Dogwood Family Campground
101 Happy Camper Way
Newport, NC 28570
252-777-4343

Our Build Story:

- 1.17.2024 - All sites are finished and ready to accommodate your RV/Camper, with FHU's (20/30/50 electric, water & sewer), free wi-fi, catch & release fishing pond, walking trails, playground, we are "Dark Sky Friendly", so much peace and quiet, and "Close enough to be away from it all". 
Picture of campers from opening weekend.
Picture of Campers from opening weekend.
campground map subject to change.
Picture of campers from opening weekend.
Picture of campers from opening weekend.
- 7.25.203 - Our grass is growing.
Picture of our sites with grass starting to fill in.
Our grass is finally starting to fill in.
Picture of fire ring.
Fire ring.
- 7.10.2023 - WIFI is now available! Thanks to Twin Rivers Tech Solutions out of New Bern, NC.
- 6.24.2023 - Shawn has finished the pull thru and the pond back-in sites. 
Picture of our pull thru sites.
Our pull thru sites.
Picture of our pond back-in sites.
Our pond back-in sites.
- 4.25.2023 - The playground is ready to be played on.
Picture of our granddaughter playing with the ships wheel.
Our granddaughter playing with the ships wheel on the playground tower.
Picture of our grandkids playing on the swings.
Our grandkids enjoying the swings!
Picture of our grandson playing in the sand with his truck and skid steer.
Our grandson playing in the sand with his truck and skid steer.
- 4.18.2023 - We got the playground equipment installed this weekend. Now no playing on it for a week, have to let the footers cure. Can't wait to get the kids on it and get some pictures.
Picture of playground equipment.
Kids enjoying the playground and pile of sand.
- 4.4.2023 - Our daughter ordered a special cake for us for opening day. It looks like a campfire, it is awesome and taste so yummy!
Picture of Lisa & Shawn on opening day with the custom cake our daughter Renee ordered that looks like a campfire.
Lisa & Shawn on opening day with the custom cake our daughter Renee ordered that looks like a campfire.
Picture of Renee, Lisa & Shawn on opening day with the custom cake that looks like a campfire.
Renee, Lisa & Shawn on opening day with the custom cake that looks like a campfire.
Picture
Hadley, Lisa, Shawn and Harvey on opening day, with the custom cake.
- 4.4.2023 - WE ARE OPEN!!! Thank you to everyone who came out this weekend and spent some time with us. We have been truly blessed. It was so busy we forgot to take pictures of everyone around their campers, but I did manage to get some pictures of campers that are with us. 
Picture of campers from opening weekend.
Picture of campers from opening weekend.
Picture of campers from opening weekend.
Picture of campers from opening weekend.
Picture of our entrance sign with open flag from opening day.
our entrance sign with open flag from opening day.
- 3.26.2023 - We got our street sign. Updated our entrance sign and planted some flowers for ground color. 
Picture of our new street sign.
We got our street sign today.
Picture of our updated entrance sign.
We updated our entrance sign.
- 3.15.2023 - Shawn has moved the mountain of sand (has to save it to use on the second half of the drain field for future use) that was on sites 26 - 31. Lisa & Renee finished up the planting on the south side property line. And a lot of pollen around the pond. 
Picture of Shawn on the excavator moving the mountain of sand that was on sites 26 - 31.
Shawn on the excavator moving the mountain of sand that was on sites 26 - 31.
Picture of Shawn moving the mountain of sand from sites 26 - 31.
Shawn moving the mountain of sand from sites 26 - 31.
Picture of the mountain of sand getting smaller.
The mountain of sand getting smaller.
Picture of sites 26 - 31 that back up to the pond all clear now that the sand pile has been moved.
the pond looking to sites 26 - 31 since the pile of sand has been moved. You can see straight across the campground now. Isn't it a beautiful site.
Picture of the pond looking to sites 26 - 31 since the pile of sand has been moved. You can see straight across the campground now.
The pond looking to sites 26 - 31 since the pile of sand has been moved. You can see straight across the campground now.
Picture of Lisa & Rene planting plants on the south side property line.
Lisa and Renee planting the some of the hundreds and hundreds of plants we had to put in.
- 3.5.2023 - Videos of Shawn working on the drain field. Shawn working on leveling out sites 47 - 52 where there was a "mountain" of dirt, now he's got to put rock on them. Plants on the north side property line that Renee and Lisa planted and hungry fish.
We're working on the plants of the south side property line now, almost done, shew! Getting the site #'s done on the pedestals, getting the signs up through out the campground, oh still lots to do before we open on March 31st. 
Picture of the drain field in progress.
14 of 19 lines for the drain field. This is part one of this process, apparently there is another pipe that goes in.
Picture of the sand pile disappearing.
