Ottenburgh's Ramp Fishing Club & Southeastern ADK Rustic Camping Club.

That just might depend on where you go?

 

You might find a really nice new RV Park that at $62-$72 dollars a day, you will get about 16 days, depending on if there is a holiday in your planed dates.

Now don't get me wrong you will love what they have for you, as everything is top notch. This is the level that many campers today demand.

 

I grew up camping at a cottage on the lake with no electricity, the only running water was in the kitchen where the hand pump was. We did have a small wood stove, and there was an old gas stove in the kitchen. So we weren't roughing it my any means when compared to going out in the woods with a tent. But then again there wasn't any modern plumbing either.

 

So I don't come from the RVing background. But now that I am older, and I require electricity for my medical device (a CPAP for Sleep Apnea) that allows me to breath properly when I sleep. I now need such things when I go camping.

 

Ok now back to my Fishing Club, with Camping options.  I have a private boat launch on Southern Lake Champlain, that brings you out west of Maple Bend Island, between Buoys 18 & 22.  In addition to this small parcel on the waterfront, there is a neighboring parcel with about 7/10ths mile of road frontage on Ottenburgh Rd (or do I double that since my property is on both sides of the road?), in Clemons, NY 12819, and about 1/2 mile of frontage on Route 22, also known as the Lakes to Locks Passage, and NY Bike Route 9, that is my western border. This property is over 100 Acres. It has a long history of Fishing and Camping, including being permitted as a Manufactured home park, and campground in the past. There are about 35 sites on the property, that are in varying degrees of need. Some minor, and some major. There are three drilled wells, and a number of septics, some as recent as the late 1990s. Some in need of immediate replacement.

 

I am in the process of trying to nail down estimates for what it will actually take to get the whole place up to code.

 

What $1000.00 will get you is access to the property on a no obligation trial membership into the "Ottenburgh's Ramp Fishing Club" Member-Run Fishing Club, with camping options.

 

When you pay the $1000.00, this will be a security deposit, that is fully refundable. It is asked that you agree to certain terms and conditions. But they are pretty basic. You will abide by the rules and regulations that the club puts out for it's members, and in the event that you decide to terminate your trial membership, that you understand that the deposit may be paid to you in monthly payments of no less than $100, after a waiting period, of possibly as long as 36-48 months. This time period is set so that whether or not the member run clubs are able to make a go of things, that the owner should be done his veterans administration education program, and will be able to pay you back out of his personal funds. (after all it is good to have a back up plan). Of course it is anticipated that the property will be up and running and able to cover its own expenses prior to that time.

 

In addition to this initial deposit, the club will be coming up with their own annual or monthly fee, based on the memberships needs and desires. This could be as basic as full access to the private boat launch, storage of one boat, with trailer, and a space available tent site, or access to the boat launch for duck season, up to  something much fancier that includes dockage, a seasonal campsite, multiple boats, etc. The annual or monthly fee is primarily going to cover taxes, insurance, and other direct expenses of the property, such as utilities. Above that there may be monies that are designed to buy materials that will be used to improve the property.

 

As the property is improved, club members will have increased opportunities to use the improved areas. The membership will also be able to rent out sites, or what have you, in order to bring in more revenue, to once again buy more materials, to improve more sites, and so on.

 

The membership, or a group of members that volunteer to be on the improvements committee, will work on a plan that discusses what improvements should be done when, and how. This plan will also contain incentives, and profit sharing for meeting certain goals and objectives. Although the plan is submitted to the owner of the property, for review and approval, the owner is also a member, and although he has some say in the proposal, and approval of the proposal, he does not tell the membership what they have to do, he simply works with the membership to structure fair rewards for the membership, as well as covering the basic expenses of the property. (While continuing to pay the mortgage on the property without the assistance of the member-run club(s).

 

For $1000.00 today, ok actually this month. You just might be able to receive quite a bit.

 

If you apply for acceptance for membership in one of our member-run Clubs, and send in a deposit of $1000.00 you will be considered for membership in the club, but if certain goals are met by the end of the month, you may become part of our ADK Investment committee. You do not have to become part of this committee if you do not desire to. There will be plenty of other things for you to become part of, should your interests lie elsewhere.

 

But the whole point of this is that you will have a chance to participate in a plan that may reward you for helping make progress with the property, in addition to being able to responsiblily enjoy this wonderful property in the Southeastern corner of the Adirondacks.

 

Depending on your interests, skills, and desire to invest in the future, there will be other opportunities as we move forward.

 

The terms of the future profit sharing possibilities are yet to be worked out, but it is expected that there will be a predetermined profit sharing plan, allowing the club(s) to recoup any direct investment that they make for materials, or on select specilal projects, as well as receiving a share of future profits for three years. After this time potential for profit sharing will be reviewed on an annual basis.

