The current landowner of the old Country Charm Resort, near Lilac Resort, is hoping to reopen the resort and add a seasonal campground on the property.

Gus Hastmann purchased the 250 acre property about two years ago. He says he would like to reopen the ten cabin resort and add a 40 site seasonal campground on the property to make it more viable. He notes his vision for the campground is for it to be a quiet place where people can get back to nature.

“Basically what I wanted to do is create a space where back-to-earthers, back to nature, self-sufficiency people, can try out their ideas for the summer and even some tiny house people can maybe build their tiny house in an RV setting,” says Hastmann. “What I’m asking for is 40 spaces with probably a dual occupancy kind of thing where it’s not very many people but kind of creates its own community within the tiny house community and the back-to-earthers and people that want to shower with a solar shower, learn to forge on a railway spike.

Hastmann applied for a conditional use and many neighbours attended the public in opposition to the campground. The municipality says a number of official objections were filed. Concerns included noise, smoke from fire pits, fireworks, ATVs and guests wandering into neighbour’s backyards. In terms of the ATVs, Hastmann says he has no desire to allow them on his property noting he wants this to be a quiet place for people to get away and be one with nature. 

Reeve Art Bergmann says they will have to look at this carefully but adds they don’t like to discourage business either.

“I see it as a positive direction, this place went into receivership a few years ago and here’s an entrepreneur that has put out good money with the thought that I’m going to make this work. We’re going to be players in that somehow.”

Bergmann notes many of the concerns from neighbours could be addressed in the development agreement with Hastmann. Council has not yet made a decision on the matter.