WCM's Park Update

WCM’s Park Update recently chatted with Mike Harrison, the COO of CRR Hospitality, on the continued growth of the company and its recent partnerships with Circuit of Americas (COTA) and the National African American RVers Association. CRR was also recently named as a top workplace in Arizona.  Harrison also focuses on employee issues and revenue management, a topic he has been speaking about at va...

WCM’s Park Update recently chatted with Ravi Parikh, the CEO of RoverPass, about the company’s history and growth in the industry. Parikh spoke about the history of the company, how it continues to expand its presence in the outdoor hospitality industry, artificial intelligence issues and more. To learn more, go to  https://www.roverpass.com/ . The show is hosted by Ben Quiggle, editor of Woodall’...

WCM’s Park Update recently chatted with Mychele Bisson, co-owner of Bison Peak Ventures, LLC., about how the investment team continues to build out its portfolio with parks spread across the U.S. Bisson offers updates on what the company is focused on midway through 2025, including the addition of a fish camp in Florida. She also highlights the impetus for the creation of the investment firm and h...

WCM’s Park Update recently sat down with Tessa McCrackin, chief marketing officer of Northgate Resorts, to get an update on all the amazing work that the company has been doing to transform the camping experience at its parks. The company owns several parks in the Jellystone Park system, along with managing two parks under its own brand, Camp Fimfo. With new amenities like the Guadalupe Glider Zip...

WCM’s Park Update catches up with Whitney Scott, co-founder of Walden Insights, about the journey she has traveled to create her new business focused on collecting data on all facets of the outdoor hospitality industry. She explores how data from a variety of different travel segments is key to helping business owners better operate their businesses. Scott also highlights some of the key trends sh...

WCM’s Park Update catches up with Hannah Smith, campground supervisor for The Wilds, on the new Hellbender RV campground that is set to open in late May. The park sits on a 75-acre plot and will feature 73 campsites. Smith explores the mission of The Wilds, a conservation program under the umbrella of the Columbus (Ohio) Zoo and Aquarium, and how the campground expands that mission and provides mo...

WCM's Park Update catches up with Matt Whitermore, managing partner of Soma Hospitality, to learn more about his philosophy and approach when it comes to operating in the outdoor hospitality space.  With a background in acquiring and operating hospitality locations, Whitermore offers a unique perspective on the industry at large and why right now is a great time to invest in the outdoors.

WCM's Park Update catches up with Jayne Cohen, the founder and CEO of the Campground Consulting Group, an industry leader who has decades of experience in the outdoor hospitality industry as both an owner and consultant. She chats about the evolution of the industry over the years, how the market is holding up so far in 2025, on the knowledge base of new owners coming into the industry, challe...

In this episode of WCM’s Park Update, Sean Vidrine, CEO of Four Points RV Resorts, joins Ben Quiggle, editor of Woodall's Campground Magazine, and Mike Gast, president of the  `Imi Ola Group, to chat about the investment group's continued growth and its current work transitioning a park in Louisiana into the Jellystone Park system. Vidrine also discusses development trends and challenges, the cont...

WCM's Park Update chats with industry icon Jim Rogers, the former CEO and president of Kampgrounds of America Inc., about how the industry can build better foundations to attract, retain, and grow leaders.  Rogers is set to speak even more on this topic during sessions at the upcoming Campground Solutions Summit from April 1-4 in Reno Nev. You can learn more at  campgroundsolutionssummit.com ....

WCM's Park Update interviews industry thought leader Kathleen Walsh on the state of the development market and whether there is going to be an oversaturation of campsites if current trends hold up. Walsh also explores rate trends, other industry challenges, and what the future holds for her.

WCM's Park Update, sponsored by PayRange, chats with Gwynn Sullivan, the executive director of the Care Camps Foundation, about the continued work it is doing to support pediatric oncology camps across the U.S. and Canada.  Sullivan highlights the foundation's recent brand change, its success in garnering the support of numerous industries to provide more support to camps, the importance of its mi...

WCM’s Park Update, sponsored by Kampgrounds of America Inc., chats with Dyana Kelley, president and CEO of CalOHA, about the new Campground Solutions Summit West that CalOHA is going to host in Reno, Nev., next April. She discusses the impetus for the summit and how she hopes it can be a resource for park owners in Western states and beyond.  Kelley also chats about some the California-specific is...

