My name is Phyllis Kuteron. I've owned and operated Kamp 42 Degrees for 20+ years, previously known as Kooters Creekside Campground. I was injured on a job in 1999 and decided to use my workman's compensation to purchase property for a Bed and Breakfast home. After months of searching with the help of a realtor I found the perfect piece of land for sale. However, the landowner wouldn't sell it to me because he said he "didn't sell to black people". My fiancé at the time(a white man) had an aunt that helped me purchase it. I went on to own and operate the campground with my husband for 21 years. I am a real customer service oriented person. I have a passion for the work I do. I provide the very best quality, value and comforts to our camping customers. The campground is 2400 feet from Michigan International Speedway. Making me the first and only black female camping business owner in the county.

My success was widely admired by the camping community. All the while I endured a tumultuous marriage that was fueled by my husband's opioid addiction and abusive behaviors. He did the maintenance on the land while I was doing the business aspects of the work. Planning for months, decorating our pavilion in blazing heat, taking reservations, tending to customers, etc. I also took custody of a 2 year boy and raised him by my side all while successfully building the camping business. That 2 year old is now 21 and has succeeded with helping revamp and rebuild the campground business after the pandemic as a Co-Owner and Head Of Reservations. 

In 2016 after having enough of the verbal, mental and emotional abuse, And the lack of interest and support from my husband for the business, I decided to move to Omaha Nebraska.  My husband needed help and he too was supposed to join us that fall. I thought getting him out of the environment he was in would redirect his life. He promised to come in November but filed for a divorce instead, completely blindsiding me. But that wasn't the worst of it.

I found out after the divorce that he had never put my name on the campground and had it stashed away in a trust that didn't pay taxes. I quickly picked up a job and soon began to have my taxes taken because of the campground. I continued to travel 10 hours one way to run the campground every summer with my son Aj. My husband would stand by and collect the money but not lifting a finger to help. I invested every dime into the campground in the fall of 2022. That investment was to ensure we could survive without the help of my ex husband. That infuriated him to the point he secretly put the campground up for sale behind my back. Before the campground could be sold, he died! 

I notified his relatives and was told "We don't want anything to do with him, we didn't really know him and we don't want his trust or anything to do with his estate". "Fine" I said. I need to continue to run the business to support myself and my son. The estate attorney for my husband has had his license suspended before for falsifying a legal document. This attorney was rude and intimidating at times when I talked to him. He told me I had no rights to the campground and proceeded to convince the relatives not to give the campground to me. Now they don't answer my calls, texts or messages. We are now 5 months behind on our rent and bills. The calls and reservations continue to come in and we have to refuse them. It is very hurtful and demeaning as business owners. 

Today I need the support of the public, business owners of every race to help me in my desperate fight to regain control of my business. Camping customers from the past, present and future, I also need your support. Please sign this petition to help me get my business back.