Metroparks Toledo and a local family-owned business plan to acquire land and a campground to preserve natural areas and recreational opportunities near Oak Openings Preserve.

The campground, Big Sandy, will have a new owner next year, and will continue to operate under its current ownership through this season. Metroparks will purchase land adjacent to the campground.

Metroparks was awarded a $818,944 grant from the Clean Ohio Fund to acquire and permanently protect 113 acres of land in the Oak Openings Corridor, which has been a preservation priority for decades. The purchase will include more than 70 acres of high-quality habitat, some of it listed as globally imperiled.

The park system is teaming up with Superior Made RV Resort, which will acquire the campground portion of the property. In the future, Metroparks plans a trail connection from the campground to Oak Openings Preserve and public access to property adjacent to the campground, including a lake for fishing and boating.

The campground, on S. Berkey Southern Road (SR295) in Swanton, will open for the 2025 season under new ownership as Superior Made RV Resort, said Alicia Lawson, one of the owners. Superior Made will have 180 RV sties, she said, with 60 percent of the spaces for seasonal campers and 40 percent for transitional or nightly campers. The purchase is expected to be finalized by the end of this year.

“This is an opportunity for us to continue our important work of preserving natural areas in a corridor through the Oak Openings Region while partnering with an experienced local family to carry on a tradition of camping in this beautiful area of Lucas County,” said Dave Zenk, Metroparks executive director. “After meeting the Lawson family, learning about their background and seeing their plans, I know we picked the right partner.”

Superior Made RV Resort will be owned and operated by Nathan and Alicia Lawson and other family members, longtime RV enthusiasts who built and operated Time Away RV Resort in Talladega, Alabama. They currently operate Superior Made Spaces, which provides multi-purpose offices and suites in downtown Toledo.

Nathan Lawson is the former owner of an interstate trucking business that has been in operation for more than 30 years. His wife, Alicia, has more than 20 years experience in pharmaceutical sales and marketing. Together, they also have more than two decades of experience managing residential and commercial properties with their family.

Serving veterans is of particular interest to the family. Father and son Nathan and Terrance are retired U.S. Army veterans, while daughter, Shirley is retired from the U.S. Navy.

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Photo: The Lawson family