b'America,hasseenanumberofitsBY BEN QUIGGLE parks impacted by flooding, includingoneparkinOkla-homathatwasforced to close earlyfor the season. Still,TrentHershenson,vicepresidentofmarketingforLSI,saidcamperswere Trent Hershensoneagertoreturntoparks that were impacted by floodingand rain. Basically, as soon as the water wentawaypeoplewereaskingtocomeback, he explained. Hershenson said that LSI is expect-ing its 11th straight year of growth in2019, with their parks seeing sales up12% compared to 2018 during the firstsix months of the year. That is a really big deal because lastyear was our biggest year ever acrossthe network, so to see an increase fromthat is great, he explained. InOhio,KristySmith,executive directoroftheOhioCampgroundOwners Association(OCOA), said thatcampgroundownersnotedthatcampers were evenRain or shine, state campground association leaders say that campers willing to stick it outwere willing to brave the elements while camping this summer.intherainforthemost part.Campground Associations Close Out Summer on a High Wehadsomeownersthatre-ported that despiteNote, Report Member Parks Enjoyed a Busy Season theraintheywere Kristy Smithimpressed with thenumber of folks that camped in theAll the lakes, rivers and reservoirs were full, so every dayevacuationwasimposed,he rain, she explained. Owners didntadded. Ive talked with several park see as many cancellations as they wereaspectofoutdoorrecreationwasbooming,said owners in this region who said up until expecting. Dyana Kelley, executive director of CampCalNOWDorian, they were up year-over-year, InCalifornia,ownersofsomebut now may be looking at breaking northern parks werent able to open asRV Park and Campground Alliance. Our members even. early as they normally do because ofARVChassentoutsurveystoits an increased amount of snowfall, ac-have all said that it has been a phenomenal yearmembersandhopestooffermore cording to Dyana Kelley, executive di-busier than it has been in a long time. concrete information on how the in- rector of CampCalNOW RV Park anddustry faired through its 2019 Industry CampgroundAlliance (CampCal-Despite a wet springincluding owners.Trends and Insights Survey.NOW). Still she said that the summersome severe flooding in different re- We are hearing from our members In Maryland, Deb Carter, executive seasonwentballisticoncethegions of the United Statesofficials at that things started off slow due to a wet director of the Maryland Association weather improved. campground owner associations told springandearlysummerinmany of Campgrounds, noted that member All the lakes, rivers and reservoirsWoodalls Campground Management parts of the country, especially the east parks were packed this summer.were full, so every aspect of outdoor(WCM) that the 2019 summer season and north, which especially affected This year we had a very hotand recreation was booming, she noted.was a great one for many park owners, weekendcamperswhoaremore much driersummer as comparedOur members have all said that it haswith interest among weather-driven,heexplainedto to 2018, she said. We also saw our been a phenomenal year. Busier thancampersatanall- WCM. But as the weather improved, secondyearofthevastmajorityof it has been in a long time. time high.the campground economy improved schools starting after Labor Day. That That story holds true for associa-PaulBambei, with it through mid-summer and on gave us another full week of summer, tions throughout the country, whichCEO and president into Labor Day weekend. notjustforcampers,butforstaffforthemostpartallsawtherainyof the National As- Ofcourse,HurricaneDorianin aswell,whichwasabigbenefitspring turn into a very busy summer. sociationofRV early September was especially hard economically. I have visited more than 60 camp-Paul Bambei ParksandCamp- on parts of the southeast, causing a Milford,Ohio-basedLeisureSys- grounds this year and I have had verygrounds (ARVC), forced evacuation in several coastal temsInc. (LSI),whichfranchises few owners tell me anything negativesaid it was safe to say that the 2019 sea- states, including camping strongholds about 75 Yogi Bears Jellystone Park abouttheirsummerseason,ex-son has been a good one for most park like Myrtle Beach, S.C., where a five- Camp-Resorts throughoutNorth plained Dee Witting, executive direc-After a wet spring, most parks saw steady traffic through the rest of the summer. Photo credit: State associations say demand for long-term sites has risen in some areas. Photo credit:Leavenworth/Pine Village KOA Mount Rushmore KOA26 -October 2019Woodalls Campground Management'