There is a campground on the Georgia-Florida state line that takes us back in time to the days of Roy Rogers and the rugged individualism of the old west. In fact, the owner of Country Oaks, Lonnie Gay, is a bit of a throwback to those days when much of America romanticized the Cowboy Way. Lonnie and his family carved out the 18 acres for the campsite in nearly 30 years ago and it remains a family-run business. Lonnie, in his spare time, runs with a wagon train outfit that takes local trips and often ends up at his nearby farm for Bar-B-Q and entertainment around the campfire. He leads an American pioneer life and shares it with the rest of us through neighborly love at Country Oaks.
Campsites are nestled in among old oak and palmetto trees and guests can fish at a fully-stocked lake. Not far from the lake is the barn where Lonnie keeps his wagon train mules Ruby and Rusty. We didn’t see Ruby and Rusty or Lonnie during our recent trip because Lonnie had taken the mules to Tennessee to get them shod. He said that his farrier in Tennessee is the only one who can do the job right so the shoes will stay on during wagon train trips. Many people don’t know it, but there still are folks who do wagon trains because they enjoy the rugged camping life. There are also others, who do wagon trains in their modern campers as families take trips together across the country in a more comfortable manner.
Throughout Country Oaks are reminders of the past. There are old horse-drawn wagons, plows, and other farm implements. Worn saddles and relics from the past give the wrap-around porch of the main lodge an old West feel. Rocking chairs invite a relaxing place to sit and enjoy the serene country view of the trees adorned with Spanish moss. The atmosphere is certainly recalling America’s kind hospitality, yet no nonsense era. A sign near the front entrance of the lodge reads: Warning You are entering a RED NECK AREA You may encounter American Flags, Armed Citizens, The Lord’s Prayer & Country Music Proceed at your own risk. Don’t let the sign scare you. The folks running the campground are as down-home and friendly as your best friends from high school. It seems like you have known them all your life.
The inside of the lodge is like a museum for Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. There are pictures on the walls of the two heroes of the big screen. There are posters, buttons and pictures from the celebration of Roy and Dale’s glory days. There are old farm tools and a heat stove to take off the chill in the cool mornings. The American experience is fully alive at Country Oaks. Galatians 5:13 says, “For brethren, you have been called unto liberty; only do not use liberty for an opportunity to the flesh. Rather, serve one another through love.” With all the division in our nation these days, it’s refreshing to see there are places and people who cherish God’s gift of freedom and apply that liberty to the sincere service of others.
