Camp Jellystone presented its annual awards to exemplary Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts franchisees throughout the U.S. and Canada.
The awards were issued during the franchise network’s annual Symposium conference at the Charleston Area Convention Center in North Charleston, South Carolina in the following categories such as Camp-Resort of the Year, Operator of the Year, Franchise Inspection Leader, “The Carroll Award”, Facility of the Year, Happy Camper Award, and more.
Camp-Resort of the Year is Camp Jellystone’s highest honor. It is given to the Jellystone Park location whose facilities and operations most exceed all of the brand’s standards. Recipients must be Pinnacle Club members, meaning they earned a score of 95 percent or higher on the franchisor’s annual assessment of the location’s facilities and operations.
Award recipients must also have achieved strong growth in business, implemented sustained improvements, and be leaders in the industry. This year, Golden Valley Jellystone Park in Bostic, North Carolina won the award.
Regional Camp-Resorts of the Year is Camp Jellystone’s highest regional honor. It is awarded to four Jellystone Park locations whose facilities and operations exceed all brand standards.
Recipients must be Pinnacle Club members, meaning they earned a score of 95 percent or higher on the franchisor’s annual assessment of the locations’ facilities and operations. Award recipients must also have achieved strong growth in business, implemented sustained improvements, and be leaders in the industry:
- Central Region: Caledonia Jellystone Park, Wisconsin
- Eastern Region: Columbus North Jellystone Park, Ohio
- Southern Region: Golden Valley Jellystone Park, North Carolina
- Western Region: Tyler, Texas Jellystone Park
Operator of the Year is given to the individual or individuals directly responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort locations that best represent excellence in management, improved assessment ratings, improved guest satisfaction ratings, and growth in business:
- Clint and Michelle Swisher, Bloomington, Indiana, in the category for locations with less than 225 sites.
- Greg Amadio, Niagara Falls, Ontario, in the category for locations with 225 or more sites.
Franchise Inspection Leader, “The Carroll Award” is presented to the Jellystone Park location that achieved the highest assessment rating out of all Jellystone Park locations in the United States or Canada. This year’s winner is Jellystone Park Tyler, Texas.
Jim Webb Spirit Award, named after Jim Webb, who played a major role in the success of the Jellystone Park franchise network during its formative years and beyond, is awarded to the franchisee who best embodies the same tireless spirit, enthusiasm, and commitment to the Jellystone Park brand that Mr. Webb displayed. Randy Isaacson, Jellystone Park Caledonia, Wisconsin was named the award winner this year.
Maple Leaf Award is presented to the Canadian franchisee who best demonstrates their commitment and dedication to the Jellystone Park brand. Niagara Falls, Ontario received this award during the Symposium.
Facility of the Year is presented to Jellystone Park locations that have shown sustained improvements to their facilities. Winners this year include:
- Fredericksburg, Texas, in the category for locations with less than 225 sites.
- Glen Ellis, New Hampshire, in the category for locations with 225 or more sites
Dan O’Connell Service Award, named for the highly regarded campground industry pioneer who developed a Jellystone Park location in Illinois, recognizes franchisees who work at local, regional, and national levels to improve and grow the campground industry.
Sean Vidrine, who co-owns and operates Jellystone Park locations in Pittsfield, Illinois, Monticello, Iowa and Mansfield, Pennsylvania, received the service award this year.
Special Recognition Awards are presented to Jellystone Park locations and operators who achieved high ratings on specific categories of park operations or marketing initiatives.
- Rookie of the Year, Owners: BJ and Jenn Davis, New Douglas, Illinois Jellystone Park
- Rookie of the Year, Managers: Kaycee Butt of Columbus North Jellystone Park and Kyle Mohler of Tyler, Texas Jellystone Park
Happy Camper Award, earned by the Jellystone Park location with the highest overall guest satisfaction ratings was given to the park in Tabor City, North Carolina.
Landscaping Award, meanwhile, was given to Barton Lake, Indiana Jellystone Park while the locations in Pittsfield, Illinois and Tabor City, North Carolina won the Retail Store Award.
For Comfort Station Awards, park locations that won were in Bath, New York; Caledonia, Wisconsin; Eureka, Missouri, Fredericksburg, Texas; Madison, Maine; Niagara Falls, Ontario; Pittsfield, Illinois; Plymouth, Indiana; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; South Haven, Michigan; and Tyler, Texas.
The Website Award this year was given to Akron-CantonJellystone Park in Uniontown, Ohio.
Other awards include Brochure Design Award given to Glen Ellis, New Hampshire Jellystone Park, Club Yogi Rewards Award to Tyler, Texas Jellystone Park, Facility Theming/Branding Award to Caledonia, Wisconsin Jellystone Park, and Rental Units Award to Golden Valley Jellystone Park in Bostic, North Carolina.
In addition are the Excellence Awards presented to Jellystone Park locations that earned scores between 90 and 95 percent on the annual assessments of their facilities and operations by Camp Jellystone.
Winners include Jellystone Park locations in Bloomington, Indiana; Cave City, Kentucky; Eureka, Missouri; Fredericksburg, Texas; Gardiner, New York; Hocking Hills, Ohio; Kingston, Nova Scotia; Mark Twain Lake, Missouri; Memphis, Tennessee; Milford, Delaware; Millbrook, Illinois; Natural Bridge, Virginia; New Douglas, Illinois; Petoskey, Michigan; Pigeon Forge, Tennessee; Quarryville, Pennsylvania; and Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.
