Back 40 Campground

I’ve been going to Back 40 since I was a tiny kid. From when my parents got a pop-up all the way through a full 5th wheel. It’s always been a nicely maintained well run place and a staple of the area.
In fact this is from the Logan county historical society:

“ Back 40 Campground
Dick and Pat Stanford dreamed of one day owning a family campground. Their dream became a reality in August 1973 when the Stanfords purchased 50 acres on County Road 111 in Rushcreek Township with the idea of not only creating an RV park, but also a place for western square dancing.

As they drove their little Volkswagen down the narrow ½ mile lane they were full of anticipation about their new purchase. When they reached the end of the lane and saw how beautiful the land was, they knew they had made the right decision. At this moment they decided to name their future campground The Back 40.

With the aid of an old dump truck, a backhoe and mower they cleared about a five-mile entrance to open the land, installed electricity, drilled a well and ran water lines. In October 1973, they placed a mobile home on the site to live in.

In 1974, they built a 48’ x 84’ concrete slab for western square dancing. Fred Ensley, who was a concrete finisher and square dance caller, provided a lot of help with the floor. Before the clubhouse was built, they held open-air square dances with Mr. Ensley calling the dances. When it came time to build the clubhouse numerous people pitched in to help. The clubhouse featured an office and concession stand. The Hi Point See Saw Square Dance Club used their facility to practice and held dances on a regular basis for many years. They also had line and round dancing.

The Back 40 Campground opened with approximately 50 camping sites. The Stanfords built two lakes, one for fishing and one for swimming. The final weekend of the camping season they held a Bittersweet Festival, usually around Columbus Day weekend in October. Dick pulled a wagon with a tractor for the hayride, and they gathered bittersweet along the roadsides. They then decorated the clubhouse with the bittersweet they had collected, and that evening had a potluck dinner and hog roast. It was an enjoyable celebration and a way to thank all their family, friends, and campers for all they did throughout the year.

The Stanfords enjoyed managing the campground for over twenty years. Their hard work and dedication can still be seen today at the beautiful campground. They never had to do any advertising as word-of-mouth referrals helped make their campground be very successful. Many of the campers returned year after year and became good friends.

In 2017, Duane and Michelle Dancer purchased the Back 40 Campground. The campground has continued to grow and be successful. It now has over 80 camping sites and lots of new camping amenities. The clubhouse still reflects the homey atmosphere that Dick and Pat established during their many years at the Back 40 Campground.