Welcome to Crow's Nest Outdoor Adventure Opposition Page
This site was created to share our story – the journey of building a family-owned Campground in Stafford County, Virginia, and the challenges we’ve faced along the way.
In 2023 we submitted our application for a campground permit, following every step of the county’s process. From the start, our vision has been simple: to create a place where families, friends, and outdoor lovers can enjoy God’s creation, right here in Stafford.
But since then, we have faced unexpected roadblocks and shifting rules. The county has changed ordinances mid-process, demanding our project be “tents only,” in order to stop our campground. We offered the public a $25k reward to find the "Tents Only"restriction. We even took it up to $250k and yet no one found it, because it was a made up ordinance.
These obstacles have not only delayed our dream – they raise a bigger issue: the rights of landowners in Stafford County. This is not the first time they did this, a few years ago they changed ordinances to prevent a cemetery from building. However, they were slapped with a lawsuit and had to pay 1/2 million dollars in damages and also pay around $400.00 of Stafford Residents taxes for attorney fees. This page exists for two reasons: 1. To keep our community updated on what’s really happening with our campground project. 2. To shed light on how Stafford’s actions affect not just us, but every landowner whose rights could be limited or taken away. We believe in fairness. We believe in transparency. And we believe in protecting the rights of families like ours, who have worked hard and followed the rules. As you explore this site, you’ll find the history of our application, the obstacles we’ve faced, and the broader implications for property rights in Stafford County. Thank you for visiting – and for standing with us as we fight for what is right. Crow’s Nest Outdoor Adventure
FEATURED POST
History has a way of repeating itself — especially when it comes to Stafford County blocking BY-RIGHT land uses it DOESN’T LIKE.
Let’s go back to just a few years ago…
“Anticipating that its existing cemetery was nearing capacity, AMAA bought a parcel of land in Stafford County zoned for cemetery use BY-RIGHT. In response, the Stafford County Board of Supervisors hastily AMENDED the county’s cemetery ordinance to BLOCK construction on the cemetery.”
Patch News, 2021
https://patch.com/.../group-wins-500k-after-stafford...
Sound familiar?
“When the association bought the property, it complied with all state and local requirements for use as a cemetery, according to the Justice Department. But after learning of the association’s plans, Stafford County AMENDED its ORDINANCE to require that cemeteries be no closer than 900 feet from private wells and certain types of streams, thus PREVENTING the association from using its property as a cemetery.” Patch News, 2020 https://patch.com/.../justice-department-sues-stafford... Sound familiar? “The ordinance imposed new requirements, UNSUPPORTED by any legitimate health or safety concerns, that the County knew the AMAA could not meet.” DOJ, 2021 https://patch.com/virginia/fredericksburg/justice-department-sues-stafford-blocking-islamic-cemetery?fbclid=IwY2xjawMmTgxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFBeFZscVhBN0ZINGdlS0JrAR44MmEAKZF4jt-J-9U_6CNVvcghydVMGE2zeKgqkBn6Bvo0j0B6En4uEY8aEQ_aem_QXyNN6HSuFJqzFIgj53E1Q Sound familiar? Even after a federal lawsuit was filed by the United States, Stafford still DRAGGED its feet: “After the United States sued, the County replaced the ordinance with another one, but it, too, imposed unreasonable constraints on the group’s ability to build a religious cemetery. In October 2020, the County repealed the second ordinance as well, and replaced it with one that allows for the establishment of cemeteries as a permitted use" DOJ, 2021 https://www.justice.gov/.../stafford-county-virginia... When they couldn’t STOP it legally, they STALLED it. “A SIX-YEAR dispute in Stafford County over plans to develop an Islamic cemetery has ended, with the Justice Department dropping a religious discrimination lawsuit against the county this week after it agreed to let the plans go forward” Washington Post 2021 https://www.washingtonpost.com/.../45e88e82-2dc8-11ec... WHY did Stafford finally change course? Because it had to — after a DOJ investigation, a $500,000 settlement, and nearly $400,000 in legal fees — all paid with your tax dollars. “Stafford County agreed to pay the AMAA $500,000 and approve the cemetery. The county had spent more than $390,000 in legal fees defending the county’s actions after the lawsuit was filed” Patch News, 2021 https://patch.com/.../group-wins-500k-after-stafford... As part of that resolution: “The County has implemented an internal procedure to address complaints by any person who believes that the County may have violated RLUIPA, provided RLUIPA training to County employees who are responsible for implementing and enforcing zoning and land use regulations, posted notices of its obligations to comply with RLUIPA on several County website pages, and placed RLUIPA notices in land use application documents.” DOJ, 2021 https://www.justice.gov/.../stafford-county-virginia... So here we are in 2025… Another BY-RIGHT project. Another sudden change of an ordinance Another sudden push for an unsupported restriction. (TENTS ONLY) Another long, costly delay — despite clear zoning that allows it. And while our project doesn’t fall under RLUIPA, the cemetery NEVER should have had to invoke a federal religious land law — and we SHOULDN’T have had to file a lawsuit — just to receive FAIR and LAWFUL treatment. Because the County Employees have been made to go through TRAINING after the CEMETERY DEBACLE - so they should know better! . And yet — once again — here we are. Is this déjà vu… or just business as usual in Stafford?