RiverWest Partners, a Columbus-based real estate investment and development group specializing in outdoor destinations, is the new owner of Kozy Kampground.
The acquisition, announced on the campground’s Facebook page, outlines plans to enhance amenities and infrastructure while maintaining the park’s long-standing sense of community and family-friendly environment.
According to the announcement, RiverWest Partners focuses on reinvesting in campgrounds and marinas to create visitor experiences that encourage guests to return annually. The company owns five other campgrounds in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
“Our team at RiverWest Partners is excited to carry forward the tradition of providing a relaxed, friendly atmosphere you love while bringing new energy and improvements that will make Kozy even better for years to come,” the campground announces in a Facebook post.
The group highlighted its early conversations with members of the Goodwin family, emphasizing the importance of community and belonging to the campground’s identity.
“We want to express our appreciation for everything that has already been built here. From our first visit and discussions with Buzz, DeDe, and the entire Goodwin family and team, it has been clear that community, family, and providing a sense of belonging is central to what defines this campground,” the post reads.
Kozy Kampground had been owned by William and Margaret Ann Goodwin for decades, according to their daughter, Sandy Mast of Celina. William Goodwin died July 18, 2013, and Margaret Ann Goodwin died November 11, 2024.
Mast said she and her brother, Ted, were not part of the sale process. She reflected on the years she and her siblings spent working with their father, William Goodwin, managing and maintaining Kozy Kampground.
“I’ve got great memories there. My brother Ted and I worked for our dad for years and years,” she told The Daily Standard. “We both have great memories working with Dad and I hope that it will continue to be what Dad envisioned it to be, which was a great family place for people to come.”
Online records from the Mercer County Auditor’s Office show that Kozy Kampground LLC transferred the property to Kozy Camping Resort LLC on November 10.
The 54.8-acre campground sits on the southwest shore of Grand Lake at 5134 It’s It Road in Celina. A site map lists approximately 700 seasonal and overnight sites, along with private cottages, a pond, a play area, a bathhouse, a boat ramp, docks, a restaurant, a recreation hall, a swimming pool, and other amenities.
As part of its transition plans, RiverWest Partners appointed John Collins as area manager overseeing Kozy Kampground. The post states that Collins has more than 20 years of experience operating campgrounds, resorts, and family attractions.
“John has more than 20 years of experience running campgrounds, resorts, and family attractions across the Midwest and East Coast. He is passionate about creating fun, well-run communities where guests feel at home and staff take pride in what they do,” the campground’s Facebook post notes.