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2009-11-21

2009-11-18

2009-11-05

Agriculture

Lifestyles

Monday, June 29, 2009 11:53 AM

Photo by Elliot J. Sutherland/The Ottawa Herald

Larry and Betty Shaffer have owned and operated Homewood RV Park & Campground since 1992. Betty Shaffer said meeting people is the greatest perk of all.

It’s all about the (RV) park perks

By JENALEA MYERS, Herald Staff Writer

HOMEWOOD — Betty Shaffer’s job lets her meet people from all over the world.

From Australia and New Zealand to Germany, England and faraway states, all kinds of people stop by the RV park and campground she and her husband own at 2161 Idaho Road near Homewood.

“It’s wonderful getting to meet people,” Shaffer said. “That’s the best perk of all.”

Shaffer and her husband, Larry, purchased land and built Homewood RV Park and Campground, located between Ottawa and Williamsburg, 17 years ago. Since then, the couple has worked to keep the park ready for those traveling through the area looking for a place to hook up their RVs.

“We’re just a mom-and-pop RV park,” Betty Shaffer said. “We don’t want to be a resort.”

Most of the park’s visitors stay a night or two before traveling on to their next destination, she said. Others may stay a week, a month or longer.

“It’s really quiet and peaceful around here, and you can’t beat the scenery,” Shaffer said.

When the Shaffers, lifelong Franklin County residents, purchased the land near Homewood, they first had looked into purchasing land in surrounding states.

“The scenery is what did it for us,” Betty Shaffer said of the park’s location.

While the warmer months attract more travelers, the park does experience a few winter ones.

“We’re rarely full and rarely empty,” Shaffer said.

Historical sites in Ottawa attract some of the camp’s visitors, while many travel to Williamsburg to Guy & Mae’s Tavern, a local barbecue restaurant. The restaurant recently was named one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas Cuisine in a statewide poll.

“Guy & Mae’s ribs are a big attraction,” Shaffer said.

And while the park and campground serves new customers every year, Shaffer said there are travelers who the couple can expect to see each year.

“We’re on a first-name basis with some of them,” she said.

Jenalea Myers can be e-mailed at jmyers@ottawaherald.com.

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Enjoy the convenience of home delivery of The Ottawa Herald.

It’s all about the (RV) park perks

By JENALEA MYERS, Herald Staff Writer

E-mail this story to a friend | Print this article | Enjoy the convenience of home delivery of The Ottawa Herald.

E-mail this story to a friend | Print this article |
Enjoy the convenience of home delivery of The Ottawa Herald.