PennWest Clarion SBDC Client Success Story
New Campground in Clarion County Opens Giving Campers a New Option for Relaxation

In early August 2023, Quiet Acres Camping, a new campground officially opened by Pam and Larry Smith. The seven-acre campground features 12 RV hookup sites measuring 12’ x 50’, complete with water, sewage, and 20-amp / 50-amp electrical service hookup, along with an additional 20’ x 20’ space for a picnic table and personal fire pit. In addition to the RV hookup sites, the property also has two 12’ x 50’ spaces for primitive camping. Recreational activities include a playground, cornhole, as well as a nearby creek that is continually stocked for trout season. All campsites are available from May through October. In the “off season” (November through April), Quiet Acres Camping has a cabin rental, which features a loft and two full size beds available for rent, appealing to PA hunters looking to utilize the PA state game lands.

“I am so grateful for the SBDC. I did not know where to begin to start my new adventure and they were very helpful in making this happen for me. They guided me every step of the way.”

Previously, the campground was a mobile home park owned by Mrs. Smith’s family for 45 years but due to tenants not maintaining their homes and/or vacating them, the park closed in December 2022 and transitioned to a seasonal campground. While the owners had the managerial and customer service experience, they were unsure of how to obtain the necessary financing and licensing to establish the campground. This is when they were referred to the PennWest Clarion SBDC to develop a business plan to secure the financing needed to complete property renovations, which included site preparation, construction of the cabin, general repairs and additions to the utility infrastructure, and construction of the playground.

To ensure the Smiths were able get the funding to finish renovations before the end of the summer, the SBDC business consultant, Amy Keth worked swiftly to help develop the business plan in just one month! The SBDC was integral in helping the Smith’s understand campground permitting and compile research on the industry, market, sample camp agreements, and research on the selection of a high quality, affordable online reservation software options, one of which Quiet Acres Camping ultimately chose to utilize. Furthermore, the SBDC utilized its contracted consultant Trail Blaze Creative, to assist the Smith’s in refining their logo design and in constructing their now fully up and running website.

The owners secured financing through the business plan, as they were able to obtain a personal home equity loan to facilitate the campground’s financing needs. As a direct result of the SBDC’s assistance, Quiet Acres Camping was impressively able to open up in early August and have since been warmly received by local campers. Since opening, the Smiths have further utilized the SBDC for assistance to apply for a sales tax number (for the establishment of an onsite camp store) and have attended many SBDC training webinars. It is easy to see that the SBDC has been an invaluable resource for Pam and Larry Smith, who wholeheartedly agree that they would not have been able to effectively establish the business without the SBDC’s help.