The family that owns and operates the Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Frankenmuth, Mich., is celebrating multiple milestones this summer, including the park’s 50 years of existence, the family’s 45 years in the campground business and the campground’s 30 years as a Jellystone Park location.
“The campground turns 50 this year,” said Cindy Keinath, whose parents, Erv and Marilyn Banes, bought the park in 1981 and ran it for 15 years before joining the Jellystone Park franchise network in 1996.
“I was 10 and my brother was 14 when they bought the park. We both worked here through grade school and high school,” said Keinath, who manages the park with her brother Craig Banes. Other long-term staff members include Cathy Krueger, a manager who has worked at the park for over 30 years.
Park attractions include an outdoor pool, an indoor swimming pool and hot tub, an 18-hole miniature golf course and a playground area which includes Gaga ball, a jump pad and a four-slide play area.
Daily activities at the Frankenmuth location begin with a cartoon in the morning, a visit from Yogi Bear, and a craft. Throughout the day, scheduled activities may include yard games with Yogi Bear, Boo Boo, or Cindy Bear, fishing with a Jellystone Park character, or parachute games with a character. The day ends with a wagon ride and a craft, followed by a movie.
The weekend of August. 7-9 is a glow weekend with an “out of this world” theme. Activities include pop bottle rockets, galaxy spin art, neon painting and a flashlight lollipop hunt. A “Splash Party with Yogi Bear” is the weekend theme for Aug. 21-23. Activities include a water balloon toss, water limbo, duck races and a foam party.
Guests can also decorate their own surfboard.
The Frankenmuth location offers a variety of rental cabins, on-site RVs to rent, and 250 RV sites. New this year is the availability of day passes on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays for local residents.
The Banes and Keinath families have been active both locally and nationally in the campground and tourism industries as well as nonprofit organizations. Erv Banes served on the boards of the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC) and its state affiliate, ARVC Michigan, for many years. Keinath, for her part, serves on the boards of the MARVAC, the Frankenmuth Growth & Development Foundation, the Frankenmuth Sports Tourism Alliance and as vice chair of the Frankenmuth Chamber of Commerce.
Craig Banes is currently treasurer of the Downtown Development Authority Board.
More information about the park is available at https://www.frankenmuthjellystone.com/.
