AutoCamp Saugatuck Michigan?!

Holy smokes AutoCamp Saugatuck Michigan came out of nowhere! AutoCamp has purchased property in Saugatuck, Michigan. Why is this shocking? Because AutoCamp has been attempting to buy property in both the Grand Canyon and Sedona areas. However, they ran into intense pushback in both Grand Canyon and Sedona.

We’ve looked at the AutoCamp business model of opening campgrounds within a half a day’s drive with 25 top metropolitan areas in the US. Michigan isn’t even on the list…but Chicago is. More on this, below.

Separate from their expressed business model, they clearly have also targeted some of the most popular national park areas in the United States, such as, Yosemite, Sequoia, Joshua Tree. And by attempting to purchase property at Grand Canyon and Sedona, it would’ve been more likely the next AutoCamp to be announced would be in a more marquee location.

AutoCamp Saugatuck Michigan – Property Purchase

According to Allegan County Register of Deeds, Outdoor Lodgings Fund II Holdings, LLC, dba AutoCamp, has purchased land at 3461 Blue Star Highway in Saugatuck from Beachside Farms LLC, Chad and Jenny VanHorn on May 23, 2023. We are just now finding out about it because details are coming out regarding the development of the property. The property was purchased by Stephen Kallaher who was a senior VP of AutoCamp at the time (he’s now with AutoCamp competitor, Under Canvas).

The property has an interesting, actually bizarre history. It was privately owned by Chad and Jenny VanHorn. They purchased part of the property in 2000 with a tiny rundown house. It’s possible this was their residence. But they cobbled together multiple parcels that totaled 47 acres. That’s not the strange part. The strange part is they actually built a water skiing lake on the property.

In 2020, Chad VanHorn applied to sand mine 47 acres to build a water skiing lake on the property.

Shortly after purchase, the township issued this press release: Saugatuck Township Planning Commission Hosts Presentation and Public Input Session on Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance Update. Had we not learned what we learned about the VanHorns and sand mining, this would’ve slipped under the radar. It is amazingly vague.

On May 7, 2020, the VanHorn’s got approval to build their lake on the 47 acres.

Interestingly, the most recent aerial view does not indicate the lake exists. It is possible this is an outdated aerial photo from Google; however, Google does tend to update about every two years.

Miscellaneous Notes

Super odd: it seems the Saugatuck Township offices have the same street number of 3461 Bluestar Highway. This is likely a relic of the VanHorns having put together multiple parcels of land to make up the 47 acres.

Township Application for sand mining.

State application for sand mining

AutoCamp Saugatuck Michigan -Septic and SEwage

Initially, AutoCamp was planning on 112 campsites, but it has been scaled back to 76 campsites to start on just over 29 acres. AutoCamp will need to buy sewer capacity from Kalamazoo Lake Sewer and Water Authority, according to Wilcox News. Additionally, there are many stipulations put upon AutoCamp:

• Funding a $200,000 escrow account before permits are issued to engineer and install a traffic light at Holland Street and eliminate curb cuts that now exist at the Shull Motel and a single-family home there, leaving a single access point on the existing private drive;

• Adhering to Fleis & Vandenbrink engineer Jacob Swanson’s recommendation of a tapered deceleration lane for southbound traffic and crosswalk in addition to the traffic signal;

• Ringing most of the site with an 8-foot landscaped berm, also using existing trees and shrubs to protect guests from traffic noise and neighbors from unintended on-site noise. Autocamp’s project narrative notes it “strictly enforces 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. quiet hours”; and

• Abides otherwise with bicycle and pedestrian safety needs as outlined. To further meet Township Ordinance Sec. 40-693 Campgrounds, Travel Trailer and Recreational Vehicle parks special use standards that the project:

• Be designed, constructed, operated and maintained in a manner harmonious with the character of adjacent property and the surrounding area;

• Shall not change the essential character of the surrounding area;

• Shall not be hazardous to adjacent property or involve uses, activities, materials or equipment detrimental to the health, safety or welfare of persons or property by traffic, parking requirements, noise, vibration, smoke, fumes or glare; and

• Shall not place demands on public services and facilities in excess of capacity.

Wilcox News

Please note, this is not finalized. The boards attorney will review this agreement.

AutoCamp Saugatuck Michigan- Proximity to Chicago and Detroit

Saugatuck is just 2 1/4 hours from Chicago and about 3 hours from Detroit. There are numerous populated locations in between such as Ann Arbor, Landing and more. It seems though this is a very well situated location in terms of population density. As you can see, it is located on the East Coast of Lake Michigan.

AutoCamp Saugatuck Michigan – Things to Do

While the TripAdvisors Top 15 Things to Do in Saugatuck is not terribly impressive, it didn’t take much to find that it looks like a pretty fun location. Saugatuck’s website notes it is a part of the Art Coast with plenty of outdoors and cultural activities. The Michigan State website also lists an impressive variety of things to do in the Saugatuck.

AutoCamp Saugatuck Michigan – it looks promising

While this took us by surprise, we’re enthusiastic about the location. We are hopeful AutoCamp can resolve all issues and secure this property and open it up in a timely manner. We will continue to watch for additional news on AutoCamp Saugatuck Michigan, along with all AutoCamp news.