The History of

Paradise Valley Campground

Paradise Valley Campground, nestled in the scenic foothills of northeast Georgia opened in the summer of 1991. The first phase consisted of 68 units.

The developers were Davis Broadway and Henry McMillan, who earlier had developed Brookside Campground a few miles north on U.S. Highway 129. Both campgrounds featured scenic Town Creek running through the property. They did a lot of the clearing work on heavy machinery themselves.

In the initial phase, all creek side lots sold for $15,000 each and most of the interior lots sold for $7,500. The “pioneers” who bought early remember a lot of mud the first few years, as the roads were dirt covered with gravel before they were finally asphalted. Two of the early residents came up with the cable TV system, which serviced the campground until 2013.

Each lot came with a gravel driveway and cleared pad for an RV as well as utility and sewer connections.

From the beginning, owners seemed to take pride in the appearance of the overall campground and their individual lots as well.

The developers tried to maintain as many of the original trees – mostly poplar, hickory, oak and river birch, as possible. These were on the lots east of the creek. The original plans did not call for lots west of the creek, which was mostly cow pasture. The land across from the southern end of the creek was also cow pasture. It remains in the hands of Stanley Nix.

The developers were able to purchase the land, which now consists of the Paradise Valley Campground lots west of  the creek and planted maple saplings to give shade and ambiance.

Lot owners were allowed to build one 8 X 10 building on each lot with an additional 320 square feet under roof for screen room. Eventually, covenants were passed that allowed the screens to be replaced with Florida (plastic) windows and then to allow regular storm windows. The 8X10 buildings evolved to become cabins – as long as they remained under 400 square feet. The collective ownership also voted to allow permanent rigid awnings to campers.

Paradise Valley Campground consisted mainly of mobile RVs in the beginning years with just a few stationery park models. Over the years, the popularity of the park models increased and the character of the park changed to a more stable population and less mobile one over the spring-summer-fall seasons. Twelve-wide park models were allowed after 2011.

Control of the Paradise Valley Campground Owners Association passed from the developers to the lot owners in 2001.

It is felt that the covenants and restrictions have done much to make Paradise Valley Campground the outstanding campground in White County and surrounding areas. However, many feel it is the individual pride of the owners that has made Paradise Valley Campground a standout.