Campers holding lifetime memberships at Pittsburgh Roaring Run RV Resort in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, say they are being told to leave the property after a change in ownership, sparking frustration and plans for legal action.
The 100-acre campground in the Laurel Highlands has long been a gathering place for hundreds of families who purchased lifetime memberships, many paying $10,000 or more for long-term access to the resort’s facilities and community.
“It is just a different kind of life, and I can’t imagine someone would be so disconnected and cold and say your memberships mean nothing,” camper Catherine Thompson said, as reported by CBS News.
Former owner Jay Corl recently sold Roaring Run Resort to Tannery, a Texas-based limited liability corporation, for $2.5 million. According to members, Corl assured them before the sale that their contracts would remain valid under the new ownership.
“They’re going to honor the membership agreement as they are written,” Corl told campers during a meeting following the sale.
However, members later received an email from Tannery stating that the lifetime memberships were not part of the transaction and were therefore void.
The new owners informed campers they could continue staying only by agreeing to a new fee structure—$60 per day, $250 per week, or $3,000 per season.
The decision left many longtime members shocked and angry. While many campers are upset with the new management, some believe the root of the issue lies with the previous owner.
“He sold us the contracts, and he made sure the contracts didn’t go with the property,” Mark Wills said. “I don’t blame the new owners. They’re just trying to start a business.”
When contacted by KDKA Investigates, Corl maintained that the memberships were part of the sale but declined further comment. Meanwhile, several campers said they plan to take their case to court. “We’re gonna take legal action,” camper Ron Kepchia said.