The Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Frankenmuth, Michigan, is celebrating major milestones this summer: the campground’s 50th anniversary, the Banes family’s 45 years in the campground business and the park’s 30th year as a Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park franchise.
The campground, which opened 50 years ago, was purchased by Erv and Marilyn Banes in 1981.
After operating the property for 15 years, the family joined the Jellystone Park franchise network in 1996.
Today, siblings Cindy Keinath and Craig Banes manage the campground after growing up working at the family business.
“The campground turns 50 this year,” Cindy Keinath said. “I was 10 and my brother was 14 when they bought the park. We both worked here through grade school and high school.”
The park is also recognizing longtime employees, including manager Cathy Krueger, who has worked at the campground for more than 30 years.
To commemorate the anniversaries, the campground has scheduled several themed weekends throughout the summer.
The Golden Camp-i-versary celebration, set for July 17-19, includes an old-fashioned picnic, cornhole tournament, wagon rides and candy bar bingo.
Other seasonal events include Christmas in July on July 10-12, a glow-themed weekend on Aug. 7-9 and a Splash Party with Yogi Bear on Aug. 21-23.
The Frankenmuth campground offers 250 RV sites, rental cabins and on-site RV rentals. Recreational amenities include indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a hot tub, an 18-hole miniature golf course and a playground featuring Gaga ball, a jump pad and a four-slide play area.
Daily activities begin with a morning cartoon, a visit from Yogi Bear and a craft session. Scheduled programming throughout the day may include yard games, fishing with Jellystone Park characters, parachute games, wagon rides, additional crafts and an evening movie.
The campground has also introduced day passes this year, available on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays for local residents.
Members of the Banes and Keinath families continue to serve in leadership roles within the outdoor hospitality industry and their local community.
Erv Banes previously served on the boards of the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds and ARVC Michigan. Keinath currently serves on the boards of the Michigan Association of Recreation Vehicles and Campgrounds, the Frankenmuth Growth & Development Foundation and the Frankenmuth Sports Tourism Alliance, and is vice chair of the Frankenmuth Chamber of Commerce.
Craig Banes serves as treasurer of the Downtown Development Authority Board.
The Frankenmuth campground is one of more than 75 Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts operating across the United States and Canada in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences.
Featured image by Jellystone Park Camp-Resort