April 19, 2025
Gordy advised information shops about his park, Warthen RV Park, ‘We wish 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 trying 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 accordance to Atlanta Journal-Structure, Nationwide Park Week Honors over 400 totally different nationwide parks in america, however Warthen RV Park will function 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 mostly common throughout the nation, it’s not an area that each one Black individuals have felt welcome in. Based on the Nationwide Park Service, racially exclusionary practices positioned limitations on outside recreation prior to now 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 determine as Black — a disparity probably 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 residence. Little did he know that it will develop right into a secure haven for Black outside life sooner or later.
“I believed what an important alternative to seize some land that may join proper to my mother’s land and type of the place my granddad lives and my uncle lives,” Gordy stated, “Form of, increasing our footprint in town.”
Gordy continued to clarify 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 acquired the wheels spinning.”
He launched into the event journey along with his spouse, Amber.
“Identical to 4 years in the past, we began closely specializing in the leisure facet of it. That was one other eye-opening second. , it’s a way of life,” Gordy recalled.
“What was much more stunning is how many people, , the ‘melanated’ neighborhood participate in it and discover peace and refuge in doing it. That was undoubtedly 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 creating leisure parks like this accessible for everybody.
Gordy expressed, “Research are exhibiting, individuals are simply burned out and going via lots, and if we will be that place to allow them to come and be themselves, loosen up with different like-minded people within the RV neighborhood, that’s what it’s all about,” Gordy stated. “We wish you to depart higher than you got here.”
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