Peter “Pete” Brown, a longtime campground owner and outdoor hospitality industry leader who served in multiple national and regional association roles, has died, according to a statement released by OHI.
Brown was recognized throughout the industry for his decades of service, including leadership roles with OHI, the Connecticut Campground Owners Association and the Northeast Campground Association.
He also co-owned Lone Oak Campsites in East Canaan, Connecticut, a campground founded by his parents after they converted a farm into a camping business.
Brown began working in the campground industry at age 12 when his family opened Lone Oak Campsites. In 1993, he and his brother purchased the campground from their father. The business remained under family ownership until it was sold in late 2024 after 60 years of operation.
Even after retiring following the sale of the campground, Brown continued volunteering with industry associations and assisting the new owners of Lone Oak Campsites, according to the statement.
Brown was elected to the OHI Board of Directors in 2013 and later served on the organization’s Executive Committee.
In 2020, he became board chair. In 2024, he was appointed the first chair of OHI’s Leadership and Elections Workgroup, which was formed to establish policies and standards for the association’s first at-large board election.
At the time of his death, Brown was serving his third term as chair of the workgroup and was involved in reviewing applications from prospective industry leaders.
Beyond his national leadership roles, Brown served as president of the Connecticut Campground Owners Association in 2008 and also held the position of the organization’s Western Region vice president.
He additionally served on the Northeast Campground Association Board of Directors, as vice president of the NCA Scholarship Committee and on its Conference Planning Committee.
Brown also served as a mentor for the Young Professionals Executive Committee and as a member of the OHI Foundation Board of Trustees.
According to the statement, he attended 35 Outdoor Hospitality Conference and Expo events during his career.
In 2024, Brown received the OHI Stan Martin Memorial Award, which the association described as its highest honor, recognizing support and dedication to the outdoor hospitality industry.
“Pete made a long-lasting impact on everyone he encountered and he was a personal friend,” said Paul Bambei. “His legacy will be felt for years to come even by those he didn’t get to meet. The seeds of service he sowed will be blooming long after today, and he will always be remembered for his dedication and leadership in the outdoor hospitality industry.”
Feature image by OHI