Pinnacle Club Awards, on the other hand, are presented to Jellystone Park locations that earned scores of 95 percent or higher on the annual assessments of their facilities and operations by Camp Jellystone.
Winners include Jellystone Park locations in Akron-Canton, Ohio; Augusta, Maine; Barton Lake, Indiana; Bath, New York; Branson, Missouri; Bremen, Georgia; Caledonia, Wisconsin; Canyon Lake, Texas; Chincoteague Island, Virginia; Columbus North, Ohio; Cranberry Acres, Massachusetts; Frankenmuth, Michigan; Glen Ellis, New Hampshire; Golden Valley, North Carolina; Grayling, Michigan; Harrisville, Pennsylvania; Holmes County, Ohio; Indianapolis East, Indiana; and Kerrville, Texas.
Other winning locations include: Lakes Region, New Hampshire; Luray, Virginia; Madison, Maine; Mexico, New York; Mill Run, Pennsylvania; Milton, Pennsylvania; Niagara Falls, Ontario; North Java, New York; Pelahatchie, Mississippi; Pierceton, Indiana; Pittsfield, Illinois; Plymouth, Indiana; Pouch Cove, Newfoundland; Quarryville, Pennsylvania; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; South Haven, Michigan; Tabor City, North Carolina; Tyler, Texas; Warrens, Wisconsin; Williamsport, Maryland; Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin; Woodridge, New York; and Woodstock, New Brunswick.
Customer Service Awards awards are presented to Jellystone Park locations that earned scores of 88 percent or higher on the annual guest satisfaction surveys.
Winners include Jellystone Park locations in Akron-Canton, Ohio; Asheboro, North Carolina; Bath, New York; Bloomington, Indiana; Branson, Missouri; Bremen, Georgia; Caledonia, Wisconsin; Canyon Lake, Texas; Cherokee, North Carolina; Columbus North, Ohio; Cranberry Acres, Massachusetts; Estes Park, Colorado; Eureka, Missouri; Frankenmuth, Michigan; Fredericksburg, Texas; Glen Ellis, New Hampshire; Golden Valley, North Carolina; Grayling, Michigan; Harrisville, Pennsylvania; Hocking Hills, Ohio; Holmes County, Ohio; Indianapolis East, Indiana; Kerrville, Texas; and Kingston, Nova Scotia.
Lakes Region, New Hampshire; Madison, Maine; Mears, Michigan; Memphis, Tennessee; Mexico, New York; Mill Run, Pennsylvania; Milton, Pennsylvania; New Douglas, Illinois; Niagara Falls, Ontario; Pelahatchie, Mississippi; Petoskey, Michigan; Pierceton, Indiana; Pittsfield, Illinois; and Sioux Falls, South Dakota also won the awards.
Other Customer Service Award awardees include locations in South Haven, Michigan; South Jersey, New Jersey; Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin; Tabor City, North Carolina; Tyler, Texas; Wichita Falls, Texas; Williamsport, Maryland; Woodridge, NY; and Woodstock, New Brunswick.
Recreation Awards are presented to Jellystone Park locations that achieved recreation scores of 88 percent or higher in the annual guest satisfaction surveys.
Winners include Jellystone Park locations in Akron-Canton, Ohio; Asheboro, North Carolina; Barton Lake, Indiana; Bath, New York; Bloomington, Indiana; Branson, Missouri; Bremen, Georgia; Caledonia, Wisconsin; Canyon Lake, Texas; Cherokee, North Carolina; Columbus North, Ohio; Cranberry Acres, Massachusetts; Eureka, Missouri; Frankenmuth, Michigan; Glen Ellis, New Hampshire; Golden Valley, North Carolina; Grayling, Michigan; and Harrisville, Pennsylvania.
Park locations in Holmes County, Ohio; Indianapolis East, Indiana; Kerrville, Texas; Kingston, Nova Scotia; Madison, Maine; Mears, Michigan; Memphis, Tennessee; Mexico, New York; Mill Run, Pennsylvania; Milton, Pennsylvania; Monticello, Iowa; New Douglas, Illinois; North Texas, Texas; Pelahatchie, Mississippi; Pierceton, Indiana; and Pittsfield, Illinois also won the award.
In addition are park locations in Plymouth, Indiana; Sioux Falls, South Dakota, South Haven, Michigan; Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin; Tabor City, North Carolina; Tyler, Texas; Williamsport, Maryland; Woodridge, New York, and Woodstock, New Brunswick.
The Top Performers award is presented to the Camp-Resorts with the highest percentage of year-over-year growth in revenue. This year’s recipients are locations in Asheboro, North Carolina; Delaware Beaches, Delaware; Glen Ellis, New Hampshire; and Pouch Cove, Newfoundland.
About Camp Jellystone
With more than 75 locations across the United States and Canada, Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts feature fun attractions such as pools and water slides, non-stop family activities, up-close fun with Yogi Bear characters, and glamping-style accommodations.
For more information about Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts, please visit www.jellystonepark.com. For more information on franchising opportunities, please visit www.jellystonefranchise.com. Camp Jellystone is part of Sun Outdoors’ family of brands.
About Sun Outdoors
Sun Outdoors is a leader in outdoor hospitality and is committed to its mission of offering guests exceptional and transformative outdoor experiences. With more than 170 locations across the U.S. and Ontario, Canada, Sun Outdoors offers guest several ways to stay: from RV sites to vacation rentals, from tent camping to glamping, whether they stay for a weekend, season, or longer.
Visit www.sunoutdoors.com to learn more.