History

Fred and Joyce Cannarile owned Antrim 131 RV Campground and catered to the retired RV-owners community for 29 years. They purchased the business in September of 1987 and lived on the property. Many of their customers were friends who stayed for extended periods and enjoyed the couples company as well as the camping. Joyce passed away in 2016, and when Fred died two years later, the fate of the campground property was left in the hands of their daughter, Kristine Rehling. 

“They loved that place,” Rehling said of the Cannariles.  “There were campers who stayed for weeks, even months, at a time. But their declining health as they aged made it difficult for Fred and Joyce to continue operating it, so they closed the campground in 2016.”

Rehling, a southern Michigan resident, wasn’t able to operate the campground from where she lived, and put the place on the market.

 Doug and Stacey Hicks both grew up in the Kalkaska and South Boardman areas, where Doug owned and operated Doug’s Garage and Off-Road Center, a business he eventually sold to an employee.  Now living in their dream home just north of Mancelona, the Hicks were traveling by the campground and noticed it was for sale.  Avid campers themselves, they looked into buying it.

“We have lived in Northern Michigan for most of our lives, and always noticed the campground as we were driving through,” Doug said.  “It always seemed to do a good business so we decided to give it a shot.”

The sale closed in April of 2020, and the Hicks renamed it Antrim Meadows Campground.  The new owners have made improvements to the site, but tried to keep alive the legacy that the Cannarile’s started.

“Some of the décor includes things we found in the pole barn after we purchased it, like an old children’s shovel and old fishing poles,” Stacey said.  “The items were hung on the walls in order to maintain the connection with the past as we made improvements.”

The COVID-19 restrictions and weather forced a delay on renovations, but once the licenses were acquired and inspections were passed by the health department, the Hicks were ready to open.

The first weekend of camping was over the Fourth of July holiday of 2020, and it was a great success, according to the Hicks. The couple and their campground managers, Jon and Roxanne Smith, are ready to begin their first full season at Antrim Meadows on May 1 and have several special events planned.

–Editorial contribution by Joanie Moore