Bellefonte, Coshocton Take Top Honors at KOA Convention

The Bellefonte/State College KOA Holiday.

Campground of the Year:

Bellefonte/State College KOA Holiday

The Bellefonte/State College KOA Holiday, owned and operated by Barbara Saulsbury and Rick Dillon, has been named the Kampgrounds of America, Inc.’s (KOA) Campground of the Year for 2023. The award, the campground system’s highest honor, was announced Wednesday (Nov. 16) during KOA’s annual International Convention in Orlando, Fla.

Located at the base of the Appalachian Mountains in Pennsylvania, Bellefonte/State College KOA Holiday is one of the largest in the KOA system. It has operated as a campground since 1971. Saulsbury and Dillon took ownership of the campground in the mid-1980s. Now the campground is poised to pass to the third generation of family ownership under son and daughter-in-law Casey and Autumn Dillon.

“The plan is for me to take the campground over in January,” said Casey Dillon. “I went out in the world and became an area manager for a fortune 500 retail company. And I didn’t want to do it anymore. My parents were looking for their exit strategy and I jumped to be back where I love.”

Casey Dillon plans to continue the campground’s progressive additions and expansions to their 144 sites. In the past year alone, a bike park, upgraded broadband internet, new playground and premium patio and pool furniture have been added to the campground.

One of their most ambitious and innovative projects, a solar field, was added in 2019. After attending a workshop at a nearby college on solar energy and some research on government grants, Casey Dillon shares that the family was all in.

“We started producing solar electricity in 2019,” Casey Dillon said. “We have 569 panels that make about 100% of the electricity we use at the campground year-round. It saves us roughly $35,000 in electricity costs per year.”

Continuing a focus on innovation and emerging guests, the family plans to add 21 new sites to the campground, including Pull-Thru sites with KOA Patios, Back-In Sites and multi-use sites. Infrastructure upgrades will allow for EV chargers on the campground in the near future.

Casey Dillon also plans to take advantage of the hilly Appalachian terrain with RV sites, Deluxe Cabins and more built high above the campground’s existing sites.

“We will put in some Deluxe Back-in Sites with KOA Patios and build a viewing tower at the end of the sites where you can sit and look out over the valley,” shared Casey Dillion. “Right where the sun sets, you can see the mountains on the other side. The sky in the evening is always really beautiful, like purple. It’s a breathtaking view you can’t see anywhere else, and I think it will be impactful for the future of our campground.”

Not one to speak boastfully of the campground’s success, Casey Dillion credits his wife, Autumn Dillion, for her focus on the guest experience. Formerly a substitute teacher, she is involved in all aspects of the business.

Said Casey Dillon, “Autumn is motivated and excited about what we are doing here and being more involved with KOA. She is the core of the family experience and what we build for the future. We are building something here for the next generation.”

Recognized with KOA’s Founder’s and President’s Awards for three years in a row, the Dillons offer world-class hospitality at the Bellefonte/State College KOA Holiday that is reflected in their customer satisfaction and business growth.

“The Dillons and their beautiful campground are shining examples of what our company has been dedicated to providing over 60 years of business,” said Toby O’Rourke, president and CEO of KOA. “Across three generations, their innovative and entrepreneurial spirit at Bellefonte/State College KOA Holiday, they have and continue to provide the facilities and service to exceed guest expectations and deliver the experience the KOA brand is world-renowned for.”

For more information about the Bellefonte/State College KOA Holiday, visit koa.com/campgrounds/bellefonte/.

The McPeek family.

Rising Star Award: Coshocton KOA Holiday

The Coshocton KOA Holiday, owned and operated by Ryan and Camille McPeek, has been named the KOA’s Rising Star for 2023. The Rising Star Award is given to an exemplary campground that has been a part of the KOA system for less than five years.

Nestled in rural central Ohio, Ryan McPeek, a geologist by trade, found himself with the opportunity to purchase a campground in his hometown in 2013. Marrying and joining him at the campground a few years later, Camille McPeek, originally from the Philippines, admits that the couple knew nothing about running a campground.

“Ryan didn’t know what he wanted to do after working in the geology industry for several years,” said Camille McPeek. “We took the opportunity even though we’d be new to the industry. We had dealt with rocks, so it was definitely a change.”

While operating a campground was outside of their expertise, help from the Ohio Campground Owners Association (OCOA) and a healthy stream of pipeline workers easily filled their 43-site campground.

“We were full but had to question what would happen when the construction ended,” Camille McPeek said. “That’s when we started to think about the continued success we could have as a KOA.”

Since becoming a KOA, the small Coshocton KOA Holiday has experienced incredible growth. In the past five years, the campground has seen a 183% increase in registration revenue. Boasting an NPS of 92, the McPeek’s campground is ranked 12th in the KOA system for guest satisfaction.

With this success have come strategic improvements to the campground. The McPeeks have added 18 sites to the original campground, including RV Sites with KOA Patios and six Deluxe Cabins. A focus on glamping, including a Deluxe Cabin with a custom “canopy window,” geo domes, vintage trailers and canvas tents, has allowed the campground to stand out.

In addition to campground development, the couple has also focused on providing activities that have helped them become a destination.

“Coshocton isn’t exactly on everyone’s bucket list,” admits Camille McPeek. “It’s not a big tourist destination so adding fun events has helped us attract more campers.”

Now Coshocton KOA Holiday offers a full calendar of themed weekends and events, including unique arts and crafts, a month-long sunflower festival, fall events and beer and wine tastings. Many of their events are tied to two additions adjacent to the campground: a sunflower field and a corn maze.

“Adding the corn maze and sunflowers has provided a fun activity for our campers and our Coshocton community,” Camille McPeek said. “We’ve added elements to both to make them fun, challenging and different. You can come to the corn maze during the day, at night, or during our ‘wine your way out’ evenings and have a completely different experience.”

Taking a customer-focused approach to business, the McPeeks have turned a small campground into an overwhelming success in a short time. While much of this success is due to the innovative updates to amenities and services the campground has seen, a focus on branding and marketing has helped Coshocton KOA Holiday share these offerings with the world.

“I’m a big believer in a brand,” said Camille McPeek. “Between our work and the national recognition of KOA, it has really helped our small business get out there. I appreciate the support we’re getting from KOA and other campground owners. That support comes from so many aspects – technology, marketing, and operations – so it’s great to be part of the KOA franchise system.”

“The McPeeks and the Coshocton KOA Holiday are a testament to what guest-focused strategy can achieve at any size campground,” said Toby O’Rourke, president and CEO of KOA. “This location may be small, but their work has established them as the best park in their market. It’s inspiring to see so much growth coming from new members of the KOA family, and Coshocton KOA Holiday is a wonderful example of that.

For more information about the Coshocton KOA Holiday, visit koa.com/campgrounds/coshocton/.

Source: https://rvbusiness.com/bellefonte-coshocton-take-top-honors-at-koa-convention/