Tim and Ann Clark are the new owners of the Chattanooga North/Cleveland KOA.
“We were re-defining ourselves,” says Ann Clark, who has purchased the Chattanooga North/Cleveland KOA with her husband, Tim. The pair had grown tired of Michigan winters and wanted to work for themselves, so they set out to “live it up” a little. They decided that a major change was in order, starting with a long vacation and potentially involving a new business venture.
“At the time,” Ms. Clark says, “the phrase ‘own a campground’ wasn’t even on the list.”
Mr. Clark suggested they relocate to Tennessee, but since he hadn’t been there in 15 years, Ms. Clark was wary. Instead, she suggested that they go visit before making a decision. They placed their house on the market and decided to explore the country along the way as they headed out.
Their journey led them to California, then Texas and on to Florida. On their return trip to Michigan, they learned the Chattanooga North/Cleveland KOA had come up for sale, so they drove by to see it for themselves. By Memorial Day, the Clarks were the new owners of the campground.
Located at 648 Pleasant Grove Road in McDonald, the Chattanooga North/Cleveland KOA offers both short-term and long-term stays to camping guests. In addition to RV sites up to 103 feet in length, the campground features deluxe cabins with bathrooms and kitchenettes as well as one- and two-room rustic cabins. Tent sites are also camping options.
Amenities at the campground include a swimming pool, playground and game room. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the campground, and cable television has been installed.
Since purchasing the Chattanooga North/Cleveland KOA, Mr. and Ms. Clark have been joined by two of their four children, as well as a daughter-in-law and three grandchildren. Having so much family in one spot is a treat, but they stay so busy they don’t get much time together.
“We’re working on developing a family dinner time,” says Ms. Clark.
For now, they are focused on making improvements to their campground. They’ve already added a new wooden structure playground and have plans to re-do the pool, add a splash pad and continue to clear out brush.
The Chattanooga North/Cleveland KOA is one of 485 open-to-the-public KOA campgrounds in the Kampgrounds of America system in the U.S. and Canada. It is open year-round. For more information, call 472-8928 or visit www.koa.com. Reservations may be made online or by calling 800.562-9039.