Four Points RV Resorts has purchased the former LeBleu Lakes RV Resort in Lake Charles, La., and will convert the property into a Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort, according to a news release. The October 2024 acquisition marks the company’s fifth Jellystone franchise and underscores rising demand for family-focused branding in the outdoor-hospitality sector.
For park owners and suppliers, the deal is another signal that character-driven franchises are perceived by many operators as strong performers on average daily rate and year-round occupancy. However, hard national data comparing branded characters to non-branded parks is scarce, and available figures vary by operator and region. Four Points’ expanding portfolio suggests growing interest in turnkey recreation models that bundle water amenities, themed activities, and centralized marketing, though the company has not yet released financial or occupancy results demonstrating measurable returns from its Jellystone expansion.
The Lake Charles property will debut roughly 200 campsites by Memorial Day 2025, with a long-range plan to exceed 350 pads. A grand-opening celebration is scheduled for May 21, 2025, and the regional band The Chee-Weez is booked for May 24, according to local coverage. Operators weighing expansion can track the timeline as a benchmark for executing a franchise conversion in 18 months or less.
Construction crews are refurbishing the existing swimming pool, water slides, and splash ground while adding a resort-style pool with a tanning deck and a Wibit floating obstacle course on the lake. Additional upgrades include pedal boats, paddleboards, a revamped miniature-golf course, remodeled park store, updated cabins, resurfaced roads, and upgraded water, sewer, and electrical systems.
Behind those visible projects, veteran operators know a successful re-flag hinges on an operational checklist. Best practice starts with a 360-degree safety and ADA audit before any theming, followed by layered staff training that separates guest-service modules from maintenance SOPs.
Hosting “legacy-guest” preview weekends reduces attrition, while pre-opening inventory controls and early PMS/POS integration with the franchisor’s reservation engine prevent profit-draining missteps.
When it opens, the park will feature pools, splash grounds, water slides, a jumping pillow, mini-golf, wagon rides, the lake-based obstacle course, and a fully themed recreation schedule aimed at kids. Those attractions are designed to drive length of stay and ancillary spending, hallmarks of the Jellystone model.
Separately, keeping new pools and slides busy after the peak season will require an off-season playbook. Operators can stack fall Halloweekends, winter light festivals, and spring character breakfasts; deploy dynamic pricing tied to weather or local events; sell day-use passes to area residents; secure sponsor-funded concerts; and bundle casino shuttles or swamp tours to stretch average length of stay.
Such tactics safeguard margins once the park grows from 200 to 350 sites.
The resort sits at 4200 Luke Powers Road in Lake Charles, an easy drive from New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and the Gulf Coast. Reservations are open now for stays beginning Memorial Day weekend 2025.
Industry observers note that recognizable family franchises can boost occupancy and nightly rates, giving operators a yardstick to evaluate capital expenditures against potential revenue gains, though results will vary by market and operator.
Four Points officials have not released a budget, though comparable Jellystone upgrades typically require several million dollars in capital. With a significant investment and one of outdoor hospitality’s most familiar character brands, Four Points hopes to create a Gulf Coast flagship. The conversion offers peers a real-time blueprint as the 2025 camping season approaches.