How It All Came About
Mark and Karla Lemoine decided to take a big leap into an investment they believed would change their lives for the better. It all started when Mark told his wife, Karla, that he would be leaving his job – which paid $200,000 a year – to buy a campground.
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With the promise of adventure, Karla, a stay-at-home mom, agreed they should go for it. The couple, who have four kids together, took on the opportunity to become first-time business owners.
Finding a Campground
After about six months, the couple found a Kampgrounds of America franchised campground for sale in Benton Harbor, Michigan. They immediately went for it.
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They put their house on the market, sold off some of their assets, and obtained bank loans to buy the campground. However, this was just the beginning. They also had to get some renovations done, which cost over $1.5 million, and spent another $700,000 on yearly upkeep.
Business Takes a Toll on the Family
After selling their house, they moved to a small apartment above the campground’s general store. According to the couple, their children had a difficult time adjusting, but the parents believed it was for the best.
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In 2021, the children finally moved out of the dwelling, and the couple moved into a 34-foot RV. This made it easy for the family to spend more time on their business and take vacations around the country.
Business Starts Booming
As the business grew bigger and its annual revenue significantly increased, the couple took out a $300,000 mortgage and added five deluxe cabins within the campground.
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The campground is now worth a whopping $6 million, making it a worthy investment for the couple. The campgrounds brought in an estimated $1 million in 2021, which was almost $150,000 more than the previous year’s camping season.
A Worthy Retirement Plan
According to Mark and Karla, the campground has not exactly made them rich, but it is better than being employees.
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They consider the campground a retirement plan and will continue to work on building their company and increasing revenue. The Lemoines took their destiny into their hands and it has been rewarding for them ever since.