EP 252: I Was Completely Wrong About the Campground I Want to Buy

One of the reasons we decided to spend this year traveling full-time in our RV was because Collin and I have talked for a long time about eventually buying a campground. I knew living this lifestyle would teach me a lot. What I didn't realize was how quickly it would change what I'm actually looking for. We're only about two months into this trip, we haven't toured a single campground for sale, and we definitely haven't started running numbers. Right now, I'm doing what I think every hospitality investor should do more of: experiencing the product as the guest. And I've been taking notes everywhere we go. In this episode of Branded & Booked, I'm sharing what I've noticed at the campgrounds we've stayed at so far, including the amenities that have genuinely made a difference, the layouts that work (and the ones that absolutely do not), what matters when you're traveling with kids, and the small details that have completely changed the experience. I'm also getting into some of my favorite ideas I've seen along the way, from individual bathhouses and spacious sites to private hot tub rentals, indoor gathering spaces, pools, playgrounds, and even the beginnings of my dream hammock forest. But more than anything, this experience has reinforced something I talk about constantly in branding and hospitality: you have to know who you're building for. The campground built for someone looking for a quick, inexpensive overnight stop should be completely different from the campground built for a family looking for an experiential destination. That decision impacts your amenities, layout, pricing, location, hospitality, marketing, and ultimately what people are willing to pay to stay with you. I'm also sharing what my campground buy box is starting to look like, why I'm thinking about 50+ sites, multiple ways to stay, indoor gathering spaces, seasonality, and the kind of experience I'd want us to create if and when the right opportunity comes along. This is very much the beginning of the journey. And that's exactly why I wanted to document it. Maybe someday I'll listen back to this episode from the campground we actually own and see just how much the vision changed along the way. If you're thinking about investing in a campground, growing a hospitality brand, or simply want a behind-the-scenes look at how I'm thinking about our next potential investment, this episode is for you. Ready to build a hospitality brand people actually want to book? Apply to work with TheWeberCo.com and connect with Steph @theweberco.