Ocean Lakes Family Campground in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina was named the Mega Park of the Year by The National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (National ARVC) at an awards ceremony in Florida today.
The campground that bagged the recognition for the tenth time was awarded during a special luncheon held at the 2022 Outdoor Hospitality Conference & Expo (OHCE) in Orlando, Florida.
Nominees for the Mega Park of the Year Award include Cajun Palms RV Resort (Henderson, LA), Carolina Pines RV Resort (Conway, SC), Golden Village Palms RV Resort (Hemet, CA), and Lakewood Camping Resort (Myrtle Beach, SC).
The Park of the Year Award is ARVC’s most distinguished campground award bestowed to member parks offering top-notch guest experience as a result of hard work and excellence in operations, professionalism, marketing, customer service, and industry involvement.
For the same award but for the large parks category, Verde Ranch RV Resort in Camp Verde, Arizona and Sun Outdoors Rocky Mountains in Granby, Colorado tied as winners.
The parks competed against Camp Fimfo Texas Hill Country (New Braunfels, Texas), Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort (Caledonia, Wisconsin), and Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort Guadalupe River (Kerrville, Texas) for the Large Park of the Year Award.
Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort of Pelahatchie, Mississippi was also distinguished this year for the Park of the Year award in the medium parks category. For Small Park of the Year, Anvil Campground in Williamsburg, Virginia received ARVC’s esteemed award.
The next distinction is the Plan-It Green Friendly Park of the Year Award for large/mega parks, shared by the 190-acre Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve in Santee, California and pet-friendly Sun Retreats Avalon of Cape May Court House, New Jersey.
Cuervo Mountain RV Park and Horse Hotel in Stanley, New Mexico, meanwhile, received the same award for the small/medium park category.
National ARVC member parks that demonstrate green practices in all aspects of park operations receive the prestigious award.
Awards were not only given to member parks but also to suppliers. This year, the Supplier of the Year Award was given to Campspot, a reservation and management software company for the outdoor hospitality industry.
Headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Campspot finds pride in setting the standard for what the best all-in-one campground management and reservation software can be.
Each year, ARVC recognizes an industry supplier that embodies supreme product solutions, innovation, customer service, and support.
Supplier of the Year Award finalists this year include Camplife, NewBook, and Yale Realty & Capital Advisors.
Meanwhile, state associations offering award-winning directories were given the Directory of the Year Award including the New Hampshire Campground Owners Association (small), Camp Michigan (medium), and Pennsylvania Campground Owners Association (large).
Also an award recipient at ARVC’s 2022 Awards of Excellence is Christa Neundorfer of Aspen Grove RV Park who bagged the Campground Partner of the Year Award.
The Campground Partner of the Year award is given to a member of the outdoor hospitality industry who has shown commitment to their professional development, business, or the use of National ARVC programs and has demonstrated leadership, service, commitment, and volunteerism within the industry.
“I’m incredibly humbled and I’m simply thrilled to be able to work with ARVC and all of the opportunities that we’ve been given to share our voice in this community,” Neundorfer said.
Industry leaders dedicated to the improvement of the campground and RV park sector are also acknowledged by the association through awards for their leadership, involvement, dedication, and creativity.
Scott Kollock of Vista Royalle Park in Bancroft, Wisconsin received the State Leadership Award for this year, a recognition presented to an industry member who demonstrates a commitment to professional growth and contributes their time and talent to both their state association and national market.
Mike Hobby, meanwhile, was honored with the Stan Martin Award. Last year, Kampground of America’s (KOA) Toby O’Rourke was honored with the Stan Martin Award for her commitment to the growth of ARVC and the outdoor hospitality industry.
New this year is the first-ever Unity Through Generosity Award given to Marcia Galvin of Normandy Farms Family Camping Resort.
“[I]t is so important that we stick together no matter what, and help each other out and, um, and just be here in the association. So, honestly, I feel so humble,” the awardee said.
Other awards given include the Pioneer Award given to Jay Jamison of Pismo Coast Village RV Resort; ARVC Foundation’s Above & Beyond Award to Cyndy Zbierski; and Chairman’s Award to Charles Amian (Pismo Coast Village RV Resort), Eileen Vaughan (Mountain Vista Campground), and Michael Hobby (Moon Landing RV Park and Marina).
The 2022 Awards of Excellence was held at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Florida as part of the annual Outdoor Hospitality Conference & Expo organized by The National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds.
OHCE2022 is underway until November 10. The event features over 40 sessions, networking opportunities, a trade show, and more.
For more information about OHCE2022, visit www.arvc.org/ohce. To learn more about ARVC, visit www.arvc.org.