Many of Florida’s campgrounds and RV parks remain family owned and operated, sustaining a tradition that spans generations and continues to shape the state’s outdoor hospitality industry.
“Many of the campgrounds and RV parks that belong to our association are family owned and operated, including parks that have been in business for over 50 or 60 years. We’re one of the only segments of the economy where it’s still possible to find family owned businesses,” Bobby Cornwell, president and CEO of the Florida RV Park and Campground Association, said in a press release.
Boyd’s Campground in Key West was founded by Boyd and Elsie Hamilton in 1963 and is now operated by three generations of their family. The waterfront property offers amenities such as a swimming pool, tiki hut, game room, boat ramp and equipment rentals.
In Palm Harbor, Dennis Kappas and his son Christos have run Caladesi RV Park & Propane since 2011. Christos said they have upgraded the park’s roads, pool, gym and restrooms, adding that its proximity to beaches and downtown areas gives them an edge with both short- and long-term guests.
Christina and Benjamin Roddey III also manage two parks in Palm Harbor and Tarpon Springs. They acquired the Clearwater / Lake Tarpon KOA Holiday in 2017 and have operated Hickory Point RV Park since 1990.
Crosslake RV Park in Jacksonville was built by Cavelle and Mickey Roman on converted pastureland. Cavelle said the couple broke ground in late 2020 and the park now offers 84 spaces.
At Fisherman’s Cove RV Resort in Palmetto, Rob Smith works with his daughter, Amber, and son-in-law, John Peter Winkler. The park, which opened in 2018, features a waterfront pool, fire pit, pickleball court and complimentary watercraft for guests.
Tom and Barbara Pentz purchased Indian Mound Fish Camp in Oak Hill in 2000 and have since expanded it. Their daughter and her husband now help manage the property, which has grown from 19 sites to 37 sites and four cabins.
In the Keys, the Jackson family has owned Jolly Roger RV Resort in Marathon since 1980. After Hurricane Wilma damaged the park in 2005, the family rebuilt it exclusively for RVs and added a pool. Andrew Jackson now oversees daily operations.
St. Augustine’s North Beach Camp Resort has roots tracing back to the 1700s. Frank Usina, a second-generation owner, helped build the original 30-site campground in the 1960s; today it has more than 200 sites.
Families also run Peace River Campground in Arcadia, Ridge Manor Campground in Dade City and Stagecoach RV Park in St. Augustine. Each has transitioned ownership and operations from one generation to the next while expanding services.
Parks such as Sun Lake RV Park in Ruskin and Sunshine Village in Webster are also part of Rob Smith’s family-operated ventures, which include waterfront sites and amenities like fishing lakes and heated pools.
Panacea RV Park in Panacea has been owned and operated by Linda Marshall since 2011. Marshall’s two teenage children help with various projects around the park.
In Dade City, Ridge Manor Campground has been kept in the same family since Garry Van Broekhoven purchased it in 1994. With help from his children, Broekhoven renovated and maintained the property over the years. In 2021, his daughter, Alison, and her husband, Brad Winterroth, bought the park from him and now handle its daily management.
Stagecoach RV Park in St. Augustine traces its roots back to the Usina family farm of the late 1940s. Charles Usina, once known for producing potatoes for Lay’s, transitioned from farming to building a campground on the property in 1985.
While in DeFuniak Springs, the O’Neill family transformed Twin Lakes Camp Resort into a modern RV and glamping destination with the help of their five children.
Vero Beach Kamp RV Park in Sebastian and Whitey’s Fish Camp on Fleming Island also remain family managed, with multiple generations continuing their founders’ legacy of hospitality and local charm.
Featured image by Boyd’s Campground