There was a time when a “country club lifestyle” meant pressed khakis, golf etiquette, and pretending you like shrimp cocktail. These days? The good life has a new zip code—and it comes with less pressure, more fire pits, and probably a dog snoring on your lap.
Welcome to the new country club: the modern campground.
Now before you raise a skeptical eyebrow, hear us out. Campgrounds today—especially the really good ones (cough Mustang Run cough)—are no longer just places to crash after hiking or dodging tornadoes across I-40. They’re community hubs. They’re recreation stations. They’re where connection, comfort, and a little chaos all come together in the best possible way.
Let’s break down how the modern campground became the unofficial social club for people who prefer hoodies over polo shirts.
You Don’t Need a Membership—Just a Good Attitude and Maybe a S’mores Stick
Country clubs come with gatekeepers. Campgrounds? You just need to roll in with a reservation and maybe a neighborly wave.
And while traditional clubs might have you filling out forms, paying dues, and attending awkward galas with forced laughter, campgrounds offer a different kind of luxury:
- Freedom to show up as you are
- No judgment if your shirt says “World’s Okayest Camper”
- Activities that don’t require lessons or scorecards
At Mustang Run, for example, you can walk into the clubhouse, grab a paddle, and dominate at ping pong… or just pretend you’re “going easy on the kids” while you figure out the rules.
The Amenities Are Actually Fun
Here’s where we really start pulling ahead.
Old-school country clubs offer pools, tennis courts, and the world’s driest chicken Caesar wraps. Meanwhile, campgrounds have evolved their amenity game with:
- Pool tables, foosball, and ping pong tournaments that escalate in the best possible way
- Big-screen movie nights where the seating is camp chairs and blankets
- Full kitchens in the clubhouse for potlucks, pancake mornings, or the occasional “let’s see what happens if we put bacon in everything” night
- Dog parks, because your golden retriever deserves friends too
And the best part? No one’s judging your footwear. Crocs are not only accepted—they’re celebrated.
Nature + WiFi = The Real Luxury Hybrid
Look, we all want to unplug… just enough. And modern campgrounds get that.
Want to sit by the fire with a book and ignore your inbox? Go for it. Want to log into a quick Zoom call from the rec room, where the WiFi doesn’t glitch out the second you say “pivot strategy”? We’ve got you.
It’s the best of both worlds: connection when you need it, disconnection when you finally remember that’s an option.
And unlike a country club’s quiet “please turn off your devices” policy, we encourage you to take that call—just maybe not while someone’s serving up a cornhole championship throw.
Campground Culture = Built-In Community (Without the Pretense)
Let’s be honest: one of the best parts of country clubs is the social connection. But that’s often filtered through a lens of networking, business cards, and “let’s grab lunch sometime” that never actually happens.
Campgrounds? They skip all that. Your neighbor walks over because they smelled your hot dogs and want to talk gear. You meet someone because your kids are playing tag and now you’re co-chaperoning with a fellow exhausted adult who also forgot sunscreen.
There’s a shared language among campers—“Where’d you come from?” “What kind of rig is that?” “Got any marshmallows left?”—and it leads to real conversation. Real connection.
And maybe, just maybe, lifelong friends forged over burnt marshmallows and shared bug spray.
The Dress Code? Whatever Was Cleanest That Morning
There’s no “blazer required” sign at the clubhouse door. No judgment if your hoodie has a ketchup stain or your kid wore pajamas to the fire pit.
Camping culture is built around authenticity. Which means you get to show up exactly as you are—bedhead, flip-flops, and all.
And let’s be honest: you’re a lot more fun in a hoodie anyway.
So… Should Country Clubs Be Worried?
Not exactly. There will always be people who prefer a good Scotch in a dark-paneled lounge. But there’s a new generation of recreation lovers who’d rather sip coffee around a fire, play board games with strangers-turned-friends, and sneak in a ping pong match before the stars come out.
And guess what? Mustang Run was built for that crowd.
We’re not trying to replace the country club—we’re just making a solid case for the s’more-based alternative.
If you’re ready for community without the pretense, amenities without the awkward dress code, and recreation that doesn’t require a clipboard or collared shirt, your new clubhouse is already waiting.
You just have to check in.