by Mary Spiller
April 19, 2025
Gordy instructed information shops about his park, Warthen RV Park, ‘We would like you to depart higher than you got here.’
Proprietor of Warthen RV Park in Washington County Georgia, Josh Gordy, opened up about what it was prefer to create an outside haven for Black campers seeking to join with the land. Nationwide Park Week started on April 19, and it features a day of free admission to Gordy’s Park. Gordy is a former NFL participant who was a part of the SuperBowl XLV champions, the Inexperienced Bay Packers.
In response to Atlanta Journal-Structure, Nationwide Park Week Honors over 400 completely different nationwide parks in america, however Warthen RV Park will characteristic curated playlists to encourage patrons to go on pure walks and different enjoyable challenges to benefit from the untouched great thing about the land.
Gordy’s Park is particular particularly for African Individuals, as whereas leisure tenting is usually in style throughout the nation, it’s not an area that each one Black folks have felt welcome in. In response to the Nationwide Park Service, racially exclusionary practices positioned limitations on out of doors recreation previously by pores and skin shade.
The issue has persevered, sparking Gordy to do one thing about it.
As reported by CRR Hospitality, a survey performed in 2024 revealed that at an RV resort and campground administration firm, solely 6% of people that camp establish as Black — a disparity seemingly stemming from socioeconomic standing and cultural attitudes which have made tenting appear unavailable to the Black neighborhood.
Josh Gordy was struck with inspiration for his RV campground endeavor when he was working as an actual property investor and observed a 27-acre plot of lovely land on the market close to his childhood dwelling. Little did he know that it could develop right into a secure haven for Black out of doors life sooner or later.
“I assumed what an incredible alternative to seize some land that will join proper to my mother’s land and form of the place my granddad lives and my uncle lives,” Gordy mentioned, “Form of, increasing our footprint in town.”
Gordy continued to elucidate how shopping for a plot of land moved from utilizing the house as an RV park to a leisure park.“There was a social Fb group, ‘African Individuals who RV and camp. That simply bought the wheels spinning.”
He launched into the event journey along with his spouse, Amber.
“Similar to 4 years in the past, we began closely specializing in the leisure aspect of it. That was one other eye-opening second. You understand, it’s a way of life,” Gordy recalled.
“What was much more stunning is how many people, you recognize, the ‘melanated’ neighborhood participate in it and discover peace and refuge in doing it. That was positively thrilling and sparked one other degree of ardour to make the park particular.”
Gordy continued to speak concerning the calming results of nature on anybody, highlighting the significance of constructing leisure parks like this accessible for everybody.
Gordy expressed, “Research are displaying, individuals are simply burned out and going by loads, and if we might be that place to allow them to come and be themselves, chill out with different like-minded people within the RV neighborhood, that’s what it’s all about,” Gordy mentioned. “We would like you to depart higher than you got here.”
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