Maintenance & Restoration

R&SGove · 07-05-2006, 11:54 AM

I heard while staying at a campgrond in Virginia that KOA is going to be sold. Anyone hear of this or know any details. We have a reservation for next March at KOA SUgarloaf Key, FL and are a bit concerned.

Ron & Sandy
& Zoe the Lab
& Ms Yeti, the Bigfoot
Leesburg, VA

Al V · 07-05-2006, 02:12 PM

might have just been a localy owned one.
I have head nothing about KOA itself being sold

Gina D. · 07-05-2006, 09:23 PM

I have looked into the purchase of a remote KOA. Like most franchises, they are strict on policy and regimented in most routines. (I was deeply involved a franchise record store once.. not the best proposition, believe me)

BUT.. thier restrictions are generally for the customer good, with a LOT of betterment for the KOA corp too.

It really is astounding tho, how one KOA can be so different from the next. Some are the scariest places you have ever seen, and some, like the Cresent City KOA, are worlds apart from the rest. Very pleasant.

They DO need to step into the 90s, at least. A few updates and freshen ups in style could go a long ways.

R&SGove · 07-07-2006, 04:57 AM

Quote:

might have just been a localy owned one.
I have head nothing about KOA itself being sold

The source was a board member of a campground group and he said it was the KOA home company itself (the franchiser), not just and individual franchisee

Dan Meyer · 07-07-2006, 08:24 AM

I am always amazed what I can find on the web with a few keystrokes and a search engine.

Google pointed me to http://www.entrepreneur.com/franzone/print...282491-,00.html where I found the following:

"The parent company, KOA Holdings, also owns Franchise Services, whose subsidiaries include franchise companies Sir Speedy, PIP Printing and Comprehensive Business Services."

Amazing!

-- Dan Meyer

Charlie C · 07-07-2006, 08:54 AM

By looking at their numbers, they are losing 3% to 5% of their franchisees every year, more than just cause to speculate that the Corporate may be for sale! A good time to review stock performance if they are a traded Company, and work in who are possible purchasers????? It also looks Head Office may have purchased outright a few of the better franchises.

Of course there might also be a lot of new independent campgrounds soon.

**Frederick L. Simson** · 07-07-2006, 07:54 PM

Quote:

they are losing 3% to 5% of their franchisees every year

Of course there might also be a lot of new independent campgrounds soon.

When you visit KOA's Webpage, a regular feature is a solicitation to sign up to be a franchisee.
I have experienced a KOA that switched affiliation to Good Sam's. The owners were trying to agressivly market their property and I got the feeling that Good Sam's agressive marketing tactics was more their style.

It wasn't mine...

I wonder if a change in corporate ownership will produce a noticeable difference in the camping experience?

Time K · 07-31-2006, 08:52 PM

Some KOA's operate in a climate that supports tourism revenue just a few months a year. It is not viable for the owners to commit to a large licence fee - to KOA - when the campground is only open and generating revenue for such a short time. Therefore some KOA franchisees opt out of the KOA program and change their names and operate independently.

You can sometimes tell what was once a KOA because the parkitecture, as referred to here, is definitely KOA-ish with the APEX style roof lines.

Gina - our favourite KOA is Petaluma, then Chula Vista.........our least favourite is Stockton. Crescent City was very mysterious until we found the road around back and settled in for a nice dip in the pool and a quiet evening.

Doug Mager · 07-31-2006, 11:15 PM

Love the KOA there. We go alost every year to attend the music fesatival.

The KOA ALWAYS has surprise top notch entertainment.

We also used it has a base for touring the Napa and Sonoma Valleys in our model T hot rod. Having the drag strip nearby is a BONUS for us also.