b'EDITORS NOTES BY BEN QUIGGLEMore Surprises as We Entered 2022Just when you thought industry news might slow down as we entered the holiday season in December a few surprises popped up.Unfortunately, Mother Nature reared its ugly head again and tornadoes hit multiple states in mid-December resulting in substantial, long-lasting damage to communities throughout the Midwest. (You can read how one RV park in Kentucky was impacted on page 4.) I know everyone in the outdoor hospitality industry is praying for a milder year with regard to natural disasters after wildfires, floods, hurri-canes and tornadoes made too many headlines in 2021.On the acquisition front, many were surprised to hear that Sun Out-doors had acquired Leisure Systems Inc. (LSI), the franchisor of Yogi Bears Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts in North America, right before Christmas. Many of the Jelly-stone Park franchisees that Woodalls Campground Magazine (WCM) spoke with when the news was announced were equally surprised, but also very optimistic. Sun Outdoors has continued to grow its portfolio of Jellystone Parks throughout the years and has spent millions to improve those parks throughout the last few years.For many fran-chisees and even officials at LSIwho are all remaining onboardthere is an excitement about how Sun Outdoors may grow the brand and send it to new heights. (You can read more on that story on page 26.)WCM attended the new Campground Owners Expo (COE) in mid-December in Branson, Mo., not knowing what to expect. In its first year, organizers Lori Severson and Bud Styer had some innovative ideas they wanted to try at this eventincluding some behind the scenes tours of local places that allowed owners to dive into operational questions designed to help them more effectively run their own parks.With more than 100 vendors on the tradeshow floor and more than 250 attendees taking part in the four-day conference, the atmosphere was very positive, with many indicating that they will be returning in 2022.The COE has already opened registration for its 2022 Exposet to run a little earlier from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3and is expecting the event to grow. It has signed a partnership with the Illinois Campground Association (ICA) to serve as the ICAs annual Fall Conference in 2022.The concept of trying to help smaller state associations that might not have the ability to operate a large-scale show is a great one in the opinion of WCM. Anytime the industry can find ways to help each other it benefits everyone.Looking forward to 2022, there are several key issues the industry must keep an eye on, from COVID (when will it ever end) to climate control issues, diversity, electric vehicles, zoning and permitting concerns and more.The more ways the industry can unite to tackle some of these issues, the more success everyone will have.As the old saying goes, A rising tide lifts all ships.WCMwww.woodallscm.com GG M E D I AVol. 53 No. 2 Feb. 2022& GROUP LLCContact Information: EditorialSherman Goldenberg, PublisherRick Kessler, Managing Editor sgoldenberg@rvbusiness.comrkessler@rvbusiness.com Office: (574) 457-3370(734) 777-6830 Mobile: (574) 457-6637 Fax: (574) 457-8295Gary Gerard, Editorial Director ggerard@rvbusiness.com Ben Quiggle, Editor(574) 528-1275 bquiggle@rvbusiness.com Mobile: (574) 306-7781Jeff Crider, Senior Editor campinginfosource@gmail.com (760) 469-5905 Advertising:Ally Kollat, AccountWendy Thorne, Account Executive, National Ad SalesExecutive, National Ad Sales akollat@g-gmediagroup.comwthorne@g-gmediagroup.com Office: (574) 266-7980Office (574) 266-7980Art Direction:Trina Nissley, Art Director tnissley@rvbusiness.comAll general correspondence, circulation and display and classified salesinquiries may be directed to the following: Woodalls Campground Magazine, C/O G&G Media Group LLC, 2901 E. Bristol St., Ste. B, Elkhart, IN 46514. Fax: (574) 266-7984Owners, managers or marketing directors of privately held U.S. campgrounds may receive a free subscription upon request to Woodalls CampgroundMagazineone free subscription per campground. Others may purchasesubscriptions at these rates: $24.95 per year U.S. or $35.95 per year in Canada. Contact Woodalls Campground Magazine, C/O G&G Media Group LLC, 2901E. Bristol St., Ste. B, Elkhart, IN 46514. Email: rvbusiness@rvbusiness.comWoodalls Campground Magazine is published monthly by G&G Media Group LLC at the above address. 2 February 2022Woodalls Campground Magazine'