A year of growth

Sportsman’s Campground is a little country hideaway located two miles north of Janesville, just a block south from Lake Elysian. With a cloudless sky above and a perfect temperature for swimming and a light breeze, owner Grant Wildgrube was found handing out root beer floats by the pool.

Wildgrube is now in his third season of owning Sportsman’s Campground. As he washed his somewhat sugary hands, he explained, “It’s my son's sixteenth birthday, so we are giving out free root beer floats to celebrate.” His son Reid works at the campground, performing tasks including  mowing lawns, small repairs, or anything else that needs doing. Wildgrube’s other child, 12-year-old Claire, works there too. The campground was originally owned by the Sportsman’s Clubs located in Janesville and Smith’s Mill; the organizations sold it to Rick and Jerri Reinbold, who sold it to Wildgrube and his wife Anna in 2022. In addition to assisting with the campground, Anna works as a veterinarian in Owatonna.

This has been a growth year for Sportsman’s Campground. The addition of 13 new campsites has brought the total to 65. Other planned improvements were delayed by the wet spring. Said Wildgrube, “We started to mow a trail through the woods so people could go hiking, but had to hold off on that up through July 4 because there was water from all the rain. But even with the wet weather, people were still eager to camp here: That means something.” Wildgrube recorded more than 14 inches of rain early in the summer.

Wildgrube grew up in New Richland. He says what attracted him to the Janesville area is how much it looks like northern Minnesota, “All this old growth, wooded area looked amazing when I first saw it, what a getaway.” 

Other than the rain earlier in the year, Wildgrube said the summer has been fairly calm. He did end up hiring  James Brothers Construction to bring in gravel to restore smooth access to some parts of the campground, but other than that, he felt fortunate the grounds escaped much damage. Wildgrube said when work is needed on the site, he does everything he can to hire locally.

Wildgrube says his plans for next year include adding some short-term sites in contrast to the many customers who park their recreational vehicles for the summer and come and go to them almost like cabins. He hopes to add “walk-in” sites for those who want to camp in tents for a weekend; preparations will begin as soon as the weather allows in spring. 

Anyone looking for more information about Sportsman’s Campground in Janesville can reach Wildgrube at 507-234-5440.