Indigo Bluffs app connects travelers to the best of Leelanau County

By Cameryn Cass

Sun contributor

For a few seasons now, campers at Indigo Bluffs RV Park and Resort on M-72 east of Empire have enjoyed a free-to-download app that details things to do in the area.

It highlights everything from hiking trails to wineries, restaurants to farmstands, and sorts the attractions not alphabetically, but instead by distance (in miles) from the campground.

A “favorites” button was added most recently for users to easily save the things they’re interested in, “which is way easier to work with instead of a billion screenshots from Google,” said Gary Becker, the owner of Indigo Bluffs.

By giving people “local knowledge,” Becker said the app is “a tool that can maximize people’s time in the area” since there are so many points of interest to choose from.

Plus, it makes things easier on the staff at Indigo Bluffs. “People come in and want to know the best places to go,” said Krystal Temple, the campground’s office manager.

Becker explained how, on the spot, “we’d read a group.”

“Are they kids? Old folks? A young family? From there, we try to recommend them something to do, but it’s hard to do on the fly,” he said. “So, I thought, let’s do it a different way.”

What’s more, during his 18 years at Indigo Bluffs, Becker said he’s paid attention to how people camp, what they bring and how they spend their time.

“I’ve got a Ph.D.—a doctorate—in guest habits,” he said with a laugh.

And then, at an industry event a few years back, Becker crossed paths with App My Community, a company that works with campgrounds to create informational apps like this one. Ever since, he’s been working with them and employees at the campground to make his vision a reality.

Becker had some reservations at first in regards to creating an app since there are so many out there.

“In my mind, the app has to have value, otherwise people won’t use it,” he said.

That is why there’s a focus on giving good information, and not just in regards to local attractions.

“We can reach out if there’s inclement weather coming in and alert campers to put down their awnings,” said Becker.

They can also alert guests of things like maintenance and campground events.

When it’s nearby, the app even includes things like aurora borealis or an eclipse, said Rose Duemig, who co-founded App My Community with her husband Joe.

“Really, it keeps relevant things in front of people that they may or may not have thought of,” she said. “We make it as easy as possible for people to find what they’re looking for with this easy, self-explanatory grid.”

For the Indigo Bluffs RV Park App, Tina Nickle, a guest services worker at the campground, uploaded all the icons and “comprehensive” information behind them.

One question they’re grappling with now is which businesses and attractions to include since there are so many in the area. At some point, including everything becomes overwhelming and unhelpful.

Nickle said that right now, they keep points of interest within a 30-mile radius.

Becker is also reaching out to local businesses to see whether they’d like to have some sort of involvement in the app and offer deals and discounts to users. Those conversations are ongoing and positive.

Additionally, “in the off-season, Indigo Bluffs can look at what people are clicking on in analytics and remove things that guests aren’t using,” Duemig offered.

“It’s a work in progress, and we’re constantly updating it,” said Nickle.

Becker agreed that “we are at only the very beginning.”

“Adding the favorites button is a step in the right direction, but it’s still a step away from trip planning,” Nickle added.

Duemig said they’re adding a chatroom function soon for workers at Indigo Bluffs and long-term campers to utilize.

“We’re always talking about the future of this app,” said Duemig. “We want to keep things efficient; we already have AI at work to stay up to date.”

The Indigo Bluffs RV Park App is free to download on Apple and Android. There is also a web app people can use on their phone or desktop computers.

“And it’s open to more than just guests,” said Becker.