The sand pile is starting to disappear, Shawn is using it for the drain field.
Picture of sites 46 - 52
Sites 46 - 52
- 1.11.2023 - We are getting closer, yay! Renee and Lisa (and the grandkids, sometimes lol) have been busy planting lots and lots of plants on our property borders, per the county ordinances. We have had a handicap ramp and stairs to the office built, Shawn has been busy putting in water lines, hydrants, electric pedestals, and sewer connections. He has started on the sewer plant now (that's going to take a little while to finish), and that will get rid of the mountain of sand on lots 26 - 31. Working on getting the water system / well completed/approved.
Picture of shrub line on North side of campground enterance.
Shrub bed and mulch on the North Side Entrance.
Picture of shrub line on south side of campground entrance.
Shrub bed and mulch on the south side entrance.
Picture of shrub line across property line.
Trees going in on one of our property lines.
Picture of electric pedestals, water line and more shrubs on north side of property.
Gravel has been put down for the road.
Picture of pedestals, water and some sewer connections of the south side.
Gravel has been put down for the road.
Picture of the office with the stairs and handicap ramp.
Our Office.
- 10.16.2022 - Well you won't guess what we got...our electric pedestals!  Yay!!! Only after a year of waiting. Shawn has gotten the water, electric, and sewer hook-ups finished on sites 1-7. Hope to get the pedestals on those sites soon, depends on electrician timing now. Also started rocking the pads for the same sites. And we had a bear stop by and play with a piece of pipe that is near the wood line, you can see his or hers paw prints in the sand around it.
Picture of the trench for the yard (water) hydrants.
Trench for water line.
Picture of sites 1-7 sewer, yard (water) hydrants and electric.
Some utilities are in the ground.
Picture of sites 6 & 7 rocked.
Sites 6 & 7.
Picture of our electric pedestals we've been waiting for a year on.
Delivery of our electric pedestals.
Picture of a piece of pipe near the wood line that a bear was playing with, you can see his paw prints in the sand.
Bear paw prints on both side of the pipe.
- 9.15.2022 - Our electric supplier has told us the manufacturer of the site pedestals should be shipping them the first week of October, so hopefully we will get them mid to late October, finally. We've had to take a small break from construction for a few health issues and then had to go west to finish our last water tower job...they are now taken care of and we will be back to grinding work at the campground in a week.
- 8.27.2022 - They finished the exterior of the well house/storage area and roof, just need doors, roll up door and a ceiling put inside. Shawn got some more electric lines dug in, but still no pedestals for them to connect to, I guess we'll find out here in a few days if we'll be getting them this month or not. Our office finally came in! Now to get it blocked underneath (we'll be using the same block the well house/storage area is built with) and steps/handicap ramp built up to it then we can start setting up the interior the way we want it.  We were told the other day that the pumps and panels for the sewer system are in...finally...and will be here in a couple weeks, then we can finish the sewer system.
Picture - front of the well house/storage area.
Our Well house.
Picture - side of the well house/storage area.
Our Well house.
Picture of trench Shawn dug and put the electric wire in for sites again waiting on pedestals.
Trench for water line.
Picture of our office being delivered.
Delivery of our Office Unit.
Picture of our office still needs to be blocked and landscaped.
Our office unit.
- 7.30.2022 - We got the floor poured for the well house, and they will start the walls Monday, Aug. 1. The power company crew got all of our transformers...YAY!!! They have to finish the wires at the entrance to connect to the overhead power lines. Still waiting on the site pedestals. We got the rest of plants for the side lines, still need to get...DOGWOOD Trees. lol
aerial Picture of the well house foundation.
WELL house floor just poured concrete covered with plastic.
aerial Picture of the well house poured foundation.
Arial photo of the well house floor with the blocks to build the walls.
Picture of the well house foundation.
Well house floor.
Picture of the power company delivering the power transformers.
Electric Company delivering more transformers.
Picture of the power company installing the mail power lines.
Installation of power lines from the meter panels to the transformers.
Picture of a truckload of plants.
Some of the plants we had to put on our property lines.
- 7.19.2022 - The power company has been out a few days here and there the past 2 weeks pulling electric wire through the conduits, and put in a few electric vaults and 3 electric transformers. Fingers crossed they will get the rest of what we need.  Shawn and Lisa moved their camper around the lots marking where we need to put gravel for the sites and where to put the electric pedestals, water/yard hydrants and sewer drops.  Ready to start digging in those lines for each site.
Picture of 3 electric transformers
Electric transformers.
Picture of Shawn and Lisa's camper marking lines
Shawn & Lisa Moving their camper around.
Picture of Shawn and Lisa's camper marking lines.
Shawn & Lisa moving their camper around.
Picture of Shawn and Lisa's camper marking lines.
Shawn & Lisa moving their camper around.
