Koa Adds Three Campgrounds To Corporate ‘fleet'

Kampgrounds of America, Inc., with headquarters in Billings, Montana, will soon be taking over the operation of three large campgrounds currently owned and operated by KOA franchisees.

Beginning August 22, the Cherokee/Great Smokies, North Carolina KOA; Louisville South, Kentucky KOA; and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina KOA became part of KOA's Company Operated Properties Division. That division now includes 21 camping resorts throughout the United States and Canada. The entire KOA system includes nearly 460 company operated and franchised campgrounds in North America.

"We were very interested in ensuring KOA has a continued presence in these vital and growing markets," said Shane Ott, senior vice president for KOA's Company Operated Properties Division. "The KOA franchisees in all three of these locations have done a fantastic job over the years providing beautiful facilities for their campers, and their staffs are among the best in our system in providing campers with a great experience. We plan to build on that legacy." The camping industry continues to show signs of robust growth, with recreational vehicle factory orders hitting a 25-year high in 2004, and KOA's 2005 camper registrations up nearly 6 percent over last year's totals despite higher fuel prices. The Myrtle Beach, South Carolina KOA has been a KOA franchise since 1975 and has always been owned by the Spivey family. The campground, one of the largest in the KOA system, was originally named the Birch Canoe Campground, and has been in existence for more than 40 years. It's within walking distance of two amusement parks, live music theaters and the beautiful Atlantic Ocean beaches.

Cherokee/Great Smokies, North Carolina KOA franchise owners Walter and Carolyn Schumacher have owned the campground since 1989. The campground is on land owned by the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation. Since 1969, Walt Schumacher has owned KOA campgrounds in Unadilla, New York; Cooperstown, New York; Clinton Lake, Oklahoma; Tucumcari, New Mexico and Cherokee/Great Smokies. Schumacher received KOA's highest award, the Franchisee of the Year, in both 1977 and 1991. The Schumacher's are the only KOA franchisees to receive the honor twice.

The Louisville South KOA is the largest KOA campground in Kentucky, just minutes from downtown Louisville, yet adjacent to nature trails and the Salt River. The campground even has its own prehistoric Native American cave dwellings, burrowed into limestone cliffs. The campground, which has been part of the KOA system since 1982, has been owned by franchisee Roy Tanner since 2001.

KOA's Company Operated Properties Division, which employees nearly 500 people both in the Billings corporate offices and in its 21 camping resorts, has developed into an industry-leading proving ground for innovative new programs for the camping and RVing industry.

The industry's healthy outlook and rapid growth have led many campground owners to reconsider ways to optimize their campground's financial performance. These have included sale of the property, leases and management contracts.

"All of these options are relatively new opportunities for our division," said Ott. "But I think it will be a growing trend and there is no one better equipped than KOA to create partnerships to maximize those returns. It's a victory for the owner, KOA and for our camping guests." For more information on KOA, or details and photographs of any individual KOA property, visit www.koa.com or the KOA Pressroom at www.koapressroom.com.

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