The Grapevine City Council has approved a $68,000 contract with Campground Consulting Group to conduct a market analysis and feasibility study of The Vineyards Campground & Cabins in Grapevine.
The decision was made during the council’s March 3 meeting and aims to provide city staff with detailed insight into current and potential services, facilities, amenities, and land use to better align with evolving customer needs, demographic shifts, and trends within the camping and outdoor hospitality industry.
Kathy Nelson, Grapevine Parks & Recreation planning manager, noted that the city assumed ownership of the property, previously known as Silver Lake Park, in 2004. At that time, a facility plan and business model were developed. “Over the past five years, the camping and outdoor hospitality industry has seen significant growth in demand,” Nelson said.
The study is expected to offer city staff potential options for facility management and improvements. Findings, along with a proposed facility plan, will be presented to the council for review at a later date.
Nelson said the report is anticipated within four months. She added, “Because of how quickly the industry is growing and you have all these glamping options and recreational amenities, we’re not quite sure with The Vineyards Campground where we are and what our target market is at this particular point.”
Nelson indicated that the study could confirm the campground is performing well with only minor adjustments needed, or it could recommend expansion or solutions for managing periods when Grapevine Lake exceeds flood levels.
The city previously sold seven cabins in 2025 that were located on sites vulnerable to flooding, according to Community Impact.
The Vineyards Campground & Cabins was recognized in the fifth annual Campspot Awards as one of the top 10 campgrounds in the United States, with Grapevine and Camp Fimfo Texas Hill Country in New Braunfels representing the only Texas locations on the list.
Council member Chris Coy emphasized the value of the study, stating, “It’s so easy when the property is as highly regarded as it is to be complacent and just keep doing what we’re doing. But there are so many things; we just don’t know what we don’t know. And so, how do we adapt for what might be coming around the corner? I think this is a small price to pay for getting that expertise and incorporating that into our plans.”
For outdoor hospitality professionals, this study highlights the importance of regularly reassessing facilities to meet changing consumer expectations, particularly in fast-growing markets for glamping and recreational camping.
Feasibility studies can guide both incremental improvements and strategic expansion while addressing operational risks like flood-prone sites.