New Generation of Campers Discovers Park Models

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!When it comes to talking about their experiences renting park models and yurts, private park operators across the country have a similar refrain: They can’t get enough of them. The Jellystone Park at Kozy Rest in Harrisville, Pa., is a case in point. The 170-site park has two site-built cabins, two park models and two yurts, but demand for rental accommodations is so strong that the park had to turn away 200 nights’... Read more

Blue Bay Distributing: Major Supplier of Hats/T-Shirts

Samples of Blue Bay's multitude of products. People like ordering food that’s made fresh to order. But the same logic can apply to the apparel business as well, even to the things like T-shirts and hats. Styles and colors change. Even the cuts of T-shirts can change. But campgrounds that order hats and T-shirts from Blue Bay Distributing don’t run into that problem. “Everything is made print-to-order,” says Cher Cronauer, who has owned and operated the Raleigh, N.C.-based... Read more

Packer Legends Promote Camping at Wisconsin Meeting

The Wisconsin Association of Campground Owners (WACO) had its biggest conference in history in March, drawing 565 attendees and a record 192 vendors, according to WACO officials. “This was our best conference and trade show ever,” said Lori Severson, WACO’s executive director, who was honored for her 10 years of outstanding service during a surprise tribute ceremony that WACO board members had organized without her knowledge. The March 14-18 event, which took place at the Holiday Inn Hotel... Read more

Campsite Accessories: Sales Uptick Good for Park Industry

Campground operators are stepping up in their investments in picnic tables, barbecue grills, fire rings and even bicycle racks, according to vendors that specialize in selling these items to campgrounds. “Last year was real slow. This year, people seem to be buying,” said Norman Boucher, co- owner of LCN Outdoors in Windsor, Conn. “We’re selling more grills and picnic tables.” LCN is also seeing a stronger response to its product catalog. “We’ve gotten calls from Utah and South Dakota.... Read more

Green Initiatives: Good for Business

Ocean Lakes Family Campground has made headlines over the years for its investments in solar energy and recycling and promotion of electric vehicles. Last summer, the 893-site, Myrtle Beach, S.C., park opened the first electric vehicle charging station on the Carolina coast, while also recruiting its guests to recycle more than 330,000 pounds of solid waste. But as the nation celebrates Earth Day in April, Ocean Lakes is turning its attention to an admittedly less glamorous but equally important... Read more

RMS North America Gains Traction in Campground Market

Before she was tapped by an investor group to manage Sun Country Resort in Whitney, Texas, last December, Pamela Wright had developed specialized expertise in the campground business, managing the front desk, housekeeping and marketing operations of 13 different private parks during the past eight years. But it wasn’t until recently that she discovered RMS North America’s front desk management system. The system, which was publicly introduced to campground operators during ARVC’s Outdoor Hospitality... Read more

WCM Survey: Park Model/Yurt Builders Optimistic

The master bedroom of a solar-powered park model built by Palm Harbor Homes, a division of Cavco Industries Inc. Private park operators are continuing to increase their investments in park model cabins, cottages and yurts as they work to both diversify and fortify their business base in a challenging economy. And even though private parks have been stepping up their investments in rental accommodations for several years, the parks themselves are still a long way from reaching the saturation point,... Read more

Profiles of Electrical Meter Suppliers to Campgrounds

Following is information about of the electrical meter providers to the RV park and campground sector: COMPANY: Vision Metering LLC OVERVIEW: Vision Metering is an Austin International company that describes itself as the world’s largest utility products and services provider. PRODUCT SPECIALTY: Low-profile E-Z read meters as well as socket and mounting kits. MANAGEMENT: Randy Austin, owner CONTACT: 7 Ross Cannon Street, York, SC 29745; (803) 628-0035; www.electricalconnector.com COMPANY: B &... Read more

Campground Orders Boost Utility Meter Makers’ Bottom Lines

This year has been a fairlyy good year for companies that provide utility supplies to the campground industry. Parks are replacing old pedestals. They’re adding new sites. And they’re doing so in greater numbers than last year. “I think RV parks this fall are really going to be expanding because we’re doing some really big quotes,” said Maggie Linnel, vice president of B & B Electrical in Lake Orion, Mich. “People are adding on and revamping.” Paul Croteau, a principal with Electrical... Read more

Mission Management Posts Market Gains

Peter Kearns doesn’t have to look very far to monitor the latest trends in online reservations. In addition to being sales manager for Mission Management, which markets Campground Manager front desk management software and the Internet-based BookYourSite reservation system, Kearns has been a co-owner of the 289-site Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Ontario for the past eight years. “Last year was the first year in history that we took more reservations over the Internet than over the phone,”... Read more

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