As long as people have been traveling in RVs, family-owned and operated campgrounds have been around to welcome them with friendly smiles and a personal touch. Many independently owned and operated campgrounds across the Midwest have been run by the same family for generations. Here’s a sampling of campgrounds across the Midwest that are owned and operated by couples and families, including multiple generations of the same family:
Family-Owned Campgrounds in the Midwest
Austin Lake RV Park & Cabins in Toronto, Ohio: It was 1946 when Austin Brant Cable developed 80-acre Austin Lake in the Ohio River Valley, just a few miles from the site where the Cable family initially settled in 1811 after immigrating to the U.S. from Germany and England.
The campground’s third-generation owners, Bill and Marsha Cable, continue to make improvements to the park, which features 250 RV and tent sites and nine rental cabins, while their son, Austin, moves into a management role. All campsites are pet-friendly. Dogs cannot go on the sand at the beach, but there is a “Bowser Swimming Area” by the boat launch. Dogs are allowed to go on rental pontoons and golf carts.
Double Nickel Campground & Resort in Waco, Nebraska: Jeff and Amanda Stoy left their jobs in Atlanta 11 years ago for an opportunity to raise their two boys and work together at this campground off Interstate 80, some 45 miles west of Lincoln. They’ve replaced the park’s 103 original small back-in campsites with 43 mostly large pull-through sites with 50 amp electrical and sewer connections to accommodate today’s big rigs.
Each site has a picnic table, porch swing, and fire pit. Park amenities include a swimming pool, a 9-hole miniature golf course, an arcade and rec room, two large dog parks, and a storm shelter. The Stoys also offer Saturday kids’ crafts and themed weekends during the summer months.
Duck Creek RV Resort in Muskegon, Michigan: Roger Jourden and his wife, Casey, built this campground from the ground up in 2009. The park features 260 paved full-hookup sites with 30/50 amp service, including buddy sites in different configurations for two, three and four RVs. Back-in sites in forested areas are also available. In 2023, the Jourdens added a waterpark to their resort, which features a 40-foot waterslide, a lazy river, a kids' play structure, and an indoor activity pool with a retractable roof.
Indian Trails Campground in Pardeeville, Wisconsin: Three generations of the Meierdirk family have owned and operated this campground, with the fourth generation now learning the ropes of campground management. Charles and Betty Meierdirk started the business in 1965. The park is currently owned by Tiffany (Meierdirk) and Matt Pargman, with her niece, Rhandyn Gunderson, Rance Meierdirk (fourth generation), his wife, Brittni, and Rance’s twin brother, Regan, working as park managers.
In addition to offering organized family activities, this campground has two heated outdoor swimming pools and one indoor pool; a miniature golf course; a 15-acre fishing lake; a BMX track; mountain biking trails; pickleball courts; indoor and outdoor movie theaters; a restaurant and snack bar; and two dog parks. Campsite options include water and electric sites with 30/50 amp service and full-hookup sites with 30/50 amp service, including pull-through sites. Waterfront sites are also available.
Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Big Prairie, Ohio: This campground has been owned and operated by three generations of the same family since Wayne and Ruth Sauer opened the park in 1969. The campground was initially called Whispering Hills RV Park, but joined the Jellystone Park franchise network in 1969. The campground continues to be family-owned and operated by the Sauer family.
The 220-site park has long been a popular camping destination because of its natural amenities, which include a 100-acre forest with hiking and mountain bike trails, a miniature golf course, and an 8-acre fishing lake. Other amenities include glamping opportunities, a heated outdoor pool, a recently renovated and fully stocked camp store, a concession stand, golf cart rentals, an outdoor movie theater, and a dog park. Campsite options include water and electric campsites, campsites with full hookups, and pull-through sites with full hookups.
Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Caledonia, Wisconsin: The late Randy Isaacson joined a business partner in becoming part owner of this campground in 2005, which he worked to improve over the years with the help of his family. Over the years, all three daughters, along with several grandchildren, became integral to the family business, and the campground became a fully family-owned business of the Isaacson family. Randy Isaacson passed away in early 2024, but the campground continues to be owned and operated by his family.
