Minnesota Campground Wins Facility of the Year Award

Saturday, May 11, 2013

The Tolner family, owners of the Beaver Trails Jellystone Park in Austin, has been recognized with the Facility of the Year Award by the Jellystone Park franchise system. The award is given to the Camp-Resort that has added new amenities and facilities while also showing sustained improvements on current amenities.

Waterslides provide hours of fun!

After suffering a fire last year, the Beaver Trails Minnesota campground has come back better than ever, rebuilding and improving the Ranger Station, laundry, restrooms and more. A brand-new teen room and banquet facility are ready to welcome guests, as well as four new family cabins and a toddler pool with a water feature. Yogi Bear’s friend, Cindy Bear, is now a permanent resident at the park, and kids will love the new Yogi Bear tuck-in service at bedtime.All this joins an already impressive array of amenities, including spacious full-service RV, pull-through and tent campsites, and the top video arcade in Southeast Minnesota, where kids of all ages will have a blast checking out the newest, hottest video games for 2013. Add a jumping pillow, a pool with three waterslides, miniature golf, paddleboats, planned activities and more, and you’ve got the makings of a memorable family vacation.

“We’re especially thrilled to have won the ‘Facility of the Year” award after our devastating fire last year,” said owner Don Tolner, who runs the park with his wife Laura and daughter Tammy Westrich. “We’re proud to have an amazing team at our park working hard to make sure every guest’s stay is a wonderful one. This award recognizes their constant efforts.”

Themed weekends at the Austin park kick off April 19. Highlights include Retro Weekend, a trip back in time to the totally tubular 80s on June 7-9, and Wet n’ Wild Weekend August 16-18, complete with water balloon hayrides, a bubble making machine, and squirt gun fights.

If you’re looking for a family-friendly Minnesota campground, check out the Beaver Trails Jellystone Park Camp Resort at 21943 630th Avenue, Austin.

Posted in Blog

North Carolina Campground Wins Facility of the Year Award

Friday, May 10, 2013

The Coleman family, owners of the Jellystone Park in Tabor City, North Carolina, has been recognized with the Facility of the Year Award by the Jellystone Park franchise system. The award is given to the Camp-Resort that has added new amenities and facilities while also showing sustained improvements on current amenities. The award was presented at the annual meeting of the Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort group in Cincinnati, OH.

Rick Coleman & Joey Coleman pictured front

Tabor City Jellystone Park guests enjoy 350 acres of meticulously manicured grounds, concrete pads, sparkling ponds, and hiking trails. Tucked away on aquiet farm in Southeastern North Carolina, the campground is just a short drive away from the attractions of Myrtle Beach and Wilmington, NC. Whether you are an angler at heart, enjoy hiking, are a social butterfly who loves planned activities or you just want to relax, you will experience natural beauty like you’ve never seen before at this North Carolina campground. Guests can choose from a range of accommodations, from tent and RV sites to North Carolina cabins and even pet-friendly yurts.

First-rate amenities include free wi-fi, accommodations, and activities for the whole family. There’s also a pool, lap pool, Yogi Bear’s Splash Zone, and Water Wars for fun in the sun; an arcade, indoor theater and amphitheater; a jungle gym playground; mini golf; gem mining; basketball and volleyball courts; and the Locomotion Ride Truck, which takes guests on a four-wheel open-air trek through muddy terrain. Nature lovers will enjoy miles of hiking trails and fully-stocked fishing ponds at this North Carolina campground. A camp ministry team leads worship services and Bible studies, and a helpful, attentive staff will make sure the entire family enjoys their getaway.

“We are thrilled to have won the “Facility of the Year” award,” said owner Rick Coleman, who runs the North Carolina campground with his family. “Our family started this operation in honor of our dad in 1999, and over the years we have grown to love providing a fun, family-friendly destination for our amazing guests. The entire Daddy Joe’s team is outstanding and this award honors all of them.”

The Jellystone Park Camp-Resort at Daddy Joe’s is located at 626 Richard Wright Road and is open year-round. If you are camping in North Carolina, visit this award-winning campground!

