Q&A with Betsie Neff, owner of Friendship Village
By George Berkheimer
Winding up a three-decade career as an Executive Acute Care Hospital Representative for Merck Pharmaceuticals, Betsie Neff was ready to plunge into the next phase of life. Her husband, Brad, had long dreamed of owning a mobile home park, she said, and the idea of being part of a large, vibrant community was an important factor in whatever came next. After an exhaustive search for just the right location, they finally found it in their own backyard when they learned that the prior owner of Friendship Village was at a crossroads as well and uncertain of the campground’s future.
Q:Friendship Village is more than just a mobile home park. How well established is it, and what else came with the territory?
Neff: My husband and I bought it in 2018. It started in 1972 and is now 52 years old. We currently have 50 employees, most of them seasonal. We’re not just a campground, we also have 16 apartments and 80 mobile homes. The permanent living community is 55 and over. The campground is just under 300 sites. Most of them are RV sites with full hook up: 30/50 Amp electric service, water, sewer, cable, and high-speed Wi-Fi. We have 19 tent sites and 12 cabins.
Q: What kind of amenities are on offer?
Neff: Our season runs from April 1 through November 1. We have food trucks each weekend. Our regular amenities include mini golf, two swimming pools, a regulation cornhole court, and two dog parks, one for big dogs and one for smaller dogs. We also have an outdoor volleyball net, a basketball court, shuffleboard, and horseshoes. There is a bit of history as well. Our half-mile walking track used to be a harness track, and the quarter mile marker is still there. We’ve added a modern game room which is high tech with loadable cards and a Prizezilla machine to redeem tickets for prizes. There is also a retro game room featuring old video games that take quarters and arcade games like the bowling game. The mini golf course is open to the public, as are the game rooms, and we plan to keep the game rooms open year round. We have lots of plans for improvements, but we’re keeping them secret.
Q: What can your guests expect in the way of entertainment?
Neff: We have an annual car show the weekend following Labor Day. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, we host live Southern Gospel music performances followed by free kettle cooked popcorn, and both are traditions that have been going on since 1972. The highlight of the year is our Gospel Week the third week in August, which includes Vacation Bible School for all ages. The week culminates in a big Gospel Celebration, an all-day concert from 4 to 10 p.m.
Q: Do you have a lot of returning guests? What keeps them coming back?
Neff: The majority of our guests are returning campers and mostly from the tri-county area. I think they return because they genuinely feel at home here. A lot of them grew up coming here over the decades. We try to keep it friendly and family-welcoming.
Q: Is it challenging to operate a campground and address the needs of so many different people?
Neff: We never have a dull day; every day is an adventure when you deal with the public. Our greatest asset is our employees. We prayed for good staff and God has blessed us, they’re so nice to be around and all get along. It’s a pleasant working atmosphere and everybody has fun. I have a large extended family and many of them work here and even volunteer to help when we get in a bind.
Q: What makes Bedford County a good location for you? Did you have a boomerang effect?
Neff: It’s where we grew up. My husband is from Blue Knob, and we’ve lived in Osterburg since 2001. I’ve lived here except for college and three years in the Washington, DC, area. We moved back because we think this is the best place in the world to raise children. I wanted my kids to be able to play outside with grass and trees and dirt, all the things you find in the country. It’s much safer here, too.
Q: With so many responsibilities, do you have time to enjoy the recreational opportunities the county offers?
Neff: We don’t have much free time, but I like to fish. Someday I want to be able to fish every day. The campground does provide the opportunity for us to be outside and enjoy the fresh air and scenery, so that’s a plus. It really has worked out for us. My advice to anybody who has a dream like we did is don’t let anybody tell you no. Stay positive, pray, persevere, and don’t let anybody tell you that you can’t achieve it.