What Will Happen To The Land?
BERKELEY – Image 28 acres of tall trees, foot trails, and untouched nature.
Now imagine 200 homes there.
That was something that no Berkeley resident would have wanted, least of which Debra Fleming, the owner of Cedar Creek Campground. In her retirement, she is selling the property to the county to be preserved as open space rather than let it be purchased by a developer.
The campground is a throwback to a simpler way of life. Heading south on Route 9, it’s hard to realize just how expansive it is from the road. Once you enter the property, you see the main office/general store, next to a swimming pool and other amenities. Roads with 5 mph limits trickle past picnic tables and grills. One section is reserved for tents. One is for campers. Yet another is for cozy cabins.
The campground was started more than 50 years ago by Debra’s first husband, Arthur, and some friends. They bought out the business partners and Arthur died in the 1970s. Over the years, amenities were added, as well as adjacent parcels of land. This is wrapping up now in the last season for business.
“The reason I stayed on so long was that I love people,” she said. “You got to meet people from every walk of life.”
At the end of August, there was a family who came to stay in order to say goodbye, she said. They brought a new baby so that four generations of this family had stayed at the campground.
Visitors could rent cabins during their stay. (Photo by Chris Lundy)
“Those are the things that make me feel like I’ve done good,” she said.
When she was thinking about retirement, two other people approached her about buying the business and continuing it as a campground. Once they found out how much work it is year-round, they stepped back.
“It’s running a town and it’s a 200-unit hotel with no roof,” she said.
While the trees are the most prominent feature, there is an infrastructure that must be maintained – electric and septic. Even though some keep it simple with tents, they still need services. Decades ago, camping vehicles were more rudimentary. Now there are more modern campers that are like small houses.
There are plenty of picnic areas and grills throughout the site. (Photo by Chris Lundy)
“We’re going to leave a big hole for opportunities to camp in Ocean County,” she lamented. Customers are happy for her retirement, but sad that they are losing someplace they love to go.
“Many developers came here with their checkbooks,” she said. One plan was for 190 units.
“I decided I did not want to destroy my town,” she said. “I grew up here all my life.”
She kept some of the holdings and will still be living locally.
Campers enjoyed the last weeks of the campground being open. (Photo by Chris Lundy)
“I’ve loved the people and I love my town. I think Ocean County is one of the nicest places to live,” she said.
The property sold to the county is Block 1014, Lots 2.01, 3, 4, & 6; Block 781, Lots 15-29 (odd only), Lots 30-48; Block 782, Lots 1, 1.01 – 15, 17-29 (odd only) and 31-34 (encompassing the campground); as well as Block 821 Lot 1 (Cedar Plaza).
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