Whispering Oaks Cabins
People
When Jodi Meusel and Nathan Clements bought Whispering Oaks Cabins, it changed everything. The husband-wife team went from employees to entrepreneurs, from bustling Kansas City to rural Pennsylvania, and from climate-controlled workplaces to the middle of Cook Forest. “We love our cabins in the winter,” says Jodi. “The only problem is, they were coooold.”
Progress
As newcomers, they wanted someone who knew the lay of the land to help finance the winterization of the cabins. The Clarion County Community Bank, which financed their purchase of the cabins, recommended The Progress Fund. They explored other options, but settled on the lender that focuses on rural tourism, helps with networking and marketing, and works with its clients as they expand.
Impact
A $50,000 loan from The Progress Fund covered environmentally friendly improvements, including tankless water heaters, insulated windows and walls, efficient gas heaters, and improved fireplaces and refrigerators. Now Whispering Oaks is a comfortable option for those who want to take advantage of Cook Forest’s skiing, snowmobiling and the Snowman in the Forest contest. That’s good news for surrounding restaurants, shops and ski rental businesses. It’s great news for Jodi and Nathan. “We didn’t buy a million-dollar business,” Nathan said. “We bought a lifestyle.”
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