Ruffit Park was originally opened in 1965 by Chuck and Maxine Gaumer. The two of them wanted to have a place for families to come and disconnect from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. They wanted kids to be kids, play outdoors, get dirty, and go to bed tired. Their philosophy was that you did not need all the niceties and could have just as much fun “ruffin’ it.” Even after Chuck’s passing Maxine, along with her four boys, continued to manage the campground. She was affectionately known as the Candy Lady behind the counter and she loved to visit with all the families that camped at the park.

Fast forward to 2022, my husband and I would love to see Ruffit Park offering the same sort of escape for families that my great aunt Maxine provided for so many years. We hope to provide a place where parents can relax and socialize, and kids can come to be away from electronics and play, like kids should.

We have plans to open a general store, an arcade room, and in the near future, re-open the pool. Lots of ideas and plans have scrolled through our minds as we think about what the future holds for the campground. We’ve looked at past events that the campground has held and hope to have some of them return very soon. It may take us some time to get there, but we are excited to see it all come together and to welcome new and ‘old’ Ruffit Park campers alike!

~ Molly Habben, Owner