Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts, a leading name in family camping and outdoor hospitality, has announced an expansive lineup of new activities and thematic weekends for its 2024 season across locations in the U.S. and Canada.
These new offerings aim to enhance guest experiences and create lasting memories, signaling a significant enhancement to the traditional camping experience.
Trent Hershenson, vice president of marketing at Camp Jellystone, highlighted the company’s commitment to innovation in family entertainment and hospitality. “Every year our locations develop new activities and weekend themes to not only keep guests entertained but also help families create memories that will last a lifetime,” Hershenson said.
The activities introduced cover a broad spectrum of interests and themes designed to appeal to all family members, from pet lovers to adventure seekers. For instance, the Lodi, California location will host “Great Outdoors” and “Wild West” weekends in April, featuring activities such as flower planting and lasso competitions, and will celebrate Cinco de Mayo with live music and a salsa eating contest.
In Bremen, Georgia, the “Holiday Medley Mix-up” will offer a unique twist by combining Easter, Halloween, and Christmas celebrations into one packed weekend in August. This will include activities like an Easter Hunt, trick-or-treating, and holiday-themed campsite decorating.
The New Douglas, Illinois location will cater to pet owners with a “Furry Friend Fiesta Weekend” at the end of May, including pet charades and an animal calling contest. Meanwhile, the Plymouth, Indiana park will engage children with a “Slime Your Life Weekend” and “All Things Messy Weekend,” focusing on interactive and tactile fun.
Kentucky’s Cave City location is set to enchant with a “Wizards and Wonders” weekend filled with magical crafts and a “Super Safari” weekend offering a closer look at exotic animals through crafted activities and a local petting zoo visit.
The variety continues in North Monmouth, Maine, where the park will encourage outdoor activities and a return to the ’70s with a “Peace, Love and Boo Boo” week, celebrating popular culture with a disco dance party.
Maryland’s Williamsport location plans its first “Winter Wonderland Weekend” in November, providing a festive holiday market and activities like a foam party and a hot cocoa bar, extending the camping season into the colder months.
Michigan’s Frankenmuth and Grayling locations will introduce nature and pet-focused weekends with themes like “Bugged Out Weekend” and “Puppy Paw-ty and S’mores Sweet Treats Weekend,” respectively, combining educational activities with fun.
The additions are not just confined to traditional camping activities. For instance, the Pelahatchie, Mississippi location will light up May with a “Glow Big or Go Home” weekend, featuring glow-themed entertainment to enhance night-time festivities.
Operators in the campground and outdoor hospitality industry can draw valuable insights from Jellystone’s approach to enhancing guest engagement and satisfaction. These new themes not only drive repeated visits but also create a diverse range of attractions that can appeal to a broad demographic, potentially increasing occupancy rates and extending the typical camping season.
This strategic diversification of entertainment options reflects an evolving industry that is increasingly incorporating immersive and experiential elements to meet the changing preferences of today’s campers. For campground and outdoor hospitality operators, adapting similar strategies could be key to attracting and retaining guests in a competitive market. Jellystone’s rollout of these new, innovative camping experiences sets a benchmark for creativity and guest-centric engagement in the campground industry.