North Texas Campground Earns Entrepreneur of the Year Award

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Ronald Bowyer (behind Yogi) and the staff at North Texas Jellystone Park.

Ronald Bowyer, owner of the North Texas campground near Fort Worth, has been recognized with the Entrepreneur Award by the Jellystone Park franchise system. The Entrepreneur of the Year award recognizes Camp Resorts that show a strong growth in business over the prior year. The award was presented at the annual meeting of the Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp Resort group in Cincinnati.

Located 15 minutes south of downtown Fort Worth and 40 minutes west of Dallas, the campground has 37 custom-built luxury cottages (25 of which have a two-person spa and fireplace) and 248 RV sites with full hookups, 50 amp, and cable connection.

Amenities include two family pools, a kiddie pool, playground, four meeting facilities, and more. Nearby entertainment and attractions include golf, shopping, restaurants, museums, theme parks and professional sports and racing. Families will also love the laser tag field, candy bar bingo, hayrides, visits from Yogi Bear and fire truck rides.

Pirates Cove Wet & Dry Fun Park is located next door to the resort and offers seven waterslides, multi-platform play area, inflatables, arcade games and more. Add themed weekends throughout the summer, and it’s a perfect Texas camping getaway.

Ronald Bowyer (behind Yogi) and the staff at North Texas Jellystone Park.

The North Texas campground’s management team looks to continue the entrepreneurial trend with the addition of new attractions and programs in 2013. The new Lost Maze is a fun challenge for kids and parents to navigate together, and the Crafts & Activity Room will offer opportunities for families to indulge their creative sides with activities like candle making, tie-dyeing, and woodcrafts; the soon-to-open Inflatable Corral is an innovative “bouncy” park sure to wear kids out and ensure a good night’s sleep, while older kids will love the new woodlands walking and biking trail. The park’s Ranch Pool will feature a Tropical Sno Cone stand for summer 2013, and improvements to the onsite activities center include a new stage, movie screen and karaoke sound system.On the value side, guests can now choose from package deals like the Build Your Own Birthday package and Stay & Play wristbands, which allow unlimited enjoyment of all the park’s offerings.“We are always looking for ways to add value and family fun for our guests,” said owner Ron Bowyer. “We are excited that the Jellystone Park system recognized our efforts, and I am so proud of my entire team for always focusing on improving our guests’ experience. We look forward to an amazing 2013.”

The North Texas Jellystone Park campground is located at 2301 S. Burleson Blvd. in Burleson, TX and is open year-round. If you are camping in Texas, check them out!

Posted in Blog | Southern Region News
Tagged camping in texas | north texas campground | Texas Camping

Campground Near St Louis Celebrates Mother’s Day Weekend

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

EUREKA, Mo. — The Jellystone Park campground near St Louis will celebrate Mother’s Day weekend with special activities, including a mom versus kids scavenger hunt, a beauty shop tea party with Cindy Bear™, a cotton candy glow stick parade and a Karaoke event. Additional activities include a runway moms challenge and a mini golf tournament. Card making and sand craft activities are also planned, which give children the opportunity to create memorable gifts for their moms and other special people in their lives. Moms also receive a free pancake breakfast on Sunday morning and a flower from Yogi Bear. A mom of the year award will also be presented.

“You don’t even need a tent or RV to camp with us because we have cabins and other rental accommodations,” said Michele Wisher, a spokeswoman for Milford, Ohio-based Leisure Systems, Inc., which franchises Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts.

If you’re looking for a campground near St Louis, check out our Eureka location.

Posted in Midwest Region News
Tagged cabins in missouri | campground near st louis | Missouri Camping

New Texas Campground Near Dallas Celebrates Mother’s Day

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

The Tyler Texas campground, which was previously known as Whispering Pines RV & Cabin Resort, joined the Jellystone Park Camp-Resort network of family campgrounds on Jan. 1. The 30-year-old Texas campground, which has 133 RV sites and 18 park model cabins, has long been a Texas camping favorite. Families enjoy the campgrounds’s lineup of themed weekends and special events from Easter through Halloween.

kids splash in the family pool

Don and Jan Tardy, who acquired the campground in May of last year with Jan’s adult children, Colt and Bree Perrin, said they wanted to join the Jellystone Park chain to expand their marketing reach. “I like the concept of Jellystone Park and I want to emphasize the fact that we are a park that caters to families,” Don Tardy said.