WCM’s Park Update, sponsored by Kampgrounds of America Inc., chats with Mark Koep, CEO of Campground Views, about the feedback he is hearing from the owners he speaks with on the 2024 season. He discusses the challenges park owners faced as they navigated a unique electoral cycle, along with other economic issues. Koep also chats about his time at the Glamping Show Americas and also updates WCM on...

WCM’s Park Update, sponsored by Kampgrounds of America Inc., chats with Erin and Dan Thiem, the owners of the Inn Town Campground in Nevada City, Calif., on Tuesday (Nov. 5) about the 2024 season and some of the challenges the park has faced. Named the No. 1 park in the country for three years in a row by USA Today’s 10Best, the Thiem’s are continually looking at ways to improve the park they buil...

WCM’s Park Update, sponsored by Kampground of America Inc., chats with Cara Braeutigam, president of the Canadian Camping and RV Association (CCRVA) about its upcoming CampEX from Nov. 17-20 in Niagra Falls, Ontario. The event, organized by the Canadian Camping and RV Association and Camping In Ontario (CIO), is the first in-person national conference for park owners in over a decade. Braeutigam h...

WCM's Park Update, sponsored by Kampground of America Inc., chats with Kama Humphrey, director of meetings and events, and Aaron Williamson, vice president of system operations, about the upcoming International Convention that KOA is set to host in San Antonio from Nov. 18-21 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. With the theme “KOA Fiesta,” the convention will embrace the Spanish heritage o...

WCM's Park Update, sponsored by Kampground of America Inc., features a look at OHI's upcoming OHCE in Oklahoma City. David Basler, chief strategy officer, and Riley Wilson, director of marketing, join the show to highlight key aspects of its OHCE and why it attracts park owners from across North America.  During the show, WCM discusses changes to the way the expo is being scheduled, highlights thi...

WCM’s Park Update, sponsored by  Kampgrounds of America Inc.  (KOA), brings on Danille Todd and Lori Severson, both organizers of the Campground Owners Expo (COE), to chat about COE’s upcoming show and how in its fourth year it continues to grow. Set in Branson, Mo., this year’s show will offer a unique ‘Behind the Scenes’ event, a new ExpoConnect program and plenty of networking opportunities. In...

WCM’s Park Update, sponsored by  Kampgrounds of America Inc.  (KOA), chats with Jim Omstrom and Chase Becker, both co-founders of Open Road Resorts about recent additions to its system and a large investment from L Catterton. Founded in 2019, the company now operates six parks in a variety of locations and is expecting even more growth over the next year. Both Omstrom and Becker chat about the mar...

WCM’s Park Update, sponsored by  Kampgrounds of America Inc.  (KOA), dives into RV industry issues with Josh ‘the RV Nerd’ who operates out of a Bish’s dealership in Coldwater, Mich. A well-known creator of videos on RV industry topics, Josh looks at manufacturing issues, camping trends, reservation issues, dealer/park collaborations and much more. Check out Josh’s YouTube channel at  https://www....

WCM’s Park Update, sponsored by  Kampgrounds of America Inc.  (KOA), is excited about the upcoming Glamping Show Americas and brought David Korse, the organizer of the event, back on the show to discuss all of the details. Korse speaks on the growing number of vendors the show is bringing in, the breadth of knowledge that is set to speak at the variety of sessions the show offers, how the glamping...

WCM’s Park Update, sponsored by  Kampgrounds of America Inc.  (KOA), chats with Kimberly Jenkins, the CEO of Clair Lagon, a company that creates custom lagoons for RV parks, campgrounds and resorts. Originally introduced in France, the company has recently made its way across the Atlantic and is now ready to begin expanding its operations here in North America. Jenkins highlights the many features...

WCM's Park Update, sponsored by KOA, highlights the growth of PMRV and Cabin builder Timberhut with the company's CEO Brooks Anderson. Anderson explores the creation of the company, its journey into PMRV manufacturing, its goals for the future and more. Anderson also chats about the company's work with substance abuse recovery shelters and how the company is making the recovery process...

WCM's Park Update, sponsored by Midwest Electric Products, chats with Marc and Julie Bennett, co-founders of RVLove, about the journey they have undergone as RVers and how their popular website, RVLove.com was launched. The authors of two books, the Bennetts have a well-known reputation for being RVing and camping experts. Now based out of a stick-and-brick house, the Bennetts still enjoy trav...