Camping is one of the great American pastimes. And, sometimes, it is well worth going back to what camping actually is - all the campfires, swimming, nature, family, s’mores, and everything else. Throughout the country, there are numerous terrific family resort campgrounds. One of the premier locations is Rustic Knolls Campground in central Ohio. Rustic Knolls has been around for a long time - 50 years owned and operated by the same family.
"The way I look at it is this - my grandparents started it, my father brought it back to life, and I feel I am responsible for sustaining it for the next generation," says Frank Biffath III, present owner and operator of Rustic Knolls campground, along with his wife Patty.
Rustic Knolls started with the original Frank, Frank Sr., and his wife, Nora, as they were headed for retirement. According to the website, "After a few failed attempts, raising Chinchillas in the family attic being one, they fell into the idea of a family camping spot. Owning 98 acres, and being avid entertainers, this was a logical step." So they started Rustic Knolls in 1968. The nearby lake was already used as a swimming hole and they had a shelter for gatherings, so they made a few lots for camping. Frank Sr. also took time to transplant saplings to the campground to make it feel even more rustic.
As the years went on, they built more amenities - shower and bath houses, a recreation hall, water and sewer lines, and more under the leadership of Frank Jr., Frank III’s son. In 2001, Nora passed away, and Frank Jr. and his wife took over. They added in 50 amp service, revamped the whole park, and put in a new restroom/shower facility. Today, there are 150 sites, of which 109 are seasonal sites from April-October.
Frank Biffath III and Patty working on making tie dye shirts. [Photo/Rustic Knolls Campground]
In 2016, Frank III took over and implemented his plans to sustain and grow the campground. "I know to sustain our campground we need to increase revenue and add amenities," Frank told The Buzz. “Right now I am concentrating on how to increase our occupancy Monday-Thursday. We do well on the weekends, but showing people this is a great place to have a well-priced vacation is the goal." To do so, Frank III and his wife have added inflatables to the lake for some awesome swim adventures.
They are also working on a new branding message that comes out of Frank's personality. "I've wore tie dye every day for the past 20 years and collect Volkswagen's, so having that laid back feel is what we want," he says. Indeed, recently at the Ohio Boat and RV show, Frank was seen in his tie dye shirt with a table of information about the campground, surrounded by a couple of Volkswagen's with camping amenities.
Cultivating and maintaining a family atmosphere is extremely important to Rustic Knolls. People from Columbus and the surrounding area have been coming to the campground for the past 50 years. "They came and then they told their kids and their kids told their kids and so on," Frank says, "It's great to sit around the campfire and hear some of these stories." Rustic Knolls has many events throughout the season (from April-October) to help kids and families have a great time. Every weekend, you’ll find some event planned, like a Country Hoedown, hog roast potluck, or shark weekend to get people excited about their stay. "We’ve gotten a lot of repeat customers throughout the years, but also get the weekenders. Yet we want to make sure everyone feels welcome and has a great time," he says. Another great benefit of visiting Rustic Knolls is the band/DJ they have playing for guests.
Beyond the planned activities, there is plenty to do and setup for campers. There is a camp store, games such as corn hole, a fishing lake, a swimming lake, basketball court, and much more. It’s a place that has a lot of everything that makes family camping a memorable experience for everyone that participates. They also make sure people know that children, as much as adults, are at home. There is a strictly enforced speed limit of 2 mph within the campground because Rustic Knolls’ philosophy states: “Kids own the road” and are allowed to have fun in a safe environment where everyone can relax.”
The family atmosphere prevails with the employees, too. When The Buzz interviewed Frank, he was shoveling snow in preparation for a potluck over the weekend for the seasonal employees who are there in the summer. “I mean you spend every minute with these people during the summer, and then all of a sudden it just stops,” says Frank, “So we are bringing all 100 families out here over the weekend to enjoy each other’s company.”
And you can enjoy it, too. Stop by anytime from Mid-April to Mid-October, settle in, play some games, say hello to “Campmaster Frank,” and take in the beautiful, simple activity called camping.
Camping, Destinations, Ohio, Open Road, RV Lifestyle, RV Parks