In addition to offering organized family activities and theme weekends with Yogi Bear, the park includes many water attractions, including swimming pools and waterslides. Campers also have access to Bear Paw Beach and Adventure Park next door, which features a big pond with a floating water sports park, a ropes course, and nighttime drone shows. Campsites include water and electric sites, full hookup sites, and premium full hookup sites with patios.
Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Nelsonville, Ohio: Lorraine Carlson and her husband, Daren, have owned and operated this campground since 2005, when it was known as Happy Hills Campground. They joined the Jellystone Park network in 2019 and have continued to make improvements. Park amenities include a Wibit floating obstacle course, an inflatable slide, snowless tubing, a pedal kart track, foam parties, a gem mining sluice, gagaball, as well as organized family activities and themed weekends with Yogi Bear. Campsite options include water and electric back-in sites, back-in sites with full hookups, and lake view sites with full hookups.
Lake Arrowhead Campground in Montello, Wisconsin: This campground, which has frontage along Lake Arrowhead, was built by Bea and Arnold Malsack, opening in 1971 with about a dozen campsites and a small camp store. The campground was initially staffed by the Malsacks’ son, Phil, and his fiancée, Linda. Phil and Linda purchased the campground from Phil’s parents in 1975 and subsequently expanded their campground business with the purchase of additional nearby campgrounds, including Lakeside Campground, which is comprised solely of seasonal campsites.
Lake Arrowhead Campground features both water and electric and full-hookup campsites as well as small group campsites, which feature two pedestals and two picnic tables. At the time of this writing, Phil Malsack, the second-generation owner, and his children — Jessica, Adam, and Emily —were all actively involved in their campground business. The parks offer organized family activities and themed weekends throughout summer and early fall.
Lake Milton / Berlin Lake KOA Holiday in Lake Milton, Ohio: Damaris and Fernando Lusvarghi have owned and operated this 200-site campground since 2015. They spent their first two years renovating the park and adding new amenities, such as jumping pillows, a Water Wars game, a Gaga ball pit, corn hole, and creating a swimming pond to complement their fishing lake. When a Kampgrounds of America executive visited their park, he was so impressed he invited the Lusvarghi’s to join the KOA franchise network, which they did. The Lusvarghis have continued to make improvements.
During the summer season, they offer family activities that include hay rides, kids crafts, music, and foam parties on the beach and guest appearances by people who do animal and magic shows. They also have a pig roast, a chili cookout and Christmas in July activities. They set aside about half of their 200 sites for overnight travelers, with the balance for seasonal campers. Campsite options include back-in sites with full hookups and 30 amp power and pull-through sites with full hookups and 30/50 amp power.
Shelby / Mansfield KOA in Shelby, Ohio: The Cole family has owned and operated this campground since 1968, when Violet and Vern Cole opened the park as the Wagon Wheel Campground. Their son, Gary, and his wife, Vicki, purchased the campground from Gary’s parents in 1991. The park has been part of the KOA franchise network since 2002. Vicki passed away in 2024, but Gary continues to operate the park with his niece, Amy, serving as general manager.
Campground amenities include miniature golf, jumping pillows, gaga ball, laser tag, gem mining, a KOA Fun Express Train, and a dog park. The park also organizes themed activities. Campsite options include water and electric sites with 30 amp service as well as back-in and pull-through sites with patios and full hookups, including 30/50 amp and cable TV connections. The park’s newest sites are its signature patio sites, which include full hookups plus an outdoor kitchen, a 20 by 20-foot gazebo, patio furniture, a swing and cornhole.
Final Thoughts
RVers say they enjoy staying at family-owned and operated campgrounds because they enjoy coming back and being welcomed again by the same people year after year. They also like to see the pride of ownership that these families have and to see family members working together to make their parks the best that they can be.
