PENDLETON — The sparkling lakes are stocked with fresh fish weekly.
The green grass is plentiful.
With blue skies above and fresh air all around, who wouldn’t want to work in that kind of environment?
When Pam and Ray Aldridge had the chance to move from Peru, Indiana, about a year ago to manage Lakeview Acres, 5435 W. State Road 38, Pendleton, they jumped at the opportunity.
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“We’re outdoor people, and we just love it here,” Pam said.
The couple, who live on the grounds, knew their new jobs would make their lives better, but they also vowed to make life on the three lakes better for patrons who come to enjoy the fishing, campgrounds and other outdoor activities.
The Aldridges — with lifelong friends Tina and John Foust — have put time, hard work and their hearts into altering the image of Lakeview Acres, making the 28-acre area a more family-friendly environment.
The Fousts took over Lakeview Acres operations in 2017 and made a three-year lease commitment to get the pay lake and camping business on track. They hired the Aldridges to manage the business day-to-day.
Lakeview Acres plans a grand opening celebration from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 19, and has invited the public to attend the festivities, which will include activities for people of all ages — and not just fishermen, Pam Aldridge said.
The amazing thing about the property, Tina Foust said, is while it is near an interstate, once people get there and relax, the world melts away.
“It’s a peaceful little oasis in the middle of all the craziness around,” Tina said.
The Fousts have worked in the campground, bait and tackle shop industry for more than 25 years.
They hired the Aldridges to manage the facility day and night, seven days a week, and to get the lakes, land and campgrounds into good shape.
“This place is all about family and safety now,” Pam Aldridge said. “We got it with a bad reputation, but we’re quickly changing that.”
Ray Aldridge manages the grounds and stocks the lakes with farm-raised fish weekly.
There’s a revamped and stocked Lakeview Acres bait and tackle shop, which also sells groceries.
People do not have to stay or fish on the property to buy goods at the bait and tackle shop.
The grounds offer cabin, tent and RV camping, but the Aldridges want to attract other outdoor enthusiasts.
They’ve opened up the beach to the public and plan to arrange game night activities for families and movie nights under the stars.
They added playground equipment last summer, and this year they’re adding paddle boat and kayak rentals for people who like the outdoors but may not want to fish.
They’re also offering senior citizens 55 and older and veterans specials every Tuesday in hopes of getting more people to explore the new setting.
While they plan to stain the cabins in the near future, they’ve already made general repairs and are in the process of purchasing new mattresses for each of the 50 rental cabins.
They also have implemented a strict no-drug policy on the property and welcome regular fishing and police patrols to assure community safety.
All the changes have made a difference, Pam said. They’ve started attracting back people who had given up on the property years ago.
They love hearing the positive feedback, she said.
For more information on Lakeview Acres, including fishing prices and camping rates, visit lakefishcamp.com.
