"In 1995, I went on a fishing trip to Dead Lakes and fell in love with this place. I bought a small trailer park, started pulling old-growth cypress out of the lake, and built something special. This isn't a commercial operation—it's my backyard, and I want you to feel at home here."
The Journey to WeWa
Bob was born in Rhode Island and raised in Maryland. After graduating from Severna Park High School, he attended Morgan State University in Baltimore, earning a Bachelor of Science degree. He served 4 years in the Army, spending 3.5 years in Ethiopia.
After leaving Maryland, Bob settled into the mountains of West Virginia and opened a body shop, where he repaired and restored old cars. There, he became friends with local artists in the community and developed a deep appreciation for traditionally hand-made artisan works—glass, steel, and woodworking—as well as his love for nature. These experiences would later shape his life's work with cypress.
Then came that fateful fishing trip in 1995.
Finding Home at Dead Lakes
When Bob first saw Dead Lakes near Wewahitchka, Florida, he knew he'd found something special. He bought a small trailer park and moved south. While exploring the lake, he discovered something extraordinary: old-growth cypress driftwood, preserved for decades in the tannic waters.
Bob started harvesting the cypress, learning to carve, and eventually built a full driftwood business. In 1997, he purchased an adjacent 6.5-acre property and created what is now WeWa RV Park—an 11-acre retreat where guests can experience the same peace Bob found all those years ago.