Over the past three decades, Tracy Czambel has witnessed significant shifts in the outdoor hospitality industry, particularly at Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Mill Run, Pennsylvania, where she began her career in 1996.
Once a small, 45-site campground, the property has expanded to a 290-site resort that now offers a range of accommodations, from traditional campsites to luxury cabins and treehouses.
This transformation reflects broader trends in the industry, where the rise of glamping and a growing demand for resort-style amenities are changing the way families experience the outdoors.
Czambel, who now chairs the Yogi Advisory Council (YAC), a group of franchisees who work closely with Jellystone Park leadership, has played a key role in the Mill Run location’s growth.
Under her direction, the campground was recently ranked #4 in the nation on the 2024 USA Today 10 Best RV Campgrounds list. Other Jellystone Park locations also received recognition, with parks in Pelahatchie, Mississippi, and Burleson, Texas, placing high on the same list.
With more than 75 locations across the U.S. and Canada, Jellystone Park, a partnership between Yogi Bear’s brand and Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences, is expanding its reach.
Czambel credits the brand’s success to its ability to attract guests looking for a mix of outdoor adventure and luxury, offering everything from scenic rides and water slides to curated family experiences.
The Mill Run location, which has been owned by the Work family for three generations, is a prime example of this evolution. Now set on 225 acres in the Laurel Highlands near Pittsburgh, the park has transformed into a major family destination, adding attractions like 4X4 adventure rides, laser tag, and paintball, alongside a variety of glamping options.
As chair of the Yogi Advisory Council, Czambel is focused on helping franchisees navigate the challenges and opportunities within the industry. “Our main focus is on education,” she said in a press release, highlighting the group’s regular meetings to share knowledge and support one another.
“We believe that sharing knowledge and supporting one another is what truly makes the Jellystone Park system so exceptional.”
As the industry continues to evolve, other Jellystone Park locations are expanding as well, with new openings in Utah and Georgia and the introduction of innovative attractions like floating trampolines and snowless tubing.
