Couple opens new public laundromat at Cedar Ridge RV Park and Storage in Bakersfield

Residents of Bakersfield and surrounding areas who don’t own a washer or dryer now have a convenient new option: a self-service laundromat located at Cedar Ridge RV Park and Storage. The facility, which opened recently, offers the use of eight washers and 12 dryers to the public at affordable prices.

The laundromat is the latest addition to the growing business owned and operated by Jeff and Rona Sagert, who moved to Bakersfield in 2022. When they purchased the property at Highways O and 101, just down the road from Bakersfield School, they took over the existing storage units, RV campground and boat and RV storage operation. From the beginning, they knew a laundromat was something the community needed - and now, they’ve happily completed the project and have opened the doors to the public. 

A lifestyle change

The Sagerts’ move to Bakersfield was about more than just business, it was about family. For years, Jeff worked as a general contractor and inspector, putting in 70 to 90 hours a week and commuting long distances, while Rona also worked long days as a physical therapist. Their children, now in sixth, seventh and 10th grades, were attending a charter school, and the family often felt stretched thin.

“That was one of the big reasons we left the city,” Jeff said. “I was spending all my time teaching adult men on the job, many who didn’t really want to learn. And I thought, I could be teaching my own kids instead. I grew up around skilled tradesmen who passed their knowledge down to me, and I wanted to be able to pass that same knowledge down to my children. But working those hours, I barely saw them.”

Rona echoed the sentiment. “You know how it goes, you’re on the hamster wheel. We’d leave early, get home late and by the time we finally sat down with the kids, we were all exhausted. They ended up getting the worst part of us, and we got the worst part of them. We knew we needed to slow down. We knew we needed a change.”

They took a leap of faith and left southern California in early 2022. “We quit our job, sold our house and began traveling the country as a family,” Rona said. 

Jeff, who had grown up on 40 acres in Wisconsin, said he wanted the family to find home somewhere that had that same country feel and lifestyle as his childhood - and the freedom that comes with it.

They decided to settle in one spot after finding the 10-acre Cedar Ridge property up for sale. Jeff said he’d always wanted to own storage units, and the added campground was just a bonus. They moved to Bakersfield in late May 2022, living in a camper on the property while they ran the business and began to make improvements.

Life in Ozark County has given them the opportunity that they so desperately wanted to slow down and reconnect as a family. “It’s so much quieter here,” Rona said. “No traffic. And the days just move slower. Back in the city, you’d blink and four hours had flown by. Here, there’s time to breathe and actually do things.”

Rona helps with various aspects of the business while homeschooling their three children. Jeff has stayed incredibly busy tackling various projects and issues that have arisen - including damage the property incurred during the March tornado and repeated flooding that has washed out the sloped gravel roadways and chat parking lots that weave through the property. The kids also help out with the business, helping mow, shovel and rake gravel and working alongside their dad in the laundromat or with other building projects, allowing Jeff to pass those skills onto the next generation. 

Building the laundromat

The biggest project has been the laundromat, and Jeff and Rona are especially excited that it’s finally open and operational. The couple said they knew from day one that they wanted to add a laundromat to Cedar Ridge, and they got to work the very next morning after closing on the property. 

The new facility is housed in two converted storage units. The machines are coin-operated, with pricing set at $2 per wash and $1.50 per dryer use. There are eight washers and 12 dryers available for use, and currently, guests should bring their own laundry products.

 There are plans underway to expand into a third unit within the next six months or so. The future additions will include oversized machines, drink and snack vending and a dispenser stocked with laundry essentials like detergent and dryer sheets.

The laundromat’s current hours are:

Tuesdays: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Wednesdays: 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Thursdays–Mondays: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Other offerings at Cedar Ridge

Beyond the laundromat, Cedar Ridge continues to serve the community in other ways. The RV campground, currently open year round, offers 27 full-service hookup sites for both short- and long-term stays. Campers can rent by the night, week or month, and enjoy amenities such as walking trails and a communal pavilion.

The property also includes 48 storage units, each measuring 10-by-10 feet. At the moment, all are occupied, but the Sagerts maintain a waiting list and notify customers as units become available. Outdoor spaces for camper and boat storage are also available to rent.

With the laundromat now open and more improvements on the way, the Sagerts say they’re excited about what the future holds for Cedar Ridge. They are currently looking to add a variety of fruit and nut trees and shrubs to their network of walking trails. Their hope is that the property will continue to grow and evolve alongside Bakersfield itself, meeting the needs of both locals and visitors for years to come.

Visit the “Cedar Ridge, RV Park and Storage” Facebook page at facebook.com/CedarRidge.RVparkAndStorage for continued specials and updates. Guests can also call 417-257-0965, visit rvparkcedarridge.com, email info@rvparkcedarridge.com or stop by the property at 9 State Highway O in Bakersfield (Turn at the campground sign, and the Sagerts can usually be found at their camper, second on the right with an “office” sign out front).

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Editor’s note: The Ozark County Times offers free business profiles for new local businesses in Ozark County. To find out more, email jessi@ozarkcountytimes.com, call the Times office at 417-679-4641 or stop in the office, on the southeast side of the Gainesville square during regular business hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.