Sims Family that used to own Compton Ridge

[thelarsonsix]

Does anyone know these folks? I know Dean died last year or year before but was wondering if Vinita, Jeff and Susie are still around.

[Avalanche04]

I do know the family very well. And was unaware that dean had past away. Last spring 2010 we had run into vinitta at walmart lol. Anyway she said dean had been sick and wasn't doing well. As far as jeff he is doing as good as one can after his son past but doing fine. Now I have a question for you. We may have crossed paths there since Compton ridge is the only place we ever stayed at when we went to branson. So how long have you been going there? Me? I have been staying ther since the early 70s

[thelarsonsix]

We've only been going for the last 10 years or so. Spent probably 4-5 seasons with the Sims family. The last time we were there under their ownership, Jeff was hauling boxes out of the office and all the Moose heads had been taken down. Didn't dawn on me at the time what was going on but found out soon after it had sold. Was not pleased with the new owners, and it wasn't just me they were horrible. We had just about written it off when it sold again and seems to be back in good hands now. Do you know the new owners at all?
We do camp other places in Branson, but still hit Compton Ridge 4-5 times a year so it's quite likely we've been there at the same time. If you have any pics from the earlier days, I would love to see them. Somewhere on here I've posted a pic of a postcard from the 70's that shows what is now the indoor pool as the outdoor pool.
I've also always wondered what happened to Brandon. I could never find anything out other than after he returned from the service he was killed but I don't know how. If it's something you'd rather not post publicly pm me. If it's something they want to keep completely private I understand that as well. I'm pretty sure they were grooming him to take over and his death ultimately led to the sale.

[Avalanche04]

I do have some Pictures but as of right now my computer is in the shop. But as soon as I can I will post some I am for now using my I phone for a comuter lol We have not been back there since the summer they sold it. Like you said i have heard nothing but bad things from the first new owners. But I also have heard that the second new owners have brought back the good ol family type of camping. I do know what happend to Brandon and i will pm you with the details. Out of respect of the family, it's nice too meet someone on here that shares knows how Compton ridge really was.

[Avalanche04]

there was always alot to do at compton ridge. seemed like i was never at the camp site other than to sleep and eat. i do wish i had all the money i spent in the game room. lol do you remember the old tree house that stood right behind the tennis court? wow i can spend hours talking about that place.

[thelarsonsix]

Do you mean this one?



No, I'm afraid that's way before my time. Here's some more I found on their facebook page though:

Showerhouse and laundry



This is supposed to be a wagon from SDC, I'm wondering if someone on here can confirm this

The office and then a couple of campsites:

[Avalanche04]

oh my gosh!!! wow yes that was the old tree house. i cant hardly belive my eyes lol and all them old pictures are great too see thank you so much for posting those pictures. i would love to see more, i know you told me about facebook has alot of the old pictures but im not a fan of facebook to be honest. looking at that old tree house and seeing how small it really was but as a kid it seemed to be 100ft tall lol. i think those pictures might even be before my time there. i cant remember  the exact year i started to going down too compton. it was after 1974 but before 1978 so i do have lots of memorys, and enjoy anything about that place. i can remember the building they called the gathering place, they held church sevices every sunday morning up stairs and where the laundry room is was the original game room and it was all the basement of the building i mean it was huge, seemed like they had every video game available back then. air hocky pool tables i think 3 to be exact. i do remember that the indoor pool was actually the second outdoor pool. and right at the entrance too the campground right acrossed the highway from sdc campground was wet-n-wild water slide gosh did i ever have fun there. lol

[thelarsonsix]

The pics are from 1973 according to the OP. The Gathering Place is still there, still has Church services, and is still called the Gathering Place. Are you saying the entire basement of that was a game room? WOW! Other than the laundry room they use it for a maintenance shop now, except during Witchy Weekend it becomes a big part of the spook house. So what is now the indoor pool was added after the outdoor pool by the tennis courts? I've seen the pic of when it used to be outdoor but I didn't know which one was there first. What about the pic I posted of the office? I can't picture where this is now. Was the Silver Dollar City campground there when you started going? I think Compton opened around '68, not sure how long SDC campground has been there.

[Avalanche04]

sorry i may have misled you a little, where the old laundry room is the width of that all the way down the building was the game room. the maintinance garage was added to the building. and im not sure witch pool was put in first, but do remember that they were both outdoor pools at one time. and as far as the picture of the guys sitting around im not real sure but i think that was on the back side of the old office building. now about the wagon pic i dont remember that all or even if that was something they did all the time or just a one time thing. yes sdc campground has always been there as far back as i can remember.

[thelarsonsix]

Where was the old office building at? What was where the new office/game room is now? What about the 4 motel rooms, do you know when they were built? Sorry I've got so many questions, I just love knowing how things "used to be".

[Avalanche04]

thats not a problem, i love remiscing about the place. the old office its hard too explain but ill try not too confuse you. do you know out front of the current office they have the flower kind of a garden area well if you pick up the building and moved it towards the campground im guessing that would be west. about 40 yrds thats where the old office sat, it used to be new arivals came in on the right side of the building and people who were leaving left on the left side of the building. as far as the motel rooms on the main campground they have always been there as far back as i can remember. the lodge i think was built in 1986 or 87. here is something im sure you didnt know. the house trailer acrossed from the office (im sure its gone now) but jeff lived there for many years.

[thelarsonsix]

It actually is still there. It's been added on to and looks almost like a doublewide now. They call it the Family Lodge and rent it out to a large group of people that want to stay together. I have often wondered if one of the Sims lived in it at one time or another! lol. I know just where you're talking about for the old office now, they have the big rig sites there now, basically at the "top of the hill".

[Avalanche04]

yes exactly, and wow im glad too hear its still there, yes he and susie lived there many years untill he built the house right down the road. here is some info back in the 70s jeff had closed the pool for the night and was adding chemicals (shock) and other chemicals im not quite sure but it blew up in his face. we were not there at the time but did come down not too long after, i can remember him wearing the bandages. also they used too escort everyone too there camp site during normal buisness hours via dirt bike and then by golf cart. they really did know how too treat there campers.

[Avalanche04]

anyway im am going too log off for the night. if you have anymore questions i would be more than happy too try and answer them for you the best i can. i love too telk about it.

[sanddunerider]

Love the pics!