Buying a campground?

[RobRV]

Not in a Million Years even if it could be had for 50 Cents! Worked at one for 2 Summers
Talk about a Money Pit!
The Owners were Lucky that property values were on the rise, so They were able to sell.
The New Owners had to spend a small fortune for upgrades and are now trying to sell the sites under a strata deal!

[Orchardhill]

One thought might be, volenteer, or paid, be a person that doest the same duties at a national park, Corps of Eng or the like, do a season of being a hey boy then see how you feel about putting out the money.

[hdossett]

I have thought about it once in a while, thinking it would be a good thing , but, then I would go into the garage and bang my thumb with a hammer until the until I forgot about it for a while. The hammer has worked very well, I might add.

Harold

[Kountry87Air]

Originally Posted by Purplefans & Harvey

Has anyone ever thought about purchasing a campground? I've been thinking about it quite a bit, and wondered if anybody had researched this end - also, what would be the top things that people look for in campgrounds. I know what I like, and would want to have - and here in New England we don't have many 5***** campgrounds which is what I'd like to make. Go ahead, throw comments out here! Any and all appreciated!

Well..you did ask for "any"...I would hesitate on beginning any endeavor that relied on the middle or upper middle class to thrive until after 2012 and I assume 5 star CG would fit that bill. I don't think I need to elaborate further.

As in most things business..location-location-location.

Amenities we appreciate:
-convenient and plentiful bathrooms/showers with hothot water and cleancleanclean facilities
-some form of store
-tree shade and those not in the way..as already stated.
-a good mix of seasonal and visitors.
-plentiful campfire wood..around here the ash bore infestation has mandated no campfire wood be carried about. nice fire rings.
-rust free water hookups
-washer/dryers
-pool-hottub-sauna
-level lots
-good internet/cell phone reception
-never seen but would appreciate...golf cart rentals

This is kind of niche...we are golfers and a campground close enough/associated with a course we could walk too or take a rental cart too would be cool. For us..that would be a destination CG.

Good luck.

[MickBrennan]

Originally Posted by Kountry87Air

...
As in most things business..location-location-location.

Amenities we appreciate:
-convenient and plentiful bathrooms/showers with hothot water and cleancleanclean facilities
-some form of store
-tree shade and those not in the way..as already stated.
-a good mix of seasonal and visitors.
-plentiful campfire wood..around here the ash bore infestation has mandated no campfire wood be carried about. nice fire rings.
-rust free water hookups
-washer/dryers
-pool-hottub-sauna
-level lots
-good internet/cell phone reception
-never seen but would appreciate...golf cart rentals

This is kind of niche...we are golfers and a campground close enough/associated with a course we could walk too or take a rental cart too would be cool. For us..that would be a destination CG.

Good luck.

HERE is a link to a campground just like that. Besides everything you mentioned, including cart rentals, it has a little par 3 golf course, bocce courts, tennis courts, volley ball courts, two restaurants/bars. It is very near Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando. To get a site in the high season you need to make a reservation 2 years in advance. Some seasonal sites were listed for sale at over $200K. One more thing that wasn't on the list... uh, this entire resort is "clothing optional."
...... ......

@ O.P. The AANR regularly gives seminars about buying and managing a campground profitably. Maybe you could benefit from certain aspects of the information provided in one of those classes.

PICTURES (r-rated) HERE

[wildtoad]

My check list for an rv centric campground would be:

1) Well kept access roads, some level of security lighting
2) Level sites with trees still intact, preferably all pull-through, paved is a plus but not a requirement.
3) Full hookups at each site including cable TV (could just be community TV ant)
4) Wi-fi access
5) Laundry and small park store

On the nice to provide side would be propane fill station/truck.

I think it is a fine idea to have a section or rate structure for those that just need a place to park the night, don't want or need any hookups, but may need to dump their tanks in the am. Might gain some business in the park store, additional word of mouth advertising, and would sure beat waking up in a wally world parking lot.

Now if you are thinking of a campground to compete with KOA's and the like, the list get much longer .... kid friendly amenities, food, pool, etc.

