Are you Thinking of Buying or Building Your Own Campground? Let the Experts Help!

Are you thinking of buying or building your own campground? If so, your timing is great —you’re choosing to enter an industry that’s growing at a rapid rate. According to the 2019 State of the Industry Report published by the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC), the outdoor recreation industry contributes over $25.6 BILLION dollars to the GDP annually!  

You’ll also be happy to know this industry isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. In fact, recent survey data shows that park owners and builders are preparing to create over 52,000 new sites and unique accommodations over the next 12 months to meet the growing demands for RV park and campground experiences. 

There’s even more good news — you don’t have to go it alone as you navigate the many decisions you’ll need to make to get your park up and running. You can tap into the expertise of industry professionals who have already traveled down this road by attending ARVC’s Prospective Park Owners Workshop (POW) on May 4-6, 2020 in beautiful Colorado Springs, Colo.  

The workshop is shaping up to be an exciting and informative event designed to help prospective park owners gain the knowledge they need to successfully enter the market. The ARVC review committee is now finalizing the list of speakers and sessions and a full list will be announced in the coming weeks. Industry experts will present on topics such as financing and purchasing, marketing and insurance, tools of the trade and much more. 

“We have a number of excellent speakers who are experts in the industry, including many that have personal experience building and managing parks, that have reached out to be included in this workshop,” says Paula Horwitz, ARVC Executive Director, Education and Events. “Attendees will leave the workshop with a strong understanding of what it actually takes to own a campground and the knowledge of how to successfully build your business.” 

The workshop will also focus on the importance of building key relationships in this industry, including relationships with vendors and fellow park members. It will also cover the importance of building relationships with local agencies or “authorities having jurisdiction” (AHJs), the organizations that write and enforce codes, to ensure your new park meets local requirements for water, electrical, site design and other factors.  There will also be an important discussion about NFPA 1194®, the national standard that provides minimum construction requirements for the safety and health of occupants using facilities at RV parks and campgrounds and the importance these standards play in park design. 

“The NFPA 1194 Standard for RV parks and Campgrounds should be the cornerstone in your decision making process whether you are building a new park, resurrecting an existing park or working with your local and state authorities,” says Jeff Sims, ARVC Senior Director of State Relations & Program Advocacy. 

The cost of the workshop is $499 for ARVC members and $999 for non-members. Special rates for lodging at the Embassy Suites are available to workshop attendees. For more information and to register, visit arvc.org/Prospective-Campground-Owners-Workshop.