The Starke County Park Board’s proposal to split operations of the Bass Lake Beach and Campground has gotten a response. The entire beach and campground is currently operated by Callahan Development, LLC, which leases it from Starke County. But the company said it may be willing to give up control of the beach itself, to allow it to focus on the profitable campground and pier slots.
As of last week’s park board meeting, Park Board President Roger Chaffins said the county had heard from one person interested in running the beach. “He’s done this before, managed beaches to the west, by Valparaiso area, Lakes of the Four Seasons,” Chaffins explained. “After we talked a little while about what was going to be expected by him to be out there, he said that maybe it would be best if he would talk to Callahan, and see if they could work out a deal between them two.”
Discussions are still in early stages, and it still remains to be determined how much the county would get involved in such an arrangement. Chaffins said the county may consider offering some type of incentive. “I think at one time there, we’d even thought about whoever comes up with a proposal for us, is granting them, the first year, as far as electricity and water and, so to speak, rent, is waiving that,” he said. “So you come in there, at your expense, of the stuff you’re going to sell, the equipment you’re going to bring in, that’s going to be your expense. We thought about that, which I can’t see anything wrong with that.”
It was also suggested that the potential operator could be given some of the pier slips or some new ones could be built, to serve as an extra income source. Who’d be responsible for any building upgrades and for insuring the property is up for negotiation, as well. Any arrangement would have to win the approval of Callahan, Starke County, and the potential operator.
