Opinion ID: 2071303
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Development of the Campground

Text: In 1980, Cutty's Incorporated (the Developer) developed a private recreational vehicle park and campground resort (campground) on approximately eighty acres of land near Des Moines. For six years, the Developer purported to sell 1/3000 undivided interests in the property to prospective campers. Although we adopt the undivided interests terminology in the remainder of this opinion, we do not decide the precise nature of what the buyers actually purchased. Compare Kovach v. Erie Islands Resort & Marina, 93 Ohio App.3d 11, 637 N.E.2d 382, 383 (Ohio Ct.App.1994) (interest in real estate), with All Seasons Resorts, Inc. v. Abrams, 68 N.Y.2d 81, 506 N.Y.S.2d 10, 497 N.E.2d 33, 38 (1986) (not interest in real estate). Each buyer paid the Developer between $3000 and $5700 for the 1/3000 undivided interest, depending upon whether the buyer paid the Developer up front or financed the purchase through an installment sales contract. The typical installment sales contract stated that upon payment in full, the Developer would deliver to the buyer a deed conveying title to the undivided interest as a tenant in common with all the owners of the other undivided interests. The undivided interests were subject to a Declaration of Restrictions (the Restrictions) on the campground property. The Restrictions, which the Developer recorded in 1980, were variously referred to as covenants, conditions, and easements and cross-easements in fee. By their own terms, the Restrictions ran with the land. The Restrictions were binding upon the present title holder[s] ... and their respective heirs, assigns, and successors.... Ownership of an undivided interest gave the buyer access to the campground and use of the campground's amenities, which included an indoor pool, whirlpool, sauna, miniature golf course, tennis courts, various play areas, and a fishing lake with paddle boats. Buyers did not own a specific campsite. Partition of the property was restricted, and some buyers' contracts prohibited them from recording their undivided interests. On the other hand, owners of undivided interests were permitted to sell, give, or devise them to others, so long as they paid a fee to a third party, Cutty's Des Moines Camping Club, Incorporated.