Buying a Campground or RV Park

Believe it or not, many of the RV Parks and campgrounds you visit during your RV adventures are owned and operated by individuals who were once RVers themselves. This works out quite nicely because these individuals know exactly what you’re looking for as an RVer and can do their best to offer just that.

It also means that even though the travels of these owners may be finished, they can continue to enjoy the magic of RVing and stay involved in the camping community.

If you’re one of the many RVers who has considered jumping into the campground ownership world once you’ve finished traveling, you may be wondering how to get started. Do you fit into this category? This is the article for you!

Read on to learn how to go about joining the hundreds of RV-loving campground owners out there.

Where to Begin: What You Should Know

Before you jump into buying a campground, there are a few things you should know. Read on to make sure you are well prepared before jumping into this big venture.

Know What You’re Getting Into

First and foremost, you need to know exactly what you’re getting into. Sure, it might sound fun to run a campground after you retire, and the idea of hosting fun events and meeting campers is quite an exciting one. However, the truth of the matter is that running a park is a lot of work. Therefore, if you’re looking for a relaxing retirement plan, you may want to look elsewhere.

Additionally, it’s good to know your numbers. Running a campground is incredibly expensive, and in order to make money rather than losing it, you will need to go in with an excellent plan of attack. On top of that, you’re also going to need a pretty hefty starting fund. Usually this means taking out a loan.

Sit down and price everything out before diving in to be sure a campground is something you can afford.

Pre-Built or DIY?

If you’re sure this is something you want to do, the next question is whether you want to a) purchase an existing campground, or b) start from scratch, building something on an empty plot of land.

Purchasing an existing campground is a much easier way to go, and is usually cheaper to get started. That said, if you already own a prime bit of land and you have a very specific vision, you may want to go the DIY route. Weigh your options carefully in order to ensure you make the choice that is right for you.

How to Begin Shopping

Ready to start shopping for your campground? You’re probably wondering where on earth one looks for campgrounds for sale.

Well, if you plan to start from scratch, you can shop for land through a real estate agent, just as anyone else would do. However, those looking for an existing RV park to purchase will want to check websites such as RVProperty.com or ParksandPlaces.com.

What to Look for in a Campground

Of course, you’re going to need to know what to look for when shopping for your campground. In some ways this is subjective. However, there are some things that everyone will want to keep an eye out for during the shopping process:

Location

Location is perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind. Obviously, you’re going to want a spot that is nice for you, as you will likely be living in the campground. However, you also want to consider whether the location will be good for customers.

Generally speaking, RV parks that are within 100 miles of a major city do much better than those that aren’t. This is because many campers prefer to visit parks that are close to home, meaning the people of that big city are more likely to become customers.

Additionally, those RVers who travel farther from home will be more attracted to your park if it is near a major city, because it will mean more to see and do in the area.

Available Amenities and Needed Upgrades

If you are purchasing a campground that already has a basic framework in place, you will want to make a note of what amenities the park already has available to guests and what kinds of upgrades you will need to pay for out of pocket.

Is there a particular amenity you want to offer guests? Make sure the campground in question has that available, or ensure that your budget will allow you to add it.

Price

Finally, you will of course want to keep price in mind. If you come across two similar properties in the same area, price will almost always be the deciding factor. Keep in mind that if you spend less on the park itself at the outset, you will have money left over for upgrades and to make the campground your own.

How to Market and Grow Your Campground

After purchasing your campground and getting it guest-ready, it’s time to do some marketing. Like location, marketing is incredibly important to the success of your business, so make sure you do it right.

Website, Email, and Social Media

To begin with, you will need to get a clean and easily navigable website up and running. Adding some social media channels into the mix is another great way to pull in new customers. Make sure you keep both updated and always, always answer queries sent through email or social media.

Online Reservation System

In this day and age, having an online reservation system is key when it comes to pulling in guests. Many people prefer not to make phone calls, and will even choose one campground over another based on whether they can book entirely online.

On top of that, an online reservation system actually makes your job (or the job of any front desk employees) easier and more streamlined. Lastly, such a system means fewer mistakes when it comes to taking reservations, something that is sure to help the campground and your customers.

Amazing Customer Service

The final piece to the marketing puzzle is good customer service. This begins with things like high quality guest guides and friendly faces at check-in, but carries right on through to things such as clean restrooms and sites, exciting amenities, well-maintained hookups, and fun activities.

These things—in combination with a great location—will not only keep your guests coming back for more, but also encourage them to tell others about their great experiences, helping to grow your customer base. You can encourage this word-of-mouth advertisement by asking your customers for a review online.

You can also turn to SEPI Marketing for assistance in marketing your new campground. They are the leading provider of Free Guest Guides and also offer services to help with building your website, putting together an online reservation system, and promoting your park.