Friendly Hills Grange Camp needs an investor

ZANESVILLE, Ohio- An organization is seeking an investor to help keep their campground and facilities open.

Ohio Grange Charitable Foundation was started in 2004 and has been trying to purchase the Friendly Hills Grange Camp property from the Ohio State Grange. Charity president Patty Dyer said the charity has been operating the camp and facilities for over ten years but, an upcoming balloon payment of half a million dollars is due by the end of March. If not paid, it will give the property back to the Ohio State Grange.

“The Ohio State Grange has not been willing to renegotiate the balloon payment or to extend us anytime so this is kind of a plea. If there’s anybody out there that thinks what we’re doing is worth saving, we’re kind of at the end of our rope of needing assistance. We’ve done camps for kids 5-14 where we basically teach respect for the individuals, respect for others, community service work,” said Dyer.

Dyer said the camp has so much to offer and it is a sound business option for someone to invest in. SparkFiveSixty director  said the land equality is high and Ohio Grange Charitable Foundation has $100,000 to pay part of the $500,000  payment.

“You don’t invest in ideas, you invest in people and I have very seldom seen people who put as much effort into the work here and building this space and developing this space as I have seen out of Patty Dyer. That being said, space it self-offers a lot of opportunities. There’s a lot of financial opportunity to invest in a space like this,” said Roth.

Ohio Grange Charitable Foundation said the campgrounds and facility is Muskingum County’s best kept secret. Dyer said if the Ohio State Grange takes the land back, it will likely be sold and the youth camp opportunities could go away.