CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts today reported double-digit, year-over-year park sales as work continues on six new locations. Jellystone Parks is the nation’s second largest franchised campground system, now with 83 parks in the U.S. and Canada.
Through the end of November, same-park sales were up 10 percent on total sales of more than $113 million, eclipsing last year’s record $108 million. This is the ninth year of continuous sales growth.
“Jellystone Parks offer campers – especially families – a unique experience, which is one of the key factors fueling our growth,” said Jim Westover, vice president of Operations. “The other contributor is the investment our franchisees are making to expand and improve their parks, which is driving both sales and profitability to record levels.”
Westover added that Jellystone is seeing strong interest from prospective franchises, ranging from large real estate investment groups to independent campground owners. “The camping industry as a whole is healthy and growing, and Jellystone Parks is extremely well positioned, making it an appealing addition to investment portfolios.”
It recently signed land development agreements with two new franchisees who are currently searching for sites. Randy Sims will develop a park in the Houston, Texas area, while Lorraine and Daren Carlson will open a Jellystone Park in Nelsonville, Ohio.
Also, work is underway on four new campgrounds scheduled to open in early- to mid-2018.
Real estate investment trust Northgate Resorts, the brand’s largest franchisee, is developing its ninth Jellystone Park in Bostic, North Carolina. Northgate is transforming a 550-acre former Girl Scout camp into the state’s fourth Jellystone Park. Campers will be welcomed starting in June.
A former independent campground an hour southwest of Cleveland, Ohio is being converted to a Jellystone Park by owners Todd and Pam McCreary. It is opening in April.
Branson, Missouri, will again be home to a Jellystone Park. The campground there was a Jellystone until 2016. New owners Jeremy and Lacy Stucky have signed an agreement to bring Yogi, Cindy and Boo Boo back to the popular family destination. Their re-branded campground is set to open in April.
Just west of Des Moines, Iowa, Curtis Van Gilder is converting his independent campground to a Jellystone Park that will begin to host campers in April.
Launched in 1969, Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park™ Camp-Resorts is the second largest chain of campgrounds in the United States, boasting 83 campgrounds with more than 17,000 campsites and vacation rentals in 31 states and four Canadian provinces. Jellystone Parks are franchised through Leisure Systems, Inc. (LSI), a wholly owned subsidiary of The Park River Corporation, Cincinnati, Ohio. Visit https://www.jellystonefranchise.com for details.
