"A man weeping for a dead son is not a pretty picture." With these words Wales West Park Manager Vernon Schaab began his presentation to the February audience of "Men's 710 Second Tuesday." Schaab laid out the story of King David, lamenting for his dead son Absalom, the son that had warred against his father. "David was not the best of fathers. You and I need to pray for our children. We should not wait like King David until there is death and an end like David and Absalom in 2 Samuel 18:33." Schaab was introducing Ken Zadnichek's family-focused Wales West RV Park, located on Highway 9 just south of 48 on Polecat Creek in Central Baldwin County. Wales West seeks to build families through a Christian-friendly focus, countering the many forces working to separate members of families from one another. Schaab appealed to the Zion audience to pray for their children and not wait like King David. Prayer for the family, even in its separation, needs to be a focus for all men.
Thus emerged a recurring theme in Schaab's presentation. "We need to cultivate positive family times in a family-sensitive environment." Wales West is an RV park with a Welsh theme. A real Welsh steam engine, Dame Ann, is the first one built in 83 years to burn coal. It pulls rail cars mounted on imported under-carriages on narrow gage tracks at Wales West. This Welsh train waits in its station--an experience designed for families. Items at this station include architecture and real slate from Wales. Up the road a bit, is the entry point into the park, guarded by a Welsh-styled fort. The park has its own "Great Room" modeled after a Manor House in Wales. A four acre spring-fed lake will accent the park beginning in July. The the park's present indoor pool will still be there, of course. A white sand beach on that lake will appeal to family with swimming and paddle-boating close at hand.
The casual visitor to Wales West will notice family-friendly surroundings. Absent will be some of the "recreational activities" that blight some of the major beach activities elsewhere in our region. "Every attempt is being made to surround park visitors and residents with positive family-appropriate activities and environments," Schaab noted. In response to a specific question, he reported that the park will have a small chapel sited on a walkway in a wetlands area deep in the park. A 144 year-old chapel interior from Manchester will be reassembled within a new Welsh chapel shell on that site. The park hopes to develop a rail car dinner experience on its tracks in the future using a catered meal program. The park already has its own "blue grass festival" each Tuesday evening at 7:00 PM for a nominal head charge that provides for pop and popcorn, the joys of many a family time together.
"Our society has not placed the family in a very high position. Our challenge, men, is to get our families together and do positive things together with them." Schaab explained the operation of the train from its Welsh station and its exciting potentials for young people and families. The park will not limit its ministry to residents of its RV park alone, but has an open invitation to church groups and families to utilize its facilities. Owner Ken Zadnichek is on record as seeking to serve God through this enterprise. "Families need to be nurtured. Tell your wives you love them. Of course, don't forget the Lord, but remember your families too. Families were given for us men to treasure, and God desires that we live WITH them." Schaab lamented the competing commitments for the time of men, but went on to say that "God is there for us and our families and God provides opportunities." He concluded his presentation with a vocal, "Do You Need a Friend to Keep You till the End?"
Additional information concerning Wales West is available at the Wales West Website.
