The Jellystone Park in Gardiner, N.Y., is not only one of the most popular places to camp in the Hudson River Valley, it’s also one of the most successful Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts in the country.
According to an announcement from franchisor Leisure Systems Inc. (LSI), for the second time in two years, Connor Lawrence and his team at the 240-site Jellystone Park at Lazy River have earned the national “Entrepreneur of the Year Award” from LSI, based in Milford, Ohio.
Lawrence and his team won the awards after scoring the highest year-over-year gains in occupancy and revenue of any park of their size in the 82-unit Jellystone Park network.
Revenues and occupancies were up 54% this year, compared to last year’s figures, while 2015 figures were double those of the year before.
“We’re moving in the right direction,” said Lawrence, who manages the Jellystone Park on behalf of Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Northgate Resorts, which purchased the campground from Lawrence’s family in late 2014.
He said business is growing in response to sizeable investments by Northgate Resorts the past two years, which include the installation of a 40,000-square-foot water zone with two 100-foot water slides, a water cannon and spray features; a laser tag arena; a jumping pillow; and a fishing pond, which has become quite popular with campers.
The park has also added 50 new rental cabins bringing the total of cabins onsite to 62. Campsites include five “Red Carpet” riverfront campsites with private frontage along the Wallkill River, complete with water, sewer, electricity and cable television hookups and 40-foot by 20-foot concrete pads. In addition, the park launched a full themed weekend and activities schedule this year.
Northgate plans to add 40 more campsites next year, including 11 “Red Carpet” sites, all of which are expected to be completed by Independence Day weekend.
Other improvements for 2017 will include portable hot tub rentals; an expanded pool deck and outdoor eating area; as well as a new check-in building, complete with a new laundry facility and restrooms.
For more information about the Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Gardiner, visit www.lazyriverny.com.
