Everyone is talking about one of the areas favorite attractions being sold. This article in the Smith Mountain Eagle sums it up pretty well. All will be sad at it’s loss, yet new additions will no doubt be interesting.

Camper’s Paradise, a Smith Mountain Lake landmark for nearly 40 years, has been sold to the developers of Sunset Cay, a mixed residential and commercial community currently under construction on Hendricks Store Rd. in Moneta.

According to Dreamer Walton, whose parents, Norma Jean and Leo Teass, established the business, which includes a marina, motel and restaurant, Camper’s Paradise will continue uninterrupted through the upcoming tourist season.

Major renovations are planned for the restaurant. Seating will increase from 96 to 324, which includes the outdoor deck area. The kitchen will be expanded and new equipment added. The marina’s store will be transformed into the main dining area and the store will relocate upstairs. More windows will be added to take advantage of panoramic views of the Lake and the current seating location will become a bar area.

The entire restaurant will become a non-smoking facility and the atmosphere will remain a pleasant family dining experience, said Walton.

Additionally, the restaurant’s menu will undergo some modifications. Breakfast, for which the eatery is renowned in the lake area, will remain the same. More sandwich and salad selections will be added to the luncheon menu, and the dinner menu will be expanded to include steaks, seafood and specialty entrees.

Hours of operation will be 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Renovation work began Monday and reopening is scheduled for mid to late April.

For renovation updates, check the Camper’s Paradise roadsign, this newspaper, and these two websites: http://www.sunset-cay.com/, and http://www.campersparadise.com/