A women-owned business plans to develop a new campground with a bar, restaurant and convenience store on the south side of Lake Campbell.
Kattails Campground and Recreation off of 220th Street and 467th Avenue got approval earlier this month from Moody County commissioners acting as the board of adjustment. It initially will include about 20 campsites with water, sewer and electrical hookups and will have beach access. The area has room to expand with another 35 sites approximately, including three tent sites. Five of the initial sites will be for more permanent campers who sign up for the whole season.
Katy VanMaanen, who lives near the lake, and her sister, Kennedy Boyden, who lives near Hartford and has property on the lake, decided that something needed to be developed on Campbell. They’re banking on the idea that others will feel the same way and fill up their campground.
“We live out here, but we always want to go camping. It always gets filled up so fast,” VanMaanen said. “There’s not a lot that goes on around this lake.”
The sisters bought the 15 acres that were for sale and started making plans. It had previously been the location for a roller-skating rink and earlier than that, was a campground, she said.
VanMaanen said they want the first phase to be ready for campers next summer. For now, the two are working on various permit applications and are working through the details for the convenience store, bar and restaurant.
The campground will have three sealed tanks that hold 2,400 gallons of gray and black water. Those will be pumped weekly.
Kattails’ site plan also shows an outdoor concert area for entertainment near the beach, a bathhouse for campers and a possible playground.
“We want it to be family-friendly,” she said of the entertainment area.
Freemont Township approved the application, and the Moody County highway supervisor had no problems with the site that is at 3615 220th St., said Kendra Eng, county zoning deputy. She recommended approval of the plan, which needed a conditional use permit to build outside of the right-of-way.
Commissioners also approved the request but asked that the owners allow for a larger setback of 10 additional feet from the road on the 467th Avenue side of the property. The owners agreed to that adjustment in the plan.
