Anvil Campground, a family-owned business in Williamsburg, Virginia, has thrived for 70 years through continuous innovation and dedication to excellence. Under the stewardship of Chris Jump, who took over in 2005, the four-generation campground has transformed from traditional beginnings into a model of modern outdoor hospitality.
Anvil Campground is not just a business but a family legacy deeply rooted in Williamsburg’s history. The campground’s symbol, the anvil, reflects this heritage, originating from their great-grandfather and grandfather’s work on the restoration of Colonial Williamsburg from 1929 to 1935. They crafted the original wrought iron work, including tools, locks, hinges, shutter dogs, and gates.
The family takes great pride in their historical ties to Colonial Williamsburg. To honor this legacy, they have a blacksmith display in their general store featuring items made by their ancestors for the historic site.
Additionally, they possess their original anvil, dating back to the 1920s. This anvil, made in Falun, Sweden, by Soderfors Bruks Akkticbolag, is renowned worldwide for its “Soderfors Anvils”.
As the campground marks its 70th anniversary, Jump reflects on the evolution, challenges, and triumphs that have shaped Anvil into what it is today.
The Anvil evolution
“Our evolution started inside out,” the award-winning park’s owner emphasized.
Anvil Campground was founded by Jump’s family and has been a part of his life since childhood.
“I grew up at Anvil, and Anvil itself has been in my family for 70 years,” Jump told Modern Campground, detailing his deep roots in the campground’s day-to-day life from a young age in an exclusive interview.
Since taking over, he has initiated significant upgrades, turning a once-traditional campground into a model of modern outdoor hospitality.
One of Jump’s first priorities was to modernize the campground by embracing technology. He transitioned Anvil Campground’s reservation system from a paper-based “book” to a digital platform, streamlining operations and enhancing the guest experience. Additionally, he implemented online booking and payment options, making it easier for campers to plan their stays.
“We were using something they called ‘The Book,’ it was a big book, and every day had sites one through 60 written down in somebody’s name. So if somebody was booking June 1st to the 3rd, you’d have to put their name on the June 1st day, flip the page to June 2nd, put their name on that site there, and flip it,” Jump explained.
At just 23 years old, Jump took charge of Anvil who was facing significant financial challenges. Despite these difficulties, he pushed through.
Always Thinking Ahead
Anvil Campground’s evolution is marked by strategic foresight in infrastructure development.
Jump said that after a couple of years since he took over, they had accumulated enough funds to start addressing the external infrastructure, which required significant investments and labor. They undertook extensive renovations of the electrical systems, ensuring that all utility upgrades were executed using top-tier techniques and materials, such as copper wire instead of aluminum.
He explained that instead of looping the electric connections from one campsite to the next, which is a common practice, they opted for individual connections for each site to ensure higher quality and reliability.
“We renovated all the electric and what we did is we made sure all the utility renovations were done in the best way possible, like using the best techniques,” Jump detailed. This forward-thinking approach not only solved immediate problems but also set the stage for long-term sustainability.
Jump highlighted that the plan was always to enhance the facility to the highest possible standard to minimize daily maintenance issues.
“The whole plan was always to make the facility as nice as humanly possible so there’ll be less issues—less daily issues—for us to have to fix. We want to stay ahead of all the issues that may occur and if we do that, we can have a better quality of life going forward. And it took quite a long time, but now we’re sitting 19 years later.”
Despite its size, Anvil Campground offers a range of top-tier amenities. These include an 85-degree heated swimming pool, a large sand-filled playground, and a free game room, all designed to enhance the guest experience and ensure a memorable stay.
Making People Happy
Jump’s philosophy centers on happiness for staff and the Anvil VIPs.
“My favorite moments, just at any point in my life, is just making our guests happy or my staff happy. And it could be just walking by or saying hi or talking or walking around. I just enjoy being around happy people,” he said. “And even so, if the work that we’ve done or any aspect of our park or something my staff did made a guest happy, those are my favorite moments. And those are the moments that [define] why I like doing what I’m doing,” he added.
Anvil’s 70th Anniversary
While specific plans for the 70th-anniversary celebration are still underway, Jump promised a tribute reminiscent of past family cookouts, “We’re going to do something, and it’s going to be [the] longest tribute to the old Friday night cookouts that we used to do,” he said, highlighting the blend of tradition and community that defines Anvil.
Recognition from industry bodies has affirmed Anvil’s excellence, with awards such as “Small Park of the Year” from OHI (formerly National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds) in 2018, “Small Business of the Year” by the Greater Williamsburg Chamber & Tourism Alliance in 2019, another “Small Park of the Year” in 2022, and Campspot’s Top RV Campground for 2024.
“It just really felt unbelievable, and it just made us feel more confident and just better about everything,” Jump noted on the significance of these awards.
What Lies Ahead
Looking ahead, Jump plans substantial upgrades including transitioning to city sewer systems and adding more cabins. “It’s going to be a multiple-year project, but that’s where mostly the renovation investment is going to go,” he explained, outlining the roadmap for Anvil’s future enhancements.
When asked about advice for new campground owners, the award-winning park’s owner said to actively seek knowledge and inspiration from successful operations.
“Seek information, seek out campgrounds that you admire, you know. See what they’re doing, see how it could work for you.”
He continued, “Join your state association, your national association, all the other associations or Facebook groups, but you have to ask the question. You have to ask any question you have. The worst they could say is no, or nobody answers it. And if they don’t answer, go ask somebody else. You have to be very persistent,” Jump advised, underscoring the importance of continuous learning and adaptation in the competitive campground industry.
He also noted the importance of staying ahead by continuously seeking knowledge, attending expos and trade shows, and leveraging online resources to learn from the best campgrounds. He encouraged finding mentors and seeking advice to adapt successful strategies, emphasizing that this proactive approach helps maintain momentum and prepares for potential downturns.
Through decades of careful management and a commitment to quality, Anvil Campground stands as a prime example of how innovation, community engagement, and a forward-looking approach can drive success in the outdoor hospitality industry. Chris Jump’s leadership not only honors his family’s legacy but also sets new standards for what a campground can achieve.
Featured image by Anvil Campground via anvilcampground.com