Campground blossoms into chic outdoor resort

Lake Harris Resort of Tavares, Fla., brings new meaning to the saying, “braving the great outdoors.”

Maybe it’s the plush clubhouse with oversized couches, a full kitchen and a large flat screen television or the exercise center with its full line of fitness equipment and assortment of monitors and DVD players. One thing is obvious, Lake Harris Resort doesn’t compare to the rustic campgrounds from your mom and dad’s era.

The Resort, which includes Fisherman’s Cove campground, has been around for dozens of years. With direct access to the 15,000-acre Lake Harris, the campground has been a popular destination for anglers. In the past couple of years, the Lake Harris Resort has undergone a transformation that is highlighted by many improvements and additions, including the construction of the high-and-dry marina with 160 covered racks to add to the existing 157 wet slips.

“We’re trying to go from being just a fish camp to a campground resort,” said Manager Rusty Hinkle.

Lake Harris Resort features 300 RV spots with full hook-ups, a seven-room hotel with screened-in porches and five villas. The campground still fills up for fishing tournaments, however, local festivals such as the antique boat show in Tavares and Bikefest in Leesburg, are large draws as well.

“We have locals within a two-hour driving range and then we have several winter visitors from up North,” Hinkle said. “We have customers that keep coming back, some for more than 15 years.”

Other features of the resort include a heated pool, a 9-hole executive golf course and a high-end boat store, Flint Creek Outfitters, with fishing equipment, boating accessories and clothing & apparel. In addition, the resort schedules a variety of fun activities at the clubhouse including chili cook-offs, jewelry sales, Monday Night Football parties and college football gatherings on Saturdays.

“I know the gals that come with the pro fishermen love it because they have so much more to do,” Hinkle said.