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You’ve probably noticed something weird happening at RV parks lately. The new corporate campgrounds have fancier pools, brand-new pickleball courts, and all the latest amenities money can buy. But somehow, they just don’t feel right anymore.

What’s missing? The secret ingredient that big corporations will never understand: real human connection.

In this eye-opening video, the RV Wingman shares an emotional story about a campground owner named Galen who changed his life decades ago. He explains why he bought his own campground, ran it successfully, and then watched it lose its soul after selling to a corporate giant. This isn’t just about RV parks—it’s about what we’re losing in the camping community.

If you’ve ever stayed somewhere that felt like home versus just another parking spot, you already know what he’s talking about. Let’s dive into why family-owned campgrounds still win, even when they don’t have the flashiest facilities.

1. They Don’t Have a “Galen”—And They Never Will

The RV Wingman tells the story of Galen Gilbreth, a campground owner from 35 years ago who didn’t have the newest facilities. But he had something priceless: he made everyone feel like family.

Every night at his place called “Bourbon Street,” campers gathered around his barbecue pit. Someone brought a casserole, another brought brownies, and Galen cooked the meat. People from all over the country sat together, talked, and built real friendships.

One night, the Wingman overheard other campground owners trying to poach Galen’s customers with lower prices and better facilities. The campers’ response? “You don’t have a Galen.”

Here’s the thing you need to understand: Corporate campgrounds can copy amenities, but they can’t clone people who genuinely care. When you show up at a family-owned park, you’re not just a reservation number—you’re a guest who matters.

INDUSTRY FACT: According to the RV Industry Association, active RV households dropped from 11.8 million in 2022 to 7.2 million in 2024—a 39% decrease. Corporate parks are chasing profits while campers are walking away, searching for that “Galen feeling” somewhere else.

2. Corporate Campgrounds Serve Shareholders, Not S’mores

Let’s be honest about what happened after the COVID RV boom. Corporations saw dollar signs and bought up campgrounds left and right. They made improvements, sure—new pools, updated facilities, fresh paint everywhere.

But here’s what they also did: They got rid of the people who made those places special. The Wingman sold his own campground to a corporation for “a big fat check” (his words). It’s nicer now, but it’s not the same.

After his video about corporate vs. family campgrounds went viral, employees from corporate parks reached out to him. Their message? “You’re right—it’s all about the money and the bottom line now.”

You know what you’re getting at corporate parks: Dynamic pricing that shoots up during holidays, employees who watch the clock instead of helping campers, and management that’s more interested in quarterly reports than community barbecues.

THE RIPPLE EFFECT: When corporations treat employees like “expendable commodities” (one commenter’s words), those employees can’t afford to care about your leaky faucet or your kids who want to know the best fishing spot. They’re too busy wondering how they’ll pay rent.

3. Family Owners Get Dirty With You (Literally)

The RV Wingman didn’t just own his campground—he got under cabins, fixed septic fields, ran the tractor, and worked alongside his team. He knew his employees by name. He knew his campers by face.

Can you picture a corporate regional manager crawling under your cabin at 9 PM to fix your plumbing? Yeah, we can’t either.

Here’s what happens when the owner is hands-on: Problems get solved fast. You’re not calling a 1-800 number and waiting for someone in another state to file a ticket. You’re talking to someone who has dirt under their fingernails and actually gives a damn.

Family-Owned ParkCorporate Park
Owner on-site most daysRegional manager visits quarterly
Staff knows regular campers by nameStaff rotates frequently
Decisions made on the spotEverything needs corporate approval
Owner’s reputation on the lineProfit margins on the line

REAL TALK FROM EMPLOYEES: Multiple campground workers contacted the Wingman after his video, confirming that corporate ownership changed everything. The focus shifted from making campers happy to extracting every penny possible.

4. Community Beats Pickleball Courts Every Single Time

One commenter on the video nailed it: “For me, the greatest aspect of a campground is a sense of community. I value camaraderie far more than mini golf or pickleball courts.”

There’s nothing wrong with fancy amenities. But if you have to choose between a campground with Olympic-sized pools where everyone stays glued to their phones, or a simpler place where neighbors actually talk to each other—which would you pick?

Here’s the deal with family campgrounds: They create spaces for connection. Maybe it’s a fire ring where people naturally gather. Maybe it’s a camp host who introduces newcomers around. Maybe it’s just an owner who remembers you said you’d be back next summer.

REPEAT CUSTOMERS SPEAK VOLUMES: Jim Williams commented that he travels all over the country but returns to the same small family beach campground every summer. Why? “It’s so much fun because of the staff. Over the years, we have all become friends. It’s like going home each year.”

Can’t put a price tag on that feeling, can you?

5. Mom-and-Pop Parks Keep Employees Forever (And Here’s Why That Matters)

The RV Wingman visited Cheyenne Camping Center in Walcott, Iowa—one of the greatest family-owned RV dealerships in America. Here’s a stunning fact: The shortest-tenured salesperson has been there five years. Some have been there 20+ years.

Compare that to corporate turnover rates where employees are gone before you can learn their names.

Why should you care about employee retention? Because the person helping you has actual knowledge. They’re not reading from a script or counting down to their next break. They’ve been there long enough to know every trail, every quirk of the facilities, and which sites get the best sunset views.

WISDOM FROM THE TOP: Kevin Fraser, owner of Cheyenne Camping Center (who the Wingman calls the “Mr. Miyagi” of the RV industry), runs a family operation where people want to stay. That’s not an accident—it’s what happens when you treat employees like humans instead of line items on a budget.

Corporate Park StaffFamily Park Staff
High turnover (6-12 months average)Low turnover (years or decades)
Limited trainingDeep knowledge of property
Script-based responsesPersonal problem-solving
“Not my job” mentality“Let me help you” attitude

6. They Actually Care If You Come Back

Here’s what the RV Wingