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Friends and visitors...
We are on the verge of another season : Have to admit, there are times this past year when we weren't sure if we would still be here today. Hurricanes, fires, lost jobs, the passing of close friends, health issues, legal issues, and just plain living issues. But that's what makes the camp so special and worth it all. As each one of those maladies arose, they were soon replaced by the beautiful sunsets, the newly completed improvement projects, a better job, new staff/guests/friends to soften the losses, continued hope on the health front, and a reassuring faith that living life by taking the high and right road will get you where you want to go every time. Sadie - Camp dog As many of you know already by calling, our manager for the last four years, keeper of the dogs and general good guy, Mike Upton, retired from Stegbone's on September 30th, 2004 and passed away a month later from cancer. He was laid to rest in the Naval Cemetery at NAS Pensacola. Mike portrayed the laid-back but guest friendly attitude of Stegbone's as well as anyone could, he will be missed. Cabin 3 Cabin #3 is now pretty well complete, with a new paint job to tie it into the rest of the camp. We have a newly paved county road from Satsuma to Welaka, and also down from the Stegbone's road sign to our entry gate. We have cleaned up the corner property leading into the camp, all the necessary repairs and maintenance projects are complete, and we are looking forward to a full season from March 1 to mid-June. Reservations are above those of last year. We look forward to your visits and wish all the best. Catch ya later. Terry and Jim We are always closed during the month of August, and we are reminded why again today - hot and humid with a good chance of some thunder rolling in this afternoon.
More of you than ever are finding your way down to Stegbone's dock, including many of our "old timers". From that important SE corner of Alabama, Bobby (Stegbone's first ever customer) and Ed came with Jerry and Curt. (Pastor W.L. Sheffield retired from our devoted Southside Baptist in Ozark, and we wish Gracie and W.L. all the best). The Kentucky boys of Pete's Fishing Club made their annual pilgrimage from the Covington, KY area, as did the Good Ole Boys from the Panhandle, the Pinnell group from Macon, Donnie Lankford and family from Valdosta, and Tommy Duckworth and crew from Warrenton. The Nicholson gang with E.W. and Ralph Tucker couldn't keep from discovering what other surprise awaited them this year (only a trailer coming unglued). Our big project this summer is to renovate Cabin #3. When you come back, Cabin #4 will no longer exist. We have turned that whole cabin back into more like what it was 50 years ago, except a bit better. It now is one unit with two porches, two separate bedrooms, two full baths, and a large kitchen open to the living room. The main entrance is now to the north. It will be set up much like #5, only with more porches, baths, and that "old pine paneling" feel to it. Also, no more window units and gas heat -- you'll find a new central unit instead. We know you will like it. That step at the bottom of the dock ramp is gone, making it easier for wheeled or slower moving guests to join the gang at the dock. And we moved the shed out of the front of #7 and have gathered all of our storage needs onto the north end of the grounds. A note about our prices - we have been holding the line on them ever since we arrived five years ago. At that time, after many long overdue repairs and renovations, we increased them only slightly and have not since. This year, our slip rentals will be going up slightly, but cabin prices are all staying the same. We will be charging significantly less for the combined Cabin #3 than the cost of #3 and #4 separately, even with all of the renovations. Stegbone's is still a great vacation bargain. One thing to remember, though, due to extensive new paperwork requirements by the State, we are no longer issuing fishing licenses at the dock -you need to buy them in advance!!! Even more than the physical part of the camp, Stegbone's really comes down to a terrific team. At its heart is our manager and king of the dock, Mike Upton, who steadfastly attends to all of our guests' needs. Mike is now going into his fourth season at Stegbone’s, and we all appreciate the dedication he shows to our campers. His trusty canine aides - Sadie, Goldie, and Mocha - are always nearby. Cindy is that rarely seen but wonderful lady who cleans the cabins, once you all have headed back home. Bob Mathis, who has been cutting the grass that never stops growing and doing odd jobs, been working steadily for the past year. Stan Plaisted, brother of Lloyd (our neighbor to the north with the old cars), is our jack-of-all-trades and can fix just about anything, and has had to. Terry still takes care of the books and does a lot of the phone calls and the business-side of things. And Jim gets involved with oddball projects and some of the maintenance. It is a great team. As the summer begins to cool and Florida's wonderful fall season comes around, give the St. John's a thought. We believe that the fall fishing season is our best-kept secret. Thank you all for your continuing support. We appreciate every one of you. Catch ya later - Mike, Terry and Jim Welcome back to another great spring season at Stegbone's.
Always a couple of changes around the camp, and they seem to be headed in the right direction. Jim and Terry have relocated in Jacksonville to allow Jim to be closer to his new job. This also makes us about 10 minutes closer to where we would like to be all of the time. It is just as hard as ever to drag Mike away from the camp and, as always, he is doing all he can to make our guest's stay the most pleasant and comfortable possible. He is helped in this effort by his harem - Sadie, Goldie and Mocha (a chocolate lab new last July). Ronnie is back and helping us around the yard and with odd job chores. Robin is our indispensable cabin cleaner who magically appears and does a white tornado job on the cabin interiors. Terry's son Rick has been doing a great job in painting the outside of the cabins and storage buildings and by exporting his positive attitude. Between us all and with the help of a host of others, the camp seems to be working better than ever. Every year we seem to be able to get a few additional things done in order to make our guests' stay here a bit more pleasurable. This past year we have put a metal-roofed cover over the fuel, live-well and ice areas and moved a fish freezer out there; installed a new entry sign over the road; made our new Cabin #7 more a part of the camp by doing some clean-up work and by removing some fencing; painted cabins 1, 2, 5 and most of #7 and its outbuildings; installed eight new dock piles for the slips at the south end of the dock and stabilized the finger piers going out between the boats; replaced a bunch of well pumps; and cut up a bunch of firewood for the fire-pit down by the dock. Not to mention cleaning up from high river water that brought 4 inches of water over the floor in our dock office. As the spring season of 2002 draws to a close, we seem to be on the verge of our best one yet. We attribute this to four things that make us different from other Florida destinations - the strength of our internet site, the constant improvements our guests come to appreciate yearly, Mike's abilities as a host extraordinaire, and, of course, the wonderful, inherent, positive qualities of a genuine 1940's Florida fish camp on the St. John's River. In the end though, we would not be here if it weren't for the genuine, warmhearted, honest and appreciative guests that return to us year after year. You are the heart and soul of Stegbone's - and of our country. Thank you all for your continued and growing support. Catch ya later - Mike, Terry and Jim It's been a wonderful Fall.
It started off with our best news in some time. After an intensive recruiting and interview process, Mike Upton and Tracy Tatum became Stegbone's new resident managers. They are a pleasure to be with, are very giving, and our autumn guests have all responded with high praise. Mike has coffee brewing early, the gas heater going, and treats for Sadie and Gator (a hound to replace Mullet and later Roxie). Mike is also there with a smiling face and helping hand for guest requests. James would be proud. Another change is on the dock. The center and northern sections have had new pilings, deck and roof installed and we've relocated a number of the dock's fishing-related functions to that center area. And finally, we are looking to expand once more. If things work out as expected, we will have finalized our purchase of the home immediately north of the camp and hope to make that available to our guests this spring. It should sleep about six and has its own waterfront sitting porch and dock. Call us for more information. We wish all of our friends a wonderful holiday season. We look forward to your next visit. The fishing and the weather have been great. The panfish are hitting hard and our bass fishing folks have caught a number of 7-8 pounders. Pete’s Fishing Club of Covington, KY; the McLeod group from the Florida Panhandle; the Allen team from Clyde, NC; many of our Georgia friends; and half the town of Ozark, AL have all had great trips.
Terry Stege, with the help of Jim Carrick, is handling the Camp. Jim Stege is around on weekends. We’ve recently reorganized after putting much faith into some people who are no longer with us. And, in the longer term, we are looking once again for that ‘perfect’ couple who would like to manage and run the camp while living here in the double-wide across the street. Anyway, whoever thought it would be easy and that we’d get it perfect the first time around? The Camp itself is in the best shape it has seen over the past 30 years, the river is healthy, and it is a joy to just be here. We recently received a generous loan of a 10-pound mounted bass caught on the flats to the south of the dock 40 years ago by Bob Allender, who established and ran the Camp from 1946-72. The bass is hanging on the wall of the dock office. Thanks to Bob and his son, Shane! And thanks to all of our wonderful guests for continuing to pick this camp to get away for some great fishing! Hoping to see you again soon! |
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