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Park-inspired camping
The 200-acre property offers everything the “primitive” camper could want. Camping Paradise also offers cabin and two-bedroom apartment rentals.
Rance Burger
Camping Paradise began as a dream for Kenny Hutchens. The man with 32 years experience as a Lake-area businessman and developer didn’t need blueprints to bring his vision to reality when he set out to create a place where people from all walks of life could enjoy nature.
“It was just something that I have always kind of wanted to do and thought it would be fun.
Everybody said, ‘boy, you must have done a lot of camping to build it like this,’ and I’ve never done any camping in my life,” Hutchens joked “I was raised and born with common sense and that's what I use to do all of my work."
The commonsense approach led to the creation of a park that offers a little something for everyone in the family.
Five things you need to know about Camping Paradise:
1. It’s than the name implies
Hutchens took his plan for a campground to the next level with a community-park-inspired concept. You don't have to be an overnight guest to enjoy the restaurant, trails, nine-hole disc-frisbee golf course or the fabulous scenery.
“It’s not just a campground. It’s a total community park that the public can come out and enjoy. They can go horseback riding, rent golf carts, eat, use the pool or come out for a picnic," Hutchens explains.
The developer isn’t done making additions to Camping Paradise as long as no one calls the property his retirement project.
“This is just my fun. I never will retire,” Hutchens said.
2. Camping for all types
The 200-acre property offers everything the “primitive” camper could want. Camping Paradise also offers cabin and two-bedroom apartment rentals. Hutchens built all of the cabins himself after he bought the property in 2004.
“There was one old house that sat up where the office is that was lying in a clump. It was probably over 100 years old and just fell down,” Hutchens said.
The property includes electricity and water hook-ups for RVs, shower facilities and fire pits.
3. Weddings/Reunions/Events
A wedding chapel, reception hall and outdoor amphitheater are all part of the package. Kenny and Nancy designed the facilities with the simple idea of offering, “just about anything you may need for your most special day.”
The banquet hall includes a stage, a dance floor and a screened-in patio. Camping Paradise already has several bluegrass and gospel concerts planned at the outdoor amphitheater.
4. Horseback riding
Campers can bring their own horses or use one from the stable. A 60-acre section of the 200-acre park has been set aside for trails that weave through the timber and roll gently through the Ozark hills.
5. Restaurant
Like all of the other buildings on site, Kenny Hutchens built the restaurant at Camping Paradise himself. He designed the restaurant to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner in smoking and nonsmoking sections kept completely separate. Hutchens put most of his effort into constructing the kitchens.
“I do everything on my own, my own: electrical, my own plumbing, everything,” Hutchens explained.
The menu inside also features some Kenny Hutchens originals such as hand-breaded catfish made with his secret recipe, signature three-cheese potatoes, deep friend pickles and Angus steaks.
