By COLLIN BREAUX
Tucked away in Bonifay off Highway 79 is Outback Springs RV Resort, which aims to provide people with a place to enjoy the outdoors in Holmes County–with Australian flavor.
Outback Springs is owned by Australian resident Pete Swales, who acquired the former Florida Springs property in 2017 with business partner Lane Cline. The Holmes County Advertiser last profiled the business in November 2022.
Visitor numbers were down a little earlier this year as people backed off from travel but have picked back up this fall, according to Swales.
“We get a lot of travelers,” he said.
Outback Springs is appealing because it’s a place people can come to that has a hot tub and swimming pool but is still in a rural setting, he said.
A lot of visitors come from nearby areas such as Panama City, Destin, and lower Alabama.
The RV resort tends to be an “escape to the country” for people, who can visit nearby springs and cook steaks on barbecue grills while they’re down.
People are looking for “reasons to travel” as they “get over” COVID-19, Swales said.
He expects visitor numbers to continue to grow if gas prices stay relatively low and there is consumer confidence in the economy.
The anticipated new Busy Bee expected to open in Holmes County in the future is also another development Swales has his eye on since that could also bring people to Outback Springs.
“There will be some construction workers,” he said. “There will be people around. They need a place to stay.”
GARETT VALCOURT 
Hannah Collins 