We know you are aware, but just in case you are not, Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Parks, the Disney World of campgrounds as we have dubbed them, are popping up across the country. They offer experiences such as drive-in movie theatres, water parks, and putt-putt mixed with camping. People are looking for full experiences, not just a campground where they can rest at night.
More than 1.5 million new households started camping last year; your campground could attract a slice of that proverbial pie by offering experiences different from other campgrounds in the area. Sure, renting out campground space will remain your strongest financial asset, but you should always consider integrating auxiliary services to boost your bottom line. Think of it as becoming a one-stop-shop location for outdoor enjoyment; customers are likely already seeking out these products and services, but are forced to visit nearby competition if you don’t offer them.
All of the options we outline below allow you to make additional income. So, not only will you attract more visitors, but you will also make more money in the process. If you want to capitalize on selling experiences, you could charge an increased amount for access to these when booking. It is simple to do with a campground reservation software like Bonfire. You can incentivize booking at the time of reservations by charging a discounted rate. For instance, you can have access to unlimited kayak rentals for your 3-night stay for $100 but if you add by day it is $50 per day, which is a savings of $50. It is a quick add-on when booking and something the guests then are looking forward to when coming to visit. Below are 5 ways to provide experiences to your campers while making more money in the process:
1. Boat Slips, Boat Rentals, and Jet Ski Rentals - If your park is lucky enough to back up to a lake or ocean and you are not offering boat slips or rentals to your campground customers, you are missing out on a big revenue opportunity. “Campgrounds with boat docks” or “campgrounds with boat rentals,” has over 200 searches per month in the US. People are looking for access to both campgrounds and boating experiences. You can charge for things like boat slips and allow consumers to camp while having a place to store their boats while they are there. If you have extra water rentals such as jet skis, tubes, or life jackets, you can charge extra for these rentals as well.
Bonus: If you have a huge dock and the ability to have boat slips outside of your residents, offering boat slips to those who are not customers will only increase your passive income and customer base. Those who use your dock for a boat slip will bring guests, who may become future customers.
2. Does your campground have access to water, but not big enough for larger watercrafts like boats? Kayak rentals, paddle boat rentals, and fishing experiences are a perfect way to make extra money during your camper's stays. An average Kayak for 2 people costs $600 and you can rent out kayaks for daily rates of $50. Just 12 rentals will allow you to start making money from the usage of this equipment.
3. Does your campground have a ton of land that is not in use? Offering ATV and extreme sports trails for self-serve rides or guided expeditions might be the perfect way to put that land to work. There are over 5,000 monthly searches across the US for campgrounds featuring ATV trails. This doesn’t include those looking for dirt bike trails and off-roading parks. As extreme sports start to increase in popularity, there are more and more campers who are looking for adrenaline-pumping experiences instead of just a relaxing place to get away. One important note is that it is very important to not only manicure your trails, but also keep your insurance up to date. Additionally, you could invest in a few tiles? to attach to anyone’s vehicles who explore your land. This will allow you to pinpoint locations just in case someone is out past the time they are supposed to be back.
Yes, all of these things cost money, but since you are charging for access to these parts of your park, you should be able to recoup anything you spend fast. This will also keep traffic low and allow you to book in advance. Finally, we would recommend having a few extra ATVs for rentals in case your visitors have unexpected problems with theirs or they need a few extra for friends or family.
One-hour rentals with a guide and ATV rental normally costs an average of $120. That is PER HOUR. Offering ATVs is a great way to make more money. Make sure to have washing stations at the edge of the park to keep the ATVs clean.
4. Not into ATV rentals but still want to put your extra land to use? An obstacle course is a great way to get both kids and parents outside and engaged in an activity. An obstacle course could also be available to rent out to nearby fitness groups for training or their own events. Many parks set up temporary obstacle courses for the summer, but if you’re interested in building a permanent course that stays up year-round, check out the Confidence Course used by the Army at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Also, if you have cabins, you can market your obstacle courses to companies for team-building exercises as well.
5. Do you have a large wooded clearing that doesn’t get too hot in the Summer? Summer movie nights are the perfect way to give your campers an experience while also making money. You can choose to either allow guests to come for free or charge an entry rate. If you choose to let them come for free, sell things like popcorn, drinks, and candy to make your money back on the outdoor movie equipment. You can purchase outdoor movie equipment for approx. $750.
Bonus: If you have a water feature where people can swim, move your movie to the water. Show movies like Jaws or Finding Nemo and sell or rent out tubes. This is an experience they will never forget.
After adding these experiences to your park, you need to make sure you use these to gain more reservations and visibility. Click here to read about best practices in marketing your campground from website additions to Instagram ads. Above, we outlined 5 ways to make extra money while offering experiences to your campers but there are many ways to up your game with campground features and amenities that you might not necessarily charge for. One of the most common examples we are seeing being added to parks is dog parks. Finding the perfect park for dogs is almost as important to finding the perfect park for their human owners. Click here to read more about building the “paw-fect” dog park for your campground.
Finally, you need to make sure your general store is stocked with everything a customer needs. If they are left needing something you don’t have, they will remember that. Unfortunately, many don’t remember the great times, but the times in need more during a vacation. Not sure what to sell in your store? Click here to see over 50 MUST HAVE items.
We hope this blog has provided you with a little inspiration when figuring out what experiences to offer at your campground. As always, if you need a way to not only take reservations online but also charge for these experiences/amenity addons, Bonfire is the only system you need.
Are there other companies who offer similar services? Yes. Click here to read about the pros and cons of the top software offers for campground management and decide for yourself if Bonfire is right for your campground! We are so sure you will find Bonfire to be the leader in Campground Management Software, we want to let you try it FREE for 30 days. Click here to book a walk-through of our software and start your free trial. Have questions? Send us an email at howdy@letsbonfire.com.
