Several privately owned campgrounds across Wisconsin are expanding capacity this year as operators respond to sustained demand ahead of the peak summer travel season, with many projects targeting completion around Memorial Day weekend.
“Campsites remain in high demand in Wisconsin,” said Lori Severson, executive director of the Wisconsin Association of Campground Owners (WACO), adding, “Several park owners are racing to have their new sites available in time for Memorial Day weekend.”
WACO represents independently owned campgrounds, RV parks, and resorts across the state and operates WisconsinCampgrounds.com, a travel planning platform listing more than 200 properties.
A range of expansion projects are underway across the state, with operators adding both seasonal and overnight inventory while also investing in amenities designed to extend stays and broaden appeal.
In Cambria, Glacier Valley Campground is planning to add 12 to 20 campsites, expected to be available next year. “We’re also looking at adding geodesic domes, maybe two to three,” according to Michelle Zangara, who owns and operates the park with her husband, Dave.
The campground currently offers a wide range of amenities, including a swimming pond, miniature golf, disc golf, sports courts, and hiking trails, reflecting a continued trend toward diversified recreational offerings.
In Florence, Keyes Lake Campground is adding 15 campsites to its 45-site property. “We’re hoping to have 8 to 10 of the new sites open by Memorial Day weekend,” Faith said, adding that all of the new sites will be designated for overnight camping.
The campground, located near Keyes Lake, also continues to expand its food and beverage offerings. “The lake has a beach and a boat launch,” Faith said. The property remains open year-round and provides access to ATV and UTV trail systems.
In Tomahawk, Maple Bear Campground is adding 30 campsites to its 62-site operation, with completion expected by late summer. “The new sites will be a mix of seasonal sites and daily sites,” Tallie Kloehn said. The campground is also located near extensive ATV and UTV trail networks and includes amenities such as a pool, pond, and on-site food and beverage service.
In Shell Lake, Red Barn Campground is adding 50 seasonal sites to its 150-site property this summer following a recent ownership change. The new owners are also upgrading existing infrastructure, including expanding a swimming pond and remodeling the camp store and office housed in the site’s historic barn structure.
Additional recreational features include sports courts, miniature golf, and group activity spaces.
In Wild Rose, Rose’s Enchanted Forest Campground is planning to add 30 campsites in time for Memorial Day weekend. The 80-site, all-seasonal property offers lakeside access, a beach, themed programming, and family-focused activities, including outdoor movies and youth programming.
In Portage, Sky High Camping Resort is adding 16 pull-through sites with winter water capability, with completion targeted between Memorial Day and early July. “We have lots of people that bring dogs and cats,” Anderson said.
The park is also upgrading utility infrastructure across 40 existing sites, including sewer service expansion. The 280-site campground includes multiple ponds, a pool, sports courts, and year-round access near regional recreation areas.
Across these projects, operators are balancing short construction timelines with peak-season demand, particularly as Memorial Day weekend remains a key opening marker for the summer camping season.
Industry-wide, the mix of seasonal and overnight site development continues to reflect shifting guest preferences, with many parks investing in upgraded utilities, expanded food service, and non-traditional lodging such as domes to increase year-round revenue potential and length of stay.
For campground and RV park operators, these developments highlight ongoing competitive pressure around site availability and amenity differentiation ahead of the summer peak, as well as the operational challenge of completing infrastructure work within narrow pre-season construction windows.
About the Wisconsin Association of Campground Owners (WACO), it is the trade association representing independently owned and operated campgrounds, RV parks, and resorts in Wisconsin. It also operates WisconsinCampgrounds.com and publishes a campground guide available in digital and print formats.
Featured image by Jeff Crider