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KOA COMPANY PROFILE<br />
Pic © KoA Jeff Dow<br />
Leading by example<br />
This year marks the 60th anniversary of one of the world’s largest networks of<br />
privately-owned campgrounds and most influential and innovative leaders. The<br />
Kampgrounds of America story has come a very long way since humble beginnings.<br />
W<br />
■hen the first ever<br />
Kampgrounds of<br />
America (KOA)<br />
site was established, it was a<br />
very different world. It was<br />
established in the sleepy<br />
mountain town of Billings,<br />
Montana in the early 1960s<br />
as a stopover for tourists who<br />
were making long journeys<br />
from across the country to<br />
attend Seattle’s Century 21<br />
Exposition (<strong>World</strong> Fair). Local<br />
businessman and entrepreneur<br />
Dave Drum saw an opportunity,<br />
not only to plant the first<br />
seeds of his ambitious business<br />
ideas, but also to help fellow<br />
travelling Americans on their<br />
long journeys. The site was<br />
picturesque, nestled on the<br />
banks on the Yellowstone River,<br />
and it was also reasonable.<br />
Campers were charged $1.75<br />
a night to pitch tents or park<br />
travel trailers and were treated<br />
to private fire rings, picnic<br />
tables, a small store, laundry,<br />
and hot showers. It was a<br />
glimpse into the future of what<br />
the modern day campsite and<br />
RV park would become: true<br />
hospitality on the road.<br />
“What began as just an idea<br />
and one campground has grown<br />
exponentially over six decades,”<br />
said Toby O’Rourke, president<br />
and CEO of Kampgrounds<br />
of America. “When KOA<br />
was founded, the goal was to<br />
provide easy access to camping<br />
options for travellers. We’ve<br />
taken that spirit of change<br />
and modernization and used<br />
it as a catalyst to become the<br />
leader in camping and outdoor<br />
hospitality.<br />
“While the beginnings of<br />
KOA might seem humble, Dave<br />
had an entrepreneurial spirit<br />
that still inspires our work. By<br />
keeping a progressive, customercentric<br />
approach to our business,<br />
we established ourselves at<br />
the forefront of this industry.<br />
In 2021, we marked our best<br />
year in company history by an<br />
astounding 33 per cent over the<br />
previous record. For a 60-yearold<br />
company, that’s the kind of<br />
42 | www.campingtradeworld.com
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