[bakerkids]

Originally Posted by NLOVNIT

One thing I wish more campgrounds would do is have 2 or 3 pull through primitive (i.e. no hook ups) sites set aside, for a cheap price, say $10, to accomodate folks traveling through an area just needing a safe place to rest before moving on. I hate having to pay $35+ for a site when I'm not going to hook up or use any of the campground's ammenities because I'm rolling in after dark & leaving at dawn. Yes, I could go to a rest area or WM, but I'd rather patronize a local campground if they would just be a more flexible with prices depending on circumstances.

Lori-

Exactly! The only hookup I have, anyway, is electric. I normally have to pay for sewer and water although I can't utilize it. I can't use the primitive sites in my area because they're "walk into" sites for tents. When I had my tent, I paid for camper site because I wanted the electric. Now I have my T@B with a battery, I'd prefer to use the tent sites but can't. ugh.

[bakerkids]

Originally Posted by Kountry87Air

Amenities we appreciate:
-convenient and plentiful bathrooms/showers with hothot water and cleancleanclean facilities
-some form of store
-tree shade and those not in the way..as already stated.
-a good mix of seasonal and visitors.
-plentiful campfire wood..around here the ash bore infestation has mandated no campfire wood be carried about. nice fire rings.
-rust free water hookups
-washer/dryers
-pool-hottub-sauna
-level lots
-good internet/cell phone reception
-never seen but would appreciate...golf cart rentals

This is kind of niche...we are golfers and a campground close enough/associated with a course we could walk too or take a rental cart too would be cool. For us..that would be a destination CG.

Good luck.

Sounds like Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort in Santa Claus, Indiana Next Door to Holiday World!

[GOLDWINGER2]

Originally Posted by MickBrennan

HERE is a link to a campground just like that. Besides everything you mentioned, including cart rentals, it has a little par 3 golf course, bocce courts, tennis courts, volley ball courts, two restaurants/bars. It is very near Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando. To get a site in the high season you need to make a reservation 2 years in advance. Some seasonal sites were listed for sale at over $200K. One more thing that wasn't on the list... uh, this entire resort is "clothing optional."
...... ......

@ O.P. The AANR regularly gives seminars about buying and managing a campground profitably. Maybe you could benefit from certain aspects of the information provided in one of those classes.

PICTURES (r-rated) HERE

Looks like a nice place, $120 a night and a two year wait. Must have some perks. I would spend a lot of my time shopping!!!
J

[Ray,IN]

My wife an I once tossed the "own an campground" idea around, but just for a short while. We talked to several CG owners while we were traveling. I talked to one man who had just lost his wife, he said he wanted to sell, as he no longer had an interest in the business. He said they had not taken a vacation since buying the CG. A similar story from a recent widow in MT.
I can continue, but you get the message..

[Bill1374]

Many years ago, we had the opportunity to buy and reopen a closed camprground. The purchase price was attractive and the location was good. Talked to a friend who owned a park and got some excellent information.
Sat down and wrote a business plan and budget. Since we're in northern NY, our season is quite limited. The way the numbers worked out, we would have had to run at 90% occupancy from Memorial day to Labor day to cover our expenses and pay off the necessary upgrades and mortgage. With the time that would have been required, we elected to pass.

Bill

[Dadeaux]

I spend a lifetime working for the same person, me. I was in several different businesses but spent most of my years in the Cable Television business and when I sold that venture in the late 90s I decided to build an RV Park, (Island Retreat RV Park, Gulf Shores, AL) it was without a doubt the best job I ever had in my life.

I met more truly nice people and made more friends than I could have previously imagined, although I sold it and retired in '05 I still have most of those friends and a lot of great memories.

I highly recommend that you give the idea serious consideration.

[MickBrennan]

Originally Posted by GOLDWINGER2

Looks like a nice place, $120 a night and a two year wait. Must have some perks. I would spend a lot of my time shopping!!!
J

The hotels are $120. Camping fees are around $60 per night with the 7th night free.

[luebkeb]

I've looked into it a couple times when they came up for sale here. I really like the idea of working for myself over working for someone else. Each owner admitted that it was a great deal of work. And we decided not to be that tied down just yet. The key is to have enough sites to afford a couple employees. Some day I will own one, not just yet. Seems the biggest thing is to be sure and have something for kids, pools, ponds, etc. also, some permanent sites, which is steady low maintenance income. Good luck with your decision!