Camping Community
story by Evey Wilson
Eight years ago, four Californians found Diamond Lake Resort for sale on eBay for the second time. They were interested in the campground and RV park when it appeared on the website six years before that, but they didn’t buy it. They grew to regret that decision, so they jumped at the second chance – Brian and Janice Smith and Laurie and Joe Meythaler, all of Burbank, Calif., flew out to see the 157-acre resort, fell in love with its potential and purchased the park within a year.
The Smiths and Meythalers had camped for years with 10 families in California. ”Our goal the entire time was to make this a family friendly park, because that’s what we had done,” Laurie says. Every year, the owners bring something new to the facility – pedal boats, a pizza parlor, miniature golf.
In the fall, Diamond Lake Resort hosts Boo Fest, a Halloween celebration encompassing the final three weekends of October. This year, the 270-site RV park was sold out each weekend of the month.
Campers have come to Diamond Lake since it opened in 1968. Children have grown up among the golf carts and barbecue contests. Couples have fallen in love and been married among the trees and fishing ponds.
But Diamond Lake’s main attraction, many say, is the people. As the summer season ends in early November, campers prepare say goodbye for the winter.
“It’s like leaving a neighborhood, leaving your friends,” says Elizabeth Staples of Fordsville, Ky.
Laurie embraces that sense of community. She says she never wants to move away from Kentucky.
“I love it here. Love it,” she says. “They are real, genuine people.”
Dan Hagan (left), 61, plays with his dog as he sits with friend John Flynn, 70. The men grew up riding horses together in Corydon, Ky., and now camp with their families.
Avid campers put a map of the United States on their RVs and fill it with stickers as they make their way across the country.
Elizabeth Staples of Fordsville dries her hands inside her camper. Staples lives at Diamond Lake Resort with her husband during the summer. This year they camped for six months.
Brooke Schwartz, left, 8, tries to kick her best friend, Madison Clouse, 10, at Diamond Lake Resort. The girls met while playing soccer and grew up camping.
Bikes rest on the back of a camper at Diamond Lake Resort.
Diamond Lake Resort, an RV camp ground, is sold out for one of its three Halloween weekends.
Elizabeth Staples, of Fordsville, relaxes in front of her camper at Diamond Lake Resort. Staples lives here with her husband during the summer. "It's like leaving a neighborhood, leaving your friends," she says about returning to Fordsville.
Hannah Nash (left), 8, watches a movie with her cousin Sadie Morris, 7, in their grandparents' camper at Diamond Lake Resort. The Whitesville family camps two or three times a month during the summer.
Kathy Warren, center, looks at Makaylee Denton, 1, as they sit with extended family at Kathy's campsite at Diamond Lake Resort. Kathy has camped here for 10 years.
Danny Williams stands by a fire at his campsite at Diamond Lake Resort. Originally from Illinois, Danny has camped here for 30 years.