North Vernon (Indiana) is set to develop a new campground adjacent to a quarry. The project includes plans for a full-service campground with three-phase hookups, a playground, biking, trails, restrooms, and primitive camping areas.
For several years, North Vernon pursued the purchase of a quarry hole on 5th Street to serve as a reserve water source. The negotiations were stalled as property owners were unwilling to sell the quarry without the surrounding land.
This impasse was resolved when the Indiana Department of Transportation acquired the quarry through condemnation and eminent domain to facilitate a bypass, according to a Madison Courier report.
Following this acquisition, the remaining land was deemed worthless by the owners and was sold to the city in December 2015 for approximately $500,000. This acquisition included about 160 acres, positioning the city to explore additional uses for the property.
Mayor Shawn Gerkin came to the idea of a campground. “Trent Wisner [Former Councilman] and I always thought a campground would be cool. When READI funding came about in 2021, we were told to dream big, to come up with a project that likely would never get done without a big financial windfall,” Mayor Gerkin said, as quoted in a Local News Digital report.
This idea gained momentum with the introduction of the Readiness Evaluation, Assessment, and Decision-Making Information (READI) program in 2021, encouraging communities to propose transformative projects. READI is a $500 million initiative by the state governor.
Supported by the Indiana Economic Development Commission and the state of Indiana, North Vernon was awarded more than $2.2 million to develop a comprehensive park and campground. The project is progressing with 30% of the construction documents already in progress, and a groundbreaking is anticipated this fall.
Mayor Gerkin expressed his aspiration for the campground to boost local tourism and lifestyle quality, envisioning it as a destination for visitors to spend extended weekends engaging in various recreational activities or attending events at nearby Tripton Park.
North Vernon’s strategic approach to developing a new campground offers valuable lessons for RV park and campground owners. The city’s decision to transform a previously undervalued piece of land into a full-service campground highlights the potential for repurposing land that may not initially seem ideal for recreational use. By incorporating a variety of amenities such as three-phase hookups, this comprehensive planning demonstrates how campground owners can diversify their offerings to attract different segments of the outdoor enthusiast market, thereby maximizing land usage and enhancing guest experiences.
