MORGANTOWN — Robert Christopher Jr. said he will pay off the $1.3 million loan he procured to purchase Sand Springs Camp Ground in 18 months — if he’s not literally driven out of business first.
“I’ve had the park more than 13 years. I’ve almost got it, but at this rate I don’t know that I’m going to make it,” Christopher said.
Logging operations began near the park property this winter, quickly chewing up Sand Springs Road.
“We have people coming in here in million dollar motor homes from all over. People come in and go to the football games all the way from Texas since the Mountaineers joined that conference,” Christopher said. “Now we have people canceling on us because they’re reading on the Internet that the road is all but impassable. We have regular customers who won’t even drive their cars back here now.”
Christopher said the relatively small logging outfit that began working over the winter has been replaced by a much larger operation. He said he’s been told crews could take out as many as 22 loads a day using the rural, asphalt road.
When he asked if the company was concerned damage to the road could cause it to lose its DOH-issued bond — needed by certain industries to use state rights of way — he was told that wasn’t a concern.
“Logging companies don’t have to be bonded to use state roads. They don’t need hauling permits unless they are running over weight or size,” DOH Spokesman Brent Walker said, noting that logging is handled differently than oil and gas haulers, for which specific bonding amounts are set by the state.
According to Walker, there is no information as to whether the DOH plans to address Sand Springs Road.
“Governor Justice asked our County Maintenance Offices to provide our DOH Districts with a list of secondary roads to be looked at, so that list should be put out soon,” Walker said.
Christopher said he just hopes the road is addressed before he’s forced to make a difficult decision.
“This is an RV park. These people come into West Virginia from all over to be out here an enjoy what we have to offer,” he said. “We’re supposed to be showcasing West Virginia, and this is how we do it?”
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