Cole Vernon and his father Craig Vernon, who is co-owner of White River AG Products and Northern Clearing, are developing plans to build a campground geared towards off road vehicle enthusiasts in the town of Kelly.
How much it would cost, how many spots it would have and other details are still being worked out, but the father-son duo have what they think is the perfect spot for the campground picked out on Yderstad Road at White River AG. It would be owned by the company that created the Concert in the Corn, and would compliment it.
“My dad picked it out. He thought it would be a nice spot because you have easy access to trails for ATVs,” Cole Vernon said.
This would not be their first effort at building a campground. The two create temporary sites for people to stay at overnight during the Concert in the Corn, which every summer draws big-name country stars and local musicians and thousands of spectators to a stage carved out of White River AG’s fields.
“Basically building those, we learned a lot, just kind of about campgrounds. We’ve all traveled a lot and have camped all over the country, so we’re familiar with those. Then my dad saw that spot and thought, ‘This would be a beautiful spot for a campground,’” Cole Vernon said of the roughly 5-acre plot they’re planning.
While most campgrounds in the Bay Area are near the water, the Vernons think one geared toward ATV enthusiasts will fill a niche. Cole Vernon said they plan several campsites large enough to accommodate a camper and an ATV.
“The number of spots isn’t finalized because we have other plans we have to work through,” he said.
Many of Vernon’s colleagues are ATV enthusiasts and they are eager for it to open.
“I pitched it to them, and they all said it’s a perfect spot. It will be more reasonably priced because it’s not on the lake,” he said.
White River AG has been a great business to work with, as far as Kelly Chairman Matt Erickson is concerned. Because plans haven’t been finalized yet, he said it’s too early to say anything about the campground, but he did say it would work well with the long-term development plans for the town.
“It will probably be a great thing, but we just don’t know enough at this point. The town hasn’t had any issues with them,” Erickson said.
Bayfield County Administrator Mark Abeles-Allison said another campground would augment those already available in the Bay Area.
“There are numerous campgrounds in the county. You see them everywhere, be it Ashland or Washburn. They bring people to the community and certainly help the economy,” he said. “Both residents as well as visitors enjoy them.”
Formed in early 2011 near the shores of Lake Superior, White River AG Products began producing small grains and related products on 800 acres in Mason, according to its website. Since its inception, White River AG Products operations have grown to roughly 2,500 acres with fields of corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, barley, millet and more.
