Rv Park History & Goals
This property has been in the family since 1927. It use to be farm land. My Grandma (born 1900) and Granddad (born 1897) used it to grow corn, peanuts, sweet potatoes, watermelons, cantaloupe and the list goes on. My Granddad even had about 1 acre of grape vines. When he was in his 80's he stilled kept them trimmed and growing. People would come from all over to buy grapes. In 1985 Granddad died in March and Grandma died in October. I was in the 12th grade. I wanted the property, but there was no way for me to get it. My dad and uncle inherited the property. They put it on the market to sale, but it did not sale. They decided to rent the house, but that didn't work very well either. Eight years later, I was married, had finished college and still wanted the property(1994), so they worked out a deal with me. I remodeled the house(1994-1999) and then built a mobile home park (1999-2001). Since I was in the construction business, I felt like I needed a retirement plan I came up with the mobile home park as a means for retirement. The bank loaned me the money...
In 2001 when the park was completed the mobile home industry, at least in our area, was down. At the end of two years (2003) there was only 4 mobile homes in the park out of 15 lots. It was a tough two years. In order to keep the park I sold my house and I rented a house. (Thanks to Harold & Hazel Dixon and Albert & Connie Bell who let me rent from them with great rates)
One day 2 guys from a work crew came through the area looking for some RV spaces and they ran across Moonlight Lake Estates. They contacted me and asked if I would be interested in putting a few RV sites in the park. They were working for a natural gas line and there would be more to come. So I agreed and put in 8 RV spaces. They came, and more came and at the end of 2 years I had 22 RV spaces (2004). Work crews still come and go. I have traveling nurses that stay and a lot of full time rvers that come by my way...
If it wasn't for the RVers I would still be struggling and maybe bankrupt. That is going on 5 years ago. There have been many RV's that have come through to whom I am very grateful. I've advertised in Woodall's Publication, Trailer Life, Radio ads, Telephone book, Chamber of Commerce, Flyers, and the internet. I know that we are not KOA or a Resort, but with the help of RVers I know that one day it will be great.
Three years ago I decided to put an office down at the park, but I didn't want to borrow the money. (I still have the loan for development). So I started on a 30 x 48 ft. building. I was paying for it as I go. I was hoping to put an office in it and 2 handicap accessible rest rooms....I gave in an borrowed the money a year ago (2007). My bath rooms are now finished. The office is done. I put a get away suite on one side of the building, it is completed and ready to rent. I added 5 more lots in 2008. We converted totally to an RV park and campground in 2008. Added 11 more lots (Oct. 2009). My goals that are listed below are coming to pass one at a time...
Well, I've got a lot of plans and it may take years but one day...I believe that they will come true. Thanks to you---the RVer.
As you can tell I'm indebted to a lot of people! Thanks AGAIN Rvers and especially my WIFE!!!!! Thanks Rene for letting me chase my dreams hopefully I will be able to reward you one day!!
Jonathan Dixon, Owner
GOALS
1. A section for yearly sites (working on it 08)
2. A section for tents (08)
3. Cable TV(08) and phone on a section of sites
4. All sites concrete pads
5. Nice landscape with bushes and trees including entrance
6. Propane gas (08)
7. RV store
8. Coin operated washer and dryers for rvers (08)
9. Friendly staff (Manager Jonathan Dixon)
10. Reasonable rates to pay for all the above (always)
11. Pavilions for groups
12. 12 Cabins (1 as of Oct 2009)
13. 45 full hook up sites (38 -- oct 2009)
14. 45 pull thru sites (water, electric and cable tv)