Jellystone Parks are famous for offering fun, family activities that include everything from crafts and games to “hey rides,” birthday parties with the bears and daily appearances by Yogi.

The campground will celebrate Mother’s Day weekend with spa-like amenities that include special stations and supplies that will be set up so that kids can give their moms manicures, pedicures and massages. The park is also planning a mom and kids team tournament, a scavenger hunt, and craft activities, which give children the opportunity to create memorable gifts for their moms and other special people in their lives.

“You don’t even need a tent or RV to camp with us because we have cabins and other vacation rentals,” said Michele Wisher, a spokeswoman for Milford, Ohio-based Leisure Systems, Inc., which franchises Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts.

The Tardys, who run the park with Jan’s adult son, Colt Perrin, already have a head start on the family activities and nice amenities, including two salt water swimming pools and a fishing pond, which is stocked with perch, bass and brim. But they plan to make more improvements to the campground in preparation for the upcoming camping season.

“We’re about to add five more cabins,” Tardy said, adding that the new cabins should be in place by May 15. Whispering Pines also has four large meeting rooms with separate kitchens to accommodate large groups. Other amenities include basketball, horseshoe, ping pong, shuffleboard and volleyball courts, a camp store and a poolside cafe.

Tardy said his market primarily involves the area between Dallas and Shreveport, La.

If you are camping in Texas, visit one of five Jellystone Parks in the state. Other Jellystone Park Texas campgrounds are located in Burleson, Canyon Lake, Fredericksburg and Waller.

Posted in Blog | West Region News
Tagged camping in texas | texas campground | Texas Camping

Oklahoma Jellystone Park Wins Award for Excellence in Camping Industry

Monday, May 6, 2013

Al and Rose Sahli, owners of Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park campground at Lake Eufaula, have been recognized as Operator of the Year by the Jellystone Park franchise system.

The Operator of the Year Award is given to the individual or team directly responsible for the day-to-day operation of a Camp-Resort in recognition of excellence in management and customer service, improvement of inspection scores and growth of business. The award was presented at the annual meeting of the Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort group in Cincinnati.

Al & Rose Sahli

“We are so excited to be recognized as Operators of the Year,” said Al Sahli. “We truly love taking care of our guests, and our staff is the best in the great state of Oklahoma. We’re proud to bring families a great budget-friendly way to enjoy each other and make wonderful memories.”

Located on the beautiful sandy shores of Oklahoma’s largest lake, the campground offers the best swimming, boating and fishing experience under the Oklahoma sun. Every campsite and cabin offers a view of beautiful Lake Eufaula; RV campsites are full hookup and cabins offer flat-screen TVs, kitchens and sleep up to six people. Two sandy swimming beaches, a swimming pool and a Wibit floatable sports complex and waterslide provide wet and wild fun for all ages; paddleboats, canoes and pontoon boats are also available. Kids will love panning for sparkling keepsakes at Rock Creek Gem Mining; if they have any energy left, families can check out the playground and enjoy a meal at the onsite restaurant or Snack Shack (or boost their energy at the park’s Starbucks.)

In 2013, a full schedule of themed weekends is planned, starting with the Sailboat Regatta at Eufaula Marina Cove May 16-19. Summer weekends include Father’s Day Weekend June 14-16; Eufaula’s Whole Hawg Festival July 25-29; and Totally Retro Week August 16-19.

Jellystone Park Camp-Resort at Lake Eufaula is located at 610 Lakeshore Drive in Eufaula and opens for the season on May 18.

Posted in Blog | West Region News
Tagged oklahoma cabins | oklahoma campground | oklahoma camping

Marion, NC Jellystone Park Team Earns Entrepreneur of the Year

Saturday, May 4, 2013

The Garcia family, owners of Jellystone Park campground in Marion, North Carolina, have been recognized with the Entrepreneur of the Year Award by the Jellystone Park franchise system. The award recognizes Camp-Resorts that show a strong growth in business over the prior year. It was presented in Cincinnati at the annual meeting of the Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort group.