 

This process will allow members, on an individual basis, or as part of a group, to submit bids on various projects that need to be done on the property. The bid request form will outline the project details, at a minimum, material costs, labor costs(if applicable), the desired terms of the bid. [applicants may request a security deposit credit for materials, as well as a certain amount of future profit sharing(fixed amount, based on labor costs or percentage).  requests could ask for reimbursement for materials, or depending on the current club budget, prepayment for materials and a request for future credit as deposit based on anticipated labor needed, or a future minimim amount of profit sharing. or what have you?]

 

As the club membership is reviewing and approving any projects, prior to start of any work, we as a club should be clear on what is expected, and what we should receive, beyond the satisfaction of improving the property for our mutual use in a safe, legal, and responsible manner.  At the risk of repeating myself, the owner is offering us the use of this wonderful property, for the cost of taxes, etc. with a chance to get much more out of the property, than I believe that you will get elsewhere. Where else will you get a chance to benefit from the future of a property, without a major investment?

 

This Offer is subject to certain conditions and goals.

 

Contact us for more information.

 

A more careful review of the property, by walking the property, and reviewing various records, that there area about 35 sites, in various stages of need. While some sites only need some minor repairs, or upgrades, other sites will need some major upgrades to return to full hook up sites ready for customers.

 

Since the history of the property is mainly permenent mobile home sites, the plan is to renovate things to be used year round. Whether they end up being used by Mobile homes, Park Models, Big Rig RVs, Adirondack Cabins, or tents.

 

I am looking at options to obtain the estimates that I need to move forward, whether I end up working with individuals, that help me complete the renovations, an in turn are able to share in some future profit sharing, after recouping their investment or whether I obtain financing to get things done, and am on my own.

I may end up having a mix of the two.

 

My next opportunity to show the property, by appointment is on June 7th.

 

It was nice to see some progress with the lawns in Late may.

 

If you have an idea, whether it involves two sites, one for your use, and the other for the club to use, and you to receive some sort of profit sharing for your investment to get thest sites up to code, or if you have larger or smaller ideas, contact me today!!!

 

Need estimates for upgrades, material and labor. Everything from dock pylons, floating docks, new electrical services, septic systems, or what have you.

 

If you have any interest in being part of a community garden project, now is the time to speak up.

Yeah, I met with a builder, and we are working on plans to repair some existing items, as well as to get some things cleaned up around here!! There are many details to work out. But this in itself is progress.

 

Our former Camping operations are closed to the public. However people that wish to join one or both of the Member-run Clubs are encouraged to contact me.

 

Southeastern ADK Rustic Camping Club & Ottenburgh's Ramp Fishing Club. (basically a non-profit basis with profit sharing potential).

 

There is still a limited amount of onsite seasonal housing available for members to use as they enjoy the wonderful property, and yes, do some work to make things better for the future.

 

I still need to find out more about starting a tree farm at the property, as well as possibly an organic garden. Farm use is protected, and being able to see some of the property returned to farm usage would be great.

 

The property has a long history of camping and fishing.

 

The country/camp store has been closed since about 12/2003. This building will be evaluated to see if it worth renovating, or replacing.

 

I have seen some wonderful things online about tiny houses, and Straw Bale construction. These both fit into the desired plan of responsible ECO friendly development and usage.

 

I welcome help in planning for the future. As I move forward I am looking into starting a recreation investment club of sorts. If you have any ideas feel free to contact me at ADKinvestments@aol.com (not associated with any real Adirondack Investment company, just a small group of people that are willing to share ideas for this wonderful Southeastern ADK property overlooking Southern Lake Champlain). The objective is to have fun, while enjoying what Mother Nature has provided us. If we actually are able to share in some profits from the properties future use. Even better. 

 

If I were to do it alone, it might take forever. Together many hands, make light work.

 

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SouthernLakeChamplain/

 

It is my intention to use this group to let people know what's going on at my Awesome Diamond in the Rough.

 

It will also let members network about things at the property, or what have you.

As I write this Blog entry, I am looking forward to being at the property this Friday, November 14th, and possibly throughout the weekend.

 

I am taking appointments to meet with people that would like to Camp, Fish, Hunt, or otherwise become involved with my Diamond in the Rough.

 

Although admittedly I have not made much progress lately with the property, I am working to change that, so that 2009 will be a great year!!!!

 

Bids are being accepted for the following project:

complete insulation, installation of toilet/sink/showers into small bathhouse building. (two doors on front). This bathhouse has been neglected for awhile, as the few campers that were at the property used the facilities in their full hook up sites, or the one 1/2 bath in the garage/camp store building. [There are now two 1/2 bath stalls in the garage building].

 

I believe that most of the materials for the job are already onsite.

 

***Although there are other projects that need to be completed, having these bathrooms up and running is one of the most important!!!

 

Right after that will be insulated pumphouses, for the wells, so that all three wells on the property are able to be used for campers/residents, etc.

 

** Feel free to ask about other projects that need to be completed.