forest.  It later became the Jellystone at Arcadia and later A Wonderful Life Campground.  My family and I purchased it on Feb 10, 2006.  The campground has suffered from YEARS of neglect, however in past three months we have re-roofed the stores and bath houses, painted and renovated the store and game room, excavated and hauled off 8 acres worth of fallen trees and debris, seeded the 8 acres, begun renovations on the bath houses including new sinks, toilets etc, gave them EXTENSIVE cleaning, torn down a dilapidated pavilion have a new one under roof waiting for the floor to be poured, and are re-piping the pool to have it ready for Memorial Day weekend.  And we realize that we have LOTS more work to do.

We are close to the Appalachian Trail, Jennings Creek - a state stocked stream, we have a playground, two stocked fish ponds, lots of places to ride bikes, hike, picnic, and just enjoy nature.  

We DO NOT have junk cars, piles of trash, or campers from the 1940's.  We DO have seasonal campers who rent spaces by the year, yes some of them have been there for a few years and have decks built, stacks of fire wood and other stuff.  We DO have some seasonal campers whos sites look like shanty towns, but the entire campground DOES NOT look like a shanty town.  These issues will be addressed as we continue to make progress.

Our website tells everyone that the campground is under renovation in the very first line.  I do not want to mislead anyone into thinking that it is in pristine condition- although check back and I think you'll find it will be as nice as any state park.  This is a campground in progress, yes it will take several years to get it into the condition that we are happy with although probably never satisfied.  It is still a fun place to camp and there are lots of things to do besides get drunk and hunt.  We have arts and crafts on Saturday mornings, we will be having wagon rides, pool tournaments, horseshoe tournaments, air hockey tournaments, scavenger hunts and other activities for the kids including toddler activities.  

I hope that Tony M's comments will not stop any one from checking it out and making their own decision to visit or better yet come stay the night and make your decision.  Please check out our website at middlecreekcampground.com we will be updating it regularly and showing the progress that is being made.  If you've camped there in the past I think you'll be pleased with the progress that is being made.  

Here are a few things that we will be working on:
adding more sites on the hill above the pond
updating the electric
new playground with fence
volleyball court
adding more sewer sites
adding camping cabins
rebuilding the foot bridge across the creek
adding seperate sites specifically for seasonal campers
adding more water features, mushrooms, water slide
converting upper pond back into a swim pond with deck and fountain
building mtn biking trails on site

Thanks for your time and consideration
Susan Martin
co-owner, Middle Creek Campground
Buchanan VA

[TonyM]

I have been talking to the owners about my impressions.  It took them several weeks to get back to me so that is why I posted here.  They let me know all the info above.  The problem is that You told me that the area I was seeing is the campground but as I have discovered it is actually up on the hill far from the shanty town.  I did tell your freind that I cannot wait for them to get things turned around and their facilities up and running.


Publically I will say it is awesome you guys have this place and it is shameful that the previous people were permitted to let this fall apart as they did.  I did not get out to verify that the trailer park on the left is the campgroound so I guess that is my fault. I am sure if you look at it from my perspective coming down that road and seeing that area and the green store building and nothing else it would appear as I stated.  If not than I am sorry.

[Weezy]

We just got home from a two day visit to Middle Creek. We had an awesome time! The weather was a bit rainy Thursday night, but it was really nice Friday and early Saturday. We had to come home today due to an obligation my DH had. We had a really nice, private, shady site with a cool path short cut through the woods down to the store, pool, game room, etc... I had a great time playing with my new bal leveler. That is just the coolest invention ever!!The kids and I did not want to come home. Middle Creek had a full house for the weekend and when I left, everyone seemed to be having a blast! They just finished building their new pavilion, and will be having a band play tonight. I hate having to miss it!!! We are planning to return to Middle Creek on Father's Day weekend.

[middlecreekcampground]

Greetings from the camp!  
Things are progressing as we learn more and get the swing of things.  This weekend was great we had Christmas in July with a visit from Santa!  We had to cancel the "Sl-hay" ride and karaoke because of the rain that seemed to arrive just in time to catch it.  But once the rain cleared up and the humidity returned we had an impromtu late night swim that was enjoyed by all the kids and a good deal of adults!

We had a great 4th of July weekend with performances by Midnight Thunder, everyone had a great time dancing, on Saturday night.  Then Tim Martin and Mike Armstrong of the Key West band on Sunday night jammed the place with some great tunes!  An awesome fireworks display rounded off the celebration of our nation's birthday.  The kids had a blast making firecracker hats and flags in arts and crafts.  We had greased watermelons in the pool, ice cream sundaes and face painting.  The place was packed and everyone had a great time.  

We are making plans for Labor Day weekend, including the Moonshine Express playing live at the Pavilion.  If you haven't heard them they are great!  A cover band that sounds remarkably close to whomever they are covering.  They were here for Memorial Day and rocked the place with classic rock and country to the latest tunes on the radio.  We will have lots of activities for kids and adults, including arts and crafts, ice cream, water games, horseshoe tournament, pool tournament, and an air hockey tournament for the kids.

Our website is up and running at middlecreekcampground.com, check it out and we hope to see you at the campground!

[ColemanCampingFamily]

Your new web-site looks great...just wish you had some pictures of the sites, etc. On the other hand, we have camped at places that had great pictures and they were the pitts!! Anyway, we hope to camp here this season.

[Weezy]

Your new web-site looks great...just wish you had some pictures of the sites, etc. On the other hand, we have camped at places that had great pictures and they were the pitts!! Anyway, we hope to camp here this season.

You should check it out. We will be camping there from Sunday through Wednesday. DH finally has some vacation time. And I am eager to camp in my new camper. We sold the pup and got a Cikira 16cc. It has sleeping for five, a fridge, ac, furnace, hw heater, stove, bathroom, and I can pull it with my Honda Pilot. I just got tired of the setup/takedown which I often do alone, and wanted the hardwall security. I am really excited!! I hope to run into you sometime. Maybe you could come for a day trip to check out the CG before coming for a weekend. They have made a lot of progress, and have a lot more ideas to come. It really does just take time! I hate that I haven't been camping lately, I've been sick and taking classes toward my Master's degree. It's been soooo busy. I need to relax and enjoy the rest of my summer off.

Elizabeth