For some, camping in the rain and eating food you cooked yourself doesn’t sound like fun. But for a young Doug Rabe in 1979, it was heaven. Back then, there was nothing better than time spent at Walnut Ridge, a rural oasis in Boone County, Kentucky, owned by his friend James Resing’s family since the 1950s.
Decades later, when Doug learned that James’ father had passed away and James might have to sell the land, he knew he had to do something. Walnut Ridge was home to many of their best memories. Since the fourth grade, Doug and James had spent countless hours camping, fishing and caring for the land. As they grew up, it became the site of many quad rides and family celebrations. It was a peaceful retreat from the stressors of city life and a place where the two became more like brothers than friends. They knew it would be a shame to lose access to such a beautiful place.
As James explains it, selling the land to Doug was a perfect fit. “I have three children and my wife and they’re wonderful, but they’re not as outdoorsy as Doug’s family is. The sale of this property would help my family, and the cool part is I wouldn’t have to say goodbye to it.”
Unfortunately, buying Walnut Ridge was easier said than done for Doug. Nearly every lender in Cincinnati turned him away because the property did not have access to water. His dream of building a house and preserving Walnut Ridge for his family’s future was fading.
That’s when a neighbor told him to call Rural 1st. “I was about to give up…I can’t lie, it felt like a last-ditch effort,” Doug recalled.
Luckily, Doug quickly learned why Rural 1st was different. They answered all his questions and weren’t deterred by the vast land, development needs or lack of access to water. What had been a problem for every other lender was no big deal for Rural 1st. They knew exactly how to help him. In short order, they helped Doug’s dream become a reality.
Now, with the future of Walnut Ridge preserved, Doug looks forward to building a permanent home for his family. “Every time I’m here, I feel like a kid. Now I get to watch my granddaughters do the same. This place is home.”
If you want to turn your dream life in the country into a reality, visit our Get Started page to connect with your local loan officer. You’ll learn how Rural 1st helps people get Closer to What Matters® and how you can do the same.
