A Community’s Commitment to Restoration.
From the beginning, Rivers Bend Campground has been a place built by the community, for the community. Its story began when 94 acres were generously donated to the city of Rock Valley—an act of generosity that laid the groundwork for something special. A place where families could get reacquainted over the weekend, friends could reunite, teams could get away for a retreat–a place where people could come and take a moment to wind down and enjoy nature. With the help of the city and students from Northwest Iowa Community College, that vision became reality. For years, the campground has welcomed travelers from across the region, serving as a retreat for campers, hikers, cyclists and families. But in the spring of 2024, everything changed.
When historic flooding swept through northwest Iowa and southwest Minnesota, Rivers Bend was hit hard. Within hours, the entire campground was underwater. Campers were evacuated, and floodwaters surged into the office and cabins, eventually reaching the rooftops. The damage forced the closure of the campground for the remainder of the season. However, it was still utilized as a temporary housing location for those who lost their homes. For the community, it wasn’t just the loss of a campground—it was the loss of a gathering space, a summer tradition, a piece of what makes this community feel like home.
As rebuilding efforts launched across the area, CFE Lumber in George was called upon for a special project: rebuilding Rivers Bend. The ask? A new office and five cabins to bring the campground back to life. Just like the original construction of Rivers Bend, the rebuild became a community effort. As soon as the snow was thawed, construction began in April 2025 at the George lumber yard, roughly twenty-five miles down the road from the campground. While our CFE Lumber team has decades of experience building custom structures on-site, this project brought new challenges.
“The number one concern was the transportation of the structures,” explains Jerry Schoo, George Lumber Location Manager. “It’s a much different process than when we move a house to set on a foundation.”
Fortunately, the community stepped up again. A local business volunteered to handle the move from the lumber yard to the campground. Materials like siding and steel were sourced from local vendors, proving that the spirit of supporting communities runs deep.
“After the floods, everyone was in the mode of returning to normalcy and ready to do whatever was needed to get their community back to what it was before,” Jerry shares.
Despite the tight labor market and high demand for contractors after the flooding, progress steadily continued. Alongside the Rivers Bend project, the George lumber yard has also been at the heart of another major initiative: constructing new starter homes for flood-impacted families. Through this challenging time, CFE aimed to do what we do best, and for the lumber team, that means getting the tools out and starting to build.
The campground’s new office building made its way to Rivers Bend in time for Memorial Day weekend. By midsummer, the first cabin was delivered, marking a visible, hopeful step toward welcoming campers back.
This project is just one part of CFE’s broader commitment to helping the Rock Valley community recover and rebuild. “One of the most important pillars of a cooperative is to help their community, whether that’s through getting through a tough season or actually rebuilding it, that’s what we are here for,” Jerry says.
As Rivers Bend has reopened its gates and welcomed back visitors, they look forward to the arrival of the four remaining cabins. <<
