Jellystone Parks Add More Pet-Friendly Amenities and Units – RVBusiness – Breaking RV Industry News
The Jellystone Park franchise network is known for having not only the biggest, but the largest number of water zones in the family camping industry, according to a press release.
The Jellystone Park Camp-Resort location in Uniontown, Ohio, recently became the first Yogi Bear-themed campground in the country to have a full-scale water zone for pets.
“We’ve never had anything like this before,” said Trent Hershenson, vice president of marketing for Camp Jellystone, the Southfield, Michigan-based company that franchises Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts across the United States and Canada.
“The pet water zone has splash features for dogs, an agility course, and room to play with fire hydrants, tennis balls, and dog bowls with water that shoots out of them,” said Maddie Hillyard, the location’s activities director, who noted that the idea for the pet water zone stemmed from the location’s annual dog swim which takes place each year on the last day of the pool season after it has been closed for guest use.
“We noticed there were more and more people coming for the dog swim, and people would tell us they looked forward to the dog swim each year, so we came up with the idea of creating a dog water zone,” Hillyard said.
With more than 75 franchised locations, Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts operates in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences.
While Uniontown’s pet water zone is the first of its kind at a Jellystone Park location, Hershenson said some of the Yogi Bear-themed campgrounds have developed special activities and themed weekends in which pet lovers can show off their pets.
Many locations are also expanding their offerings of pet-friendly accommodations.
Here’s a sampling of Jellystone Park locations with pet-themed weekends and pet-friendly accommodations:
Locations with Pet-Themed Weekends
Ohio
— Mt. Gilead: During the week of July 7-13, this location will have a “We Love Our Pups Week.” Activities include a doggy talent show, visits by K-9 professionals and representatives from the Central Ohio Canine Foundation, who will share expert tips and insights for all dog lovers.
There will also be a “Puppy Party” where dogs and their humans can mingle and celebrate together. Guests looking to unwind can join a relaxing session of dog yoga, the perfect bonding experience for families and their pup.
Pennsylvania
— Mansfield: This location will have a “Pet Lovers Weekend,” June 6-8, featuring a visit by a local pet shelter. There will also be a “Pampered Pet Parade” around the park.
Locations with Pet-Friendly Accommodations
Delaware
— Lincoln: All of this park’s RV sites and rental accommodations are pet friendly. This location also has pet waste stations and a dog park.
Illinois
— New Douglas: This location is adding a dog park this year.
Indiana
— Pierceton: This location added a new bark park.
— Plymouth: This location is offering a new dog park for 2025.
Maine
— Madison: All of this park’s RV and tent sites are pet-friendly. This location also offers pet-friendly tiny house rentals. Pet amenities include a fenced-in dog park with obstacles for the dogs and seating for people watching their pets. Dog bag stations with trash cans are located throughout the park.
Michigan
— Petoskey: This location features a dog run and pet-friendly cabins.
Missouri
— Monroe City: This park has 15 pet-friendly rental units.
North Carolina
— Bostic: This location is converting a dozen of its cabins to pet-friendly cabins.
— Cherokee: This location has nine pet-friendly cabins.
New Hampshire
— Glen: This location has a bark park.
New York
— Gardiner: This location features a dog park and has 58 pet-friendly cabins. A special time is also set aside for dogs to be able to swim in the main pool.
— Jamestown: This location has a dog park and pet-friendly cabins.
North Carolina
—Tabor City: This location has eight pet-friendly yurts and multiple dog parks.
Ohio
— Mt. Gilead: This location has five “Bark ’n Roll” RV sites, each with a fenced area at the site for dogs. The park also has three cabins with private fenced areas for dogs. Pet amenities include a canine corral with a tunnel and a weave pole.
— North Lawrence: This location offers five different types of pet-friendly cabins and two fenced-in dog parks.
Pennsylvania
— Harrisville: This location has eight different types of pet-friendly accommodations.
— Mill Run: This location features 20 pet-friendly rental units. Other pet amenities include a dog park that accommodates both large and small dogs.
— Quarryville: This location features a dog park and 51 pet-friendly cabins. A special time is also set aside for dogs to be able to swim in the main pool.
South Dakota
— Brandon (Sioux Falls Market): All of the rental accommodations at this location are pet-friendly. The park also has an off-leash dog park.
Texas
— Burleson: This park has 25 pet-friendly cabins.
— Fredericksburg: This location offers pet-friendly cabins and has a dog park.
— Kerrville: This location has two dog parks.
— Waller: This location offers three different types of pet-friendly rental accommodations and a fenced-in bark park.
— Wichita Falls: This location has a dog run for guests who are staying in their RVs.
Virginia
— Luray: This location has 44 pet-friendly cabins. Every single RV site is also pet-friendly. This park also features two bark parks.
Wisconsin
— Caledonia: This location has nine pet-friendly cabins and two dog parks, one for large dogs and one for small dogs.
— Wisconsin Dells: All of this location’s rental units are pet friendly with the exception of its year-round vacation homes. The resort also has a beautiful pet walk.