Lisa Garcia holding the Yogi Bear trophy.

The Garcia family purchased the park in 2007 – the culmination of a longstanding dream. “My parents both enjoyed successful hotel careers with prominent brands, including Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis. Even with free nights at these swanky hotels, we camped everywhere we went,” said owner Alex Garcia Jr., who manages the park with his dad, Alex Sr., mom Lisa and brother Chris. “It was my parents’ goal to get our family to embrace and appreciate Mother Nature. Our family dream was to open our own campground. When we grew up and moved away, we became wrapped up in our own lives and missed our great memories together, so we started talking and decided to purchase the campground to help other families establish memories of their own.”

Garcia continued, “We made so many memories through camping and we still cherish those memories today. We work to make Jellystone Park Marion a place where families create lifetime memories of their own.”

This North Carolina campground, visited by more than 40,000 guests in 2012, is nestled at the base of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. The 64-acre park boasts 80 full hook-up RV sites; pop-up and tent sites; and cozy North Carolina cabins overlooking a five-acre lake. In warm weather, guests can enjoy paddleboats, canoes and kayaks on the water, and then relax with 18 holes of miniature golf onsite. A 300-foot waterslide, junior Olympic pool and kiddie pool help beat the summer heat, while fishing, crafts, bag toss, dances, swimming, s’more roasts, volleyball, bingo, and movies under the stars at the amphitheater ensure the entire family enjoys their stay. The park is also a great home base for exploring the North Carolina mountains, with an easy drive to Chimney Rock, Grandfather Mountain and Linville Caverns.

Themed weekends for the 2013 season begin March 15-17 with Wake Up the Bears with a Lucky Twist weekend, a combination welcome back to Yogi Bear™ and St. Patrick’s Day celebration. Through the spring, summer and fall, there will be themed activities every weekend. Examples include Junior Ranger Weekend, when kids can learn about conservation and preserving our environment; Surfin’ Safari Week; and Hollywood Superstar Week.

The Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Marion, NC is located at 1210 Deacon Drive Marion, NC and opens March 15 for the 2013 camping season. Check them out if you are camping in North Carolina!

Posted in Blog
Tagged camping in north carolina | north carolina cabins

Pennsylvania Jellystone Park Earns Top Inspection Award

Friday, May 3, 2013

The management team and staff at Jellystone Park campground near Pittsburgh, PA, have been recognized with the Carroll Award, which is presented to the Jellystone Park receiving the highest inspection score among the 79 campgrounds in the Jellystone Park system. The Carroll Award was presented at the annual meeting of the Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort franchise system in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Denny Quigley with daughter, Tammy, and granddaughter.

“We are truly honored to win the Carroll Award for 2013,” said owner Denny Quigley, who owns Jellystone Park at Kozy Rest with his wife, Kathy. “We appreciate that the hard work of our staff and their attention to detail is recognized.” The Quigleys run the park with their son Gary and his family.

Nestled in the beautiful countryside of Western Pennsylvania, the family-oriented campground offers shaded, level, generously-sized, full-hookup RV campsites; tent and pop-up campsites; and 12 cabin and yurt vacation rentals - including four brand-new for 2013. Guests will also find the Kozy Club Arena, a special group camping area with 23 campsites clustered around a picnic pavilion and recreation hall – perfect for family reunions, church outings and group gatherings. The pet-friendly resort offers a dog park; two-legged guests will enjoy gem mining, a pool and playground, miniature golf, a game room, hiking trails, bicycle rentals and more. The Quigleys are currently renovating and doubling the size of the park’s office and store.

The Kozy Rest staff constantly strives for improvement, attending educational seminars in the off-season to make sure every guest’s visit is one to remember. In-season (mid-April through October), a full activities schedule with themed weekends ensures family fun. The 2013 calendar includes a Pets-R-Family Weekend (May 3-5); Chocolate Fun Weekend (May 31-June 2); and Zoofari Weekend (August 2-4). Every weekend offers ceramics, bingo, and rides on the park’s train and its beloved fire truck.

