Money Creek Haven celebrates 50 years
Wayne and Carla sit in front of their new office and store with flowers announcing the 50th anniversary of the campground. Photo by Audrey Alfson
In 1962, Bud Fitting and his brothers decided to turn about 70 acres of mostly farmland into a campground. They cleared out land for some primitive sites, tapped into a natural spring for a swimming pool, and Money Creek Haven Campground was born.
Fifty years later, the campground, located in Money Creek Township just a few miles north of Houston off Highway 76, has remained in the family. Bud’s son, Wayne, and his wife, Carla, bought the Haven in 2008 after managing it since 2003.
On Saturday, June 30 the campground will be celebrating its 50th anniversary beginning at 2 p.m. with a birthday cake and kids activities, followed by live music in the pavilion well into the evening.
With the continued passion of the Fitting family, Money Creek Haven now has over 200 spacious shaded lots, volleyball and horseshoe pits, a fishing pond stocked with bluegill and large mouth bass, cabin and room rentals and a full-service camp store. The huge spring-fed sand bottom swimming pool remains a popular attraction.
Above, Wayne and Carla Fitting pose with the entrance sign to the campground.
Photo by Audrey Alfson
While their growth over the past 50 years has been steady, the biggest challenge came in 2007 when a “little” rain became a torrent of water as the swollen Money Creek overflowed its banks and wiped out the campground’s office, store, pavilion, swimming pool and more than 50 campsites.
Miraculously, no one was injured even though the campground was filled to capacity with a motorcycle rally.
Nevertheless, the damage was substantial. For the remainder of the 2007 season and throughout the 2008 season, the Fittings moved their office to a small cabin on high ground, utilized the undamaged part of the campground on the hill, cleaned up and rebuilt.
In 2009 the campground opened for the season with a new pavilion, refurbished campsites and pool and a new office and store, complete with a game room and theme rooms for rent.
Wayne and Carla Fitting are proud of what they have accomplished. The well-maintained campground reflects their pride and the great deal of time they spend to make sure campers have a good experience. They begin taking reservations in February from their home office, and from mid-April through mid-October they host a steady stream of families and groups.
Each weekend they have a different theme that guides their activities for campers. Even when the camping season is done, they provide lodging for visiting hunters in the rooms attached to the office building.
With all they have to offer, it’s easy to see why the Money Creek Haven is a premier destination for locals and visitors to enjoy the great outdoors in comfort. Carla Fitting described the grounds as “peaceful, serene and beautiful.” Plus there’s the proximity to the Root River, the bike trail and the fact that they have virtually no mosquitoes.
The public is invited to the June 30 anniversary celebration, and there are still a few campsites available for those who want to stay for the weekend.
More information is at www.moneycreekhaven.com.
