Spacious Skies Campgrounds offers options such as yurts, cabins and retro campers for those who do not have their own rig.
Spacious Skies Campgrounds is completing its second full year on a high note, with this month’s acquisition of its 14th campground, Spacious Skies Bear Den in Spruce Pine, N.C., the roll-out last month of the new Spacious Skies Loyalty Program and a fresh website design that reflects the young company’s innovative approach to campground management.
The company was co-founded on March 19, 2021, by New Jersey-based camping enthusiasts Eric and Ali Rasmussen. The couple had been searching for an opportunity to allow them to utilize his background in real estate and capital markets and her background in marketing, creative and talent recruitment.
The company acquired its first campground, Spacious Skies Walnut Grove in Alfred, Maine, in May 2021. Additional campgrounds quickly followed, and by the company’s first anniversary, there were eight Spacious Skies campgrounds including two in Maine and two in New Hampshire as well as in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Virginia. The company also spent its first full operating year building an in-house campground-management infrastructure from scratch that provides on-site campground managers Spacious Skies-specific training on customer service and hospitality (branded “Camper Care”), management of campground infrastructure and general administration skills. Tools like IT, hiring protocols and a marketing foundation have rounded out the early program.
Spacious Skies Campgrounds’ second year has marked numerous successes. The company nearly doubled its campground count – from eight to 14 – in the last 12 months. Additionally, the company pursued an aggressive hiring strategy – particularly at campgrounds and at the headquarters level – to ensure quality operations to match the company’s mission to offer fun, relaxing and authentic campground experiences in destinations with abundant outdoor recreation and attractions.
“It’s been an incredibly exciting, challenging and gratifying two years, and I am deeply grateful to our talented Spacious Skies team for embracing our mission and helping us position Spacious Skies Campgrounds as a campground brand and company with a recognized authentic flare, and most of all, a genuine depth of character,” said co-founder Ali Rasmussen. “The enthusiasm for camping has skyrocketed in the last couple of years, and we know that there is a demand and appreciation for our brand of authentic, locally connected campgrounds among today’s recreation-embracing campers.”
Strategy for 2023 and Beyond
With locations from Maine to South Carolina, Spacious Skies campgrounds to date have been located in Eastern destinations. “We have kept up with our collection growth and are simultaneously honing both our operations and our acquisition strategy,” said Ali Rasmussen. “We have observed certain advantages of having built what is essentially the perfect road trip, and we’re responding with a selective growth strategy within our existing footprint.
“We know that there are many campground owners out there who are ready to retire or pass the torch to another operator, and we welcome a chance to talk about how Spacious Skies Campgrounds might be a perfect fit,” she added.
Along with the acquisitions, the company has launched numerous enhancement and expansion projects to maximize the potential of each campground and ensure that each location supports the company’s mission. While every campground has a unique personality and natural backdrop, all feature consistent standards of customer service along with high-quality facilities and amenities. All campgrounds also work hard to embrace and promote the work of local makers and artists. For example, the company hired a local artist to paint a colorful mural at Spacious Skies Sandy Run that promotes its slogan, “Take Your Indoors Outdoors.” Plans for additional murals are in the works.
Ali Rasmussen and the Spacious Skies team have garnered the attention of the industry and travel press as well. Ali Rasmussen was profiled recently by the RV Women’s Alliance. The profile appeared in RV Business. The article highlighted the company’s astounding growth as well as its quick-learning management team, which heavily features female managers in key company roles. Her tip for professionals who want to pursue a career in campground management: “Be ready to hustle and have fun doing it.”
Spacious Skies Campgrounds have also garnered industry awards. For example, RV Share awarded two of its 12 “Campies” awards to Spacious Skies Campgrounds. In a company profile, Woodall’s Campground Magazine lauded the company’s “amazing growth.” Campgrounds have received regional awards and accolades too. Spacious Skies Hidden Creek in Marion, N.C., for example, was named the Most Family Friendly Campground in the North Carolina Mountains by the Carolinas Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds. And Southern Living named Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views one of the “17 Best Places to Camp in Virginia for Every Type of Adventure.”
Also in the past year, Spacious Skies Campgrounds rolled out its Fall Color Trail, which highlighted the fall color as it progresses from campground destination to destination from North to South, and the Spring Bloom Trail, which follows the wildflower bloom from South to North. Also new in 2023 are a series of campground themed weekends, such as the Splash into Summer weekend May 26-29 and the Monster Mash Oct. 27-28.
