BUCYRUS, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—A longtime campground just west of town is sporting a brand-new look just in time to kick off another busy summer season.
Sunset Springs Outdoor Resort, 3933 Hensing Road, has undergone a major transformation since it was purchased in 2022 by Jeff Rupp and Craig Nye. Fifty acres of campsites, cabins, and plenty of new attractions for campers – and the public.
“We’ve pretty much renovated the exterior of the entire campground,” said Rupp, who has an extensive background in contracting and landscape design. “We’ve invested a lot of time and a lot of money in the last three years.”
Their goal? To create “a family experience you’ll remember for a lifetime.”
From pitching a tent along the creek to parking in spacious RV sites or booking luxury log cabins, Sunset Springs Outdoor Resort offers camping options for any visitor as well as swimming, fishing, kayaking, ziplining, and other fun amenities, he said.
The cabins – available in four different models – have been remodeled, Rupp said, and the number of RV sites has increased from 90 to 125. The resort also features shaded lots equipped with new electric, water, septic, and hookups, he said.
In 2023, Buckeye Beach made its debut, followed a year later by an inflatable water attraction and obstacle course called the Aqua Park, Rupp said. Also new to the beach area is a convenient ice cream parlor and food stand, the Sandbox.
The beach and concession stand are also open to the public from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, Rupp said. “We purposely put in the Aqua Park and the Sandbox to attract families, especially younger families.”
The focal point of Sunset Springs, however, is a private seven-acre lake, which at one time was a quarry dating to the 1940’s, Rupp said. The Broken Sword Creek also provides a picturesque view for RVers and guests staying cabin getaways, he said.
Rupp, who lives in Delaware, and Nye, who’s in Grove City, go way back. They’re friends from Fostoria who first met in kindergarten. Although they moved and married, the duo teamed up again in 2016 to start Woodland Environment in Columbus.
They decided to sell that company in 2020, Rupp said, and began scouting for other business opportunities in the area. “We were looking for something we could do outdoors and stumbled upon Sunset Springs, and it seemed like a great opportunity.”
Now the owners are poised to launch another lodging option for visitors this year – tiny houses. Three 24-by-8 feet “Rover Tiny Homes” along the creek will soon be available to rent, Rupp said, providing a simple yet unique getaway experience.
“Being a landscape guy, the exterior is kind of our main focus going forward, make the curb appeal the best it can be. It keeps us connected to the outdoors and we get to make improvements on a piece of property we think is pretty special.”