- 7.7.2022 - Still no new word on our pedestals or transformers, but our office may be ready for delivery early August.  Shawn and Lisa finished the de-watering station for the sewer station drain field.  Shawn got the dry hydrant installed, built and put up 6 electric panels for breaker boxes.  Got some small fish (catfish, minnows, bass, and bluegills) for the pond.  Put some color around the entrance sign. Got the building pad ready for the well house (just need to get someone to follow through with a price and build it).  We had a bear come up around the pond one night and inspected the generator that was running for the de-watering station.
Picture of tank for de-watering station.
Dewatering station.
Picture of drain pipe covered with rock for de-watering station.
Trench for dewatering pipe.
Picture of pipe and rock for de-watering station.
Dewatering line.
Picture of dry hydrant by pond.
Pond with hydrant.
Picture - one of six electric panels.
Electric panel.
Picture of Shawn putting fish in the pond, but the grandkids wanted to see them first.
Releasing our fish into the pond.
Picture of Shawn putting fish in the pond, but the grandkids wanted to see them first.
Releasing our fish into the pond.
Picture of entrance sign with lantana and sky pencil hollys with mulch.
Our Entrance Sign.
Picture of building pad for well house.
Building pad for well house.
Picture of bear paw print
Bear paw print.
- 6.13.2022 - Once again we have gotten bad news about material. Our electric company Carteret Craven EMC has told us that we are next on their list to complete, but they do not have the transformers needed for our campground, and do not know when they will get them.  And still no word on our site pedestals. (also electric related but different supplier)
- 5.31.2022 - We finally got the septic tanks set for the sewer system, 3 - 10,000 gallon tanks and 2 - 7,500 gallon tanks. Shew what an undertaking that was, ordered in Oct. 2021 took 5 separate trips to get all the pieces onsite and 2 days to set.
Picture of one of the many septic tanks being delivered.
Septic tanks for sewer system.
Picture of a crane hooked to a septic tank to put on property.
Septic tanks for sewer system.
Picture of crane and septic tanks.
Septic tanks for sewer system.
Picture of a large crane moving a septic tank into place.
Installing septic tanks.
Picture of 2 set septic tanks
Installing septic tanks.
aerial Picture of septic tank s and large crane
Aerial photo of septic tank installation.
aerial Picture of large crane setting a septic tank.
Aerial photo of septic tank installation.
aerial Picture of 5 septic tanks.
Aerial photo of septic tank installation.
- 5.13.2022 - Well we received some bad news from our electric supplier for our site pedestals. They told us they may not be here till late June now. How much can we take?  This supply chain issue is ridiculous. We can't open without electric pedestals on each site. Please be patient with us we are working our hardest to get open.
- 5.1.2022 - Shawn put in some more conduit.
Picture of Shawn installing conduit
Shawn installing conduit for power.
Picture of Shawn installing the conduit.
Shawn installing conduit for power.
- 5.1.2022 - Received pieces for 2 (10,000 gal) of 5 septic tanks needed for sewer system.
Picture of septic tanks and area they will go
Delivery of septic tanks.
Picture of unloading a septic tank
Delivery of septic tanks.
Picture of a few septic tanks.
Delivery of septic tanks.
aerial Picture of septic tanks being delivered.
Delivery of septic tanks.
aerial Picture of a few septic tanks.
Septic tanks after unload.
- 5.1.2022 - Picked up some fresh water and sewer pipe.
Picture of a lot of pipe for the water and sewer lines
water & sewer pipe delivered.
- 5.1.2022 - Received some playground equipment.
Picture of playground equipment boxed up
Playground equipment delivered.
Picture of the boxed playground equipment
Playground equipment delivered.
- 5.1.2022 - Finished the swale on North side of campground. Ready to plant shrubs we got a couple weeks ago, unfortunately not all of them, we are told July for the rest.
aerial picture of the campground
Aerial photo of swale on North side of campground.
Picture of a truckload of plants
Plants for the property lines.
Picture of Shawn and our granddaughter unloading the plants.
Unloading plants for the property lines.
Picture of the unloaded plants
Plants, plants and more plants.
Picture of the unloaded plants
So many plants.
- 4.17.2022 - We finally got a few of our step septic tanks to transfer to the sewer plant. Still waiting on the sewer plant material...and electric pedestals...and our office.
Picture of bottom half of one step/pump septic tank and a step/pump tank for the office area.
Delivery of septic tanks.
Picture of the bottom half of one of the step/pump tanks.
Dellivery of septic tanks and survey equipment and some excavation for the septic tank.
Picture of installation of step/pump septic tank for the office area.
Setting a septic tank.
- 3.23.22 - Started putting in conduit for the power lines. Installed a drain pipe at the entrance property line.
