Metroparks and Local Business Team Up to Preserve Natural Beauty in Oak Openings

Exciting news for nature lovers in Toledo! Metroparks Toledo is partnering with a local family-owned business, Superior Made RV Resort, to protect and enhance a stunning campground and nature preserve near Oak Openings.

Thanks to an $818,944 grant from the Clean Ohio Fund, Metroparks will acquire and safeguard 113 acres of land in the Oak Openings Corridor. This area has long been a priority for conservation due to its unique and rare habitats.

As part of the partnership, Superior Made RV Resort will take over the campground portion of the property. Known as Big Sandy, the campground is situated on S. Berkey Southern Road in Swanton and will be rebranded as Superior Made RV Resort for the 2025 season. Plans are for the campground to feature 180 RV sites, with 60% dedicated to seasonal campers and 40% available for nightly or transitional campers.

Exciting upgrades are in store for Big Sandy. The Lawson family, owners of Superior Made, plan to refurbish the campsites and add awesome new amenities. Look forward to a swimming pool, pickleball and volleyball courts, two new bathhouses, and kayak access on the lake. These improvements will start rolling out in 2026.

Metroparks Toledo also has big plans to connect the campground to Oak Openings Preserve through new trails. There will be public access to adjacent property, including a picturesque lake perfect for fishing and boating.

Dave Zenk, Metroparks executive director, emphasized the value of this collaboration, saying it's a fantastic opportunity to preserve the unique natural areas of the Oak Openings Region while enhancing the camping experience through a local family’s expertise.

For those unfamiliar, Oak Openings is a critically important natural area that supports over 100 state-listed rare plant and animal species. The region harbors one-third of all Ohio’s rare plants and animals, making it a vital conservation priority.

Metroparks Toledo's efforts in the Oak Openings Region include restoring hundreds of acres of prairies and savannas and removing invasive plant species. Since 2002, Metroparks has added 2,766 acres of new parkland in the area, creating and enhancing habitats for wildlife.

In recent years, notable projects include the planting of 30,000 trees in 2018 to restore floodplains and former wetland areas, further supporting local biodiversity and the health of surrounding water bodies.

The conservation and restoration work led by Metroparks Toledo is backed by several prestigious funding sources, including the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the Ohio EPA, ensuring the longevity and health of this precious natural resource.

In the end, this unique partnership between Metroparks Toledo and the Lawson family promises to enrich the camping experience while preserving the natural beauty of Oak Openings for generations to come.