Posted in Blog | East Region News
Tagged camping in pennsylvania | Pennsylvania Camping

Valentine’s Day with Yogi Bear™

Monday, February 18, 2013

What could be better for Valentine’s Day than a pic-a-nic? Celebrating the weekend o’love with the bear himself at a Jellystone Park™ Camp-Resort! At Jellystone Park Hill Country in Canyon Lake, Texas, February 15-17 is Valentine’s Day Special Weekend, offering two nights for the price of one on all accommodations. Treat your special someone to Texas-sized hospitality and a quiet, relaxing getaway perfect for sweethearts. Farther north, check out the Valentine’s Getaway at Jellystone Park Mammoth Cave in beautiful Kentucky. Also February 15-17, the Mammoth Cave team invites you to escape from the winter chill and rekindle the flame by cuddling up together in one of their new Cumberland Cabins, which feature cozy electric fireplaces. Check with your favorite year-round park to see what they’ve got cookin’ for the most romantic weekend of the year!

Posted in Blog

RV Vacations: Drive Across the Country in Style

Friday, February 15, 2013

Vacation is about exploring somewhere new and escaping the rigors of everyday life, and what better way to explore than in a camper or motor home. The comforts of home and the open road combine to create the ultimate RV vacation experience. Road warriors take advantage of good food, ultimate freedom and an inexpensive mode of transportation. Oftentimes after a trip filled with exotic terrain and fun activities, the road-trip jokes and conversations leave a lasting impression. RV traveling emphasizes comradery and leads to lifelong memories.

Before you hit the highway, school yourself on these time-tested road rules.

RV Vacation Rules:

Spring for Insurance: Whether your renting an RV or driving your own, vehicle insurance will cover your RV in the case of an accident on the road. Be careful inside, however, many road insurance providers don’t cover interior damage.

Inspect the RV: You can’t eliminate the risk of a breakdown, but checking the RV’s tire pressure and liquid levels will start your trip with the right foot forward. Fill up tires to their ideal pressure, which is listed on the tire wall, and check that oil and coolant levels are stable.

Plan for the Worst: Hopefully, you never need to use it, but a thorough medical kit is a necessity when traveling cross country. Basic items such bandages, ibuprofen and and gauze should be included as well as more involved items like an EpiPen and burn relief ointment.

Map Your Stops: Positioned near some of the most beautiful terrain in the U.S., campgrounds offer a great opportunity to meet like-minded travelers. The wind may blow you in a unique direction, but planned stops will help you make the most of your trip. GocampingAmerica.com lists information on RV parks across the U.S.

Don’t Pack Too Much: Only pack enough clothes and food for a few days. You can do laundry at campgrounds and buy food in towns you visit. A camper may feel like home, but that doesn’t mean you have to bring your entire wardrobe.

Don’t Overbuy: When you purchase souvenirs, take care not to overcrowd your motor home; you can ship large items home.

Limit Driving: Try not to drive more than 400 miles each day. Take the time to stop and enjoy sites. Too much driving dulls your senses and increases risk plus, vacation is about enjoying the ride, so why not take a look around?

Plan Meals: Plan your meals as best as you can. Most RVs come equipped with a limited kitchen, so it’s possible to stock a freezer with meat and produce. Take advantage of grilling at camp locations as much as possible to avoid lingering smells in the camper and to avoid clutter.

Look for Bargains: Search the Internet for inexpensive local campgrounds.

Travel Off-Season: Plan your trip during less popular vacation times for big savings and less-crowded attractions.

The time is now to start planning your cross-country road trip adventure. Take the time to map out your route and find fun and unusual attractions and sites to visit along the way as you explore Americas roads.

Post by Dee Paulson

A retired world history teacher, Dee travels the world and shares cultural and political viewpoints in her stories online. She visits Cairo and Italy every year.

Posted in Camping Tips
Tagged rv campground | rv road trip | RV vacation

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