‘Tis the season where campgrounds usually winterize most of their sites, expecting little to no bookings this time of the year. However, for an RV resort in Oklahoma, one event changed it all.
When it comes to Christmas festivities, Marval Resort is sleighin’ it. The RV resort near the Ozarks is holding the last weekend of its first Annual Christmas Festival, offering campers train rides, a Christmas tree farm, hot chocolate and cookies, a lights tour, and more.
“It’s been exciting, fun, and a big change for us,” Janey Romine, the resort’s owner, said during Wednesday’s episode of MC Fireside Chats, Modern Campground’s weekly podcast.
“It has been a great asset to our park,” she added, noting that the park normally does not have guests for December, but that changed after the park organized the holiday event.
In a case of Claus and effect, Marval Resort saw more occupancy because of the festival. Romine shared that the park winterized some of its cabins—something they do when closing for winter—but had to open them back up because of the “overwhelming” bookings the park has been receiving, noting an increase of up to 45 percent this year compared to when the cabins were making zero in the previous years.
The Christmas Festival was idealized after the owner noticed the success of the park’s Halloween event in October. She then decided to hold another event in December, celebrating Christmas this time.
“We did the first three weekends and it was wonderful,” Romine said. Marval’s Christmas festivities are from December 3-5, 10-12, and 17-19.
Starting with a drive-through and some lights, plans for the event began to flourish and soon offered more features. A notable activity during the weekend Christmas festivities at Marval Resort involves planting a Christmas tree. Kids would buy seeds and will be given a see-through tube with a small Christmas tree. The tree in each “The Living Christmas Tree” tube is as real as the holiday spirit that surrounds the campground.
According to the owner, even the adults can have fun at the event by participating in the Ugly Sweater Contest, painting ceramics, and enjoying a mug of hot coco with endless toppings they can choose from.
Families can also take photos with Santa, and he brought some friends with him. Guests can meet Elsa and even The Grinch every Saturday evening.
Another big hit for the customers is Marval’s train rides. The resort has a light-spangled mini-train that tours guests around the property.
The park’s well-known giant fish is decked out for Christmas too, sporting a giant reindeer nose and ears.
It goes without saying that Marval Resort’s first Annual Christmas Festival is a success and those interested can still make it to the last weekend of festivities happening from December 17 through 19.
The park is preparing more for 2022’s holiday event, wishing to offer carriage rides around the park next year.
“We’re trying to just keep up with the times and do different fun things. I have different ideas for next year. We’ll just keep growing,” she said.
Marval Resort offers different styles of lodging with accommodations ranging from their One Room Cabanas to their distinctive Hill Top Lodge. They also have tent sites and luxury RV sites.
For more information about the resort, visit their website by clicking here or their Facebook page here.