A Comfortable, Spacious Alternative To Camping That Allows People Time To Relax And Enjoy Their Vacation
When people think of RV's one of the first words that comes to mind is “mobile.” They think of traveling the country, go, go, go. For some that can be a dream come true. For others, that may be three go's too many. And for those travelers, Woodland Park, Inc. has the solution: The Timber Ridge, a “home away from home.”
At 400 square feet, the RV is considered a mobile home by the US's HUD standards. Customers have called them mini homes. While they're not for permanent living, the Timber Ridge is a comfortable, spacious alternative to camping that allows people time to relax and enjoy their vacation.
Appealing to both older couples and young families, the Timber Ridge allows people the chance to escape the big city life and experience outdoor living, something that everyone needs, explains Office Manager Nancy Kauffman.
“Some men and women that are working constantly don't have the energy or time to pack a camper every other weekend,” she continued. “With our models, you get there and the 'house' is move-in ready. You can just arrive and enjoy the weekend. You don't have to spend two days packing and unpacking.”
In the spirit of making the Timber Ridge a second home for vacationers, Woodland Park, Inc. offers customization to their customers and clients. Their models have standard floor plans, but “we can't tell you the last time we've built that,” said Kauffman, who said people often pick their own layout, style and décor. No two Timber Ridges are the same.
“If you want the same old thing, you're probably not coming to our company,” she said. “If you want to pick your floor color, what color the wall board is, what style the cabinets are... These are the kind of people that come to us. It feels like it's theirs. It's like their home.”
And that, said Kauffman, is what the company is built on. A small company of 50 people, there are three engineers that create people's custom units and a big group of people that help design the units. That is the company's niche – their willingness to customize. They're willing to do almost anything within reason. So while Woodland Park, Inc. may produce less units than a larger company, they gain customers through their customer service and satisfaction.
“One lady wanted a broom closet with two doors,” recalled Kauffman, trying to think of some of the more unique requests the company has received. “Why? You think, really? But if that's what she wants and we can fit it in, we'll do it! I think somebody else wanted a washing machine in a different area and that was a huge priority. Little things like that – it's important to them to have it the way they want. And it's important to us to get them those things.”
Woodland Park, Inc. was founded by Ernie and Edna Yoder in 1983. The married couple both came from large, traditional Amish families. Their “strong faith and vision” was what led them to their success in business.
While the couple did not have a passion for camping, backpacking or RV'ing specifically, Ernie had worked for Jayco Corp. in the past, another well-known RV manufacturer. Along the way, he decided to create his own company, Woodland Park, Inc., when he realized there was a lack of larger RV's in the market in the 80s. It was “a little niche he wanted to fill,” said Kauffman.
The company started with seven initial employees, including Kauffman, and has continued to steadily grow throughout the years. “It's a small family-owned business and you feel that in the management,” she said. “I've never found a reason to leave. We're like a family. We have things to work through, but we feel we are being treated fairly. We treat the dealers fairly. We want to have partnerships with people.”
When Kauffman and other employees think of RV'ing, they think of vacations, of stopping at different grounds each night. The Timber Ridge provides a unique RV experience, a slower-paced vacation, one with less packing and more relaxation, one with full functioning bathrooms and kitchens. The comfort allows families to start relaxing “from day one,” she said. “And that's what appeals to people. Family time and spending time with family and relaxation is important for everybody. You need that down time. This is just another option to allow people that experience. It's that feeling of a home away from home, a stress-free vacation. It encourages you to want to camp. You can just unwind and enjoy the whole weekend.”
Olivia Richman
A graduate of East Connecticut State University in Journalism, Olivia has written for Stonebridge Press & Antiques Marketplace among others. She enjoys writing, running and video games.
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Woodland Park, Inc., offering the finest in park model living with quality lines of park model homes designed exclusively for destination camping. Whether you’re looking for a weekend retreat or a seasonal vacation home.