Picture of conduit in the ground
Conduit lines for power.
Picture of trench digging for conduit.
Covering up the conduit lines.
Picture of installation of drain pipe
Installation of a drain pipe.
- 3.8.22 - Grading of the sites...
Picture of the campground future sites 1 - 7
Soon to be sites 1 - 7
Picture of the campground future sites 8 - 25
Soon to be sites 8 - 25
Picture of the campground future sites 26 - 40
Soon to be sites 26 - 40
- 2.7.2022 - We now have a looped road.
aerial Picture of the pond
The road is finally looped around.
aerial Picture of the campground and pond
The looped road from a further distance.
- 1.22.2022 - Took some pictures of the campground after our ice storm last night.  Took a video of our walking trail, check it out on our Facebook page.
Picture of campground with a dusting of snow.
Campground covered in ice from our ice storm last night (1.21.2022) and start of extending the road around.
Picture of campground with a dusting of snow
Campground covered in ice from our ice storm last night (1.21.2022) Just enough to show up.
Picture of campground and equipment with a dusting of snow.
Ice on the sand pile and everywhere else. You can see the road starting to be extended behind the sand pile.
aerial Picture of the woods with dusting of snow.
The pine trees covered in ice, what an eerie sound the ice made swaying with the wind.
- 1.16.2022 - Shawn and Andy finished the clearing of the sewer area and Shawn got the swell finished on the south side of the property, Renee helped by putting the fertilizer and seed out. Shawn got the sewer area graded on Saturday the 15th before the heavy rain set in on us this Sunday. He will start next week on connecting the road so it will finish it's loop.
wooded area being cleared for sewer.
Andy on excavator clearing the area for the sewer system.
Andy dropping the last of the standing trees and burning the remaining debris.
Andy dropping the last of the standing trees & burning the debris.
Shawn buring the last of the debris and grading the soon to be sewer area before the heavey rain sets in.
Shawn burning the last of the tree debris and started grading the soon to be sewer area.
Renee putting seed out on the swell
Renee putting seed out on the new swale.
Swell with rip rap rock on south side of property finished (looking to the back of the property)
The finished swale with rip rap rock looking towards the back of the campground.
- Dec. 2021 - As you may all know about the supply issue our country is having with everything. Well we are having the same issue with our supplies to build the infrastructure of the campground. We will continue to work and do everything possible to get the campground built and finished to please everyone.
- 11.15.2021 - Started clearing the area for the sewer system. Next will be the trees.
Picture of the future drain field area and sewer system
Beginning the clearing for the sewer system area.
Picture of clearing the future drain field and sewer system
Clearing of the sewer system area.
Picture of the future drain field and sewer system
Birds eye view of the clearing for the sewer area.
- 10.24.2021 - Shaped up the pond, added some more of the streets and built up some of the RV site areas.
aerial Picture of the pond
Put the final shaping on the pond slopes and seeded.
aerial Picture of campground
Added some more of the streets.
aerial Picture of the campground
Built up some of the RV site areas and seeded.
- 10.7.2021 - Started work on the streets.
aerial Picture of the campground construction starting
Shawn starting to cut in the street.
aerial Picture of start of our street
Rock on first part of the street.
- 9.21.2021 - Shawn is working on a swale between one of our property lines to help with drainage for us and our neighbors.
Picture of Shawn digging the ditch on the south side of property
Shawn working on digging the swale on one of the property lines.
Picture of the ditch/swale on south side of property
Finished digging this portion of the swale. Lots more to do.
- 9.8.2021 - Dug the pond this past weekend.  Have to do some finishing work on it, but it is 75% done.  We have some beautiful water.
aerial Picture of the field where the pond will go.
Location of the pond. Excavator sitting almost middle of where the pond will be.
aerial Picture of the beginning of digging the pond
Shape of the pond. The grass and topsoil have been stripped.
aerial Picture of pond being dug.
Digging the pond, the water is starting to come up. Getting some beautiful sand.
aerial Picture of pond being dug.
Shaping up the slopes of the pond.
Picture of the pond.
Look at that water. Still have some clean up to do, but 75% done.
- 8.18.2021 - The entrance was widened large enough to navigate any size RV into our campground.
Picture of our entrance drain pipe being put in.
Dogwood Family Campground newly widened entrance.
- 7.29.2021 - Coming Soon Sign was put up.
Picture of our entrance sign
Dogwood Family Campground Coming Soon sign.
Picture from above of the campground property before construction.
This picture is of the campground property before construction started.
- 6.30.2021 - Read the first article written about our campground in our local newspaper Carteret News Times...click here 

- 6.14.2021 - We received approval from the Carteret County Planning Commission to build our campground.
Dogwood Family Campground
101 Happy Camper Way
Newport, NC 28570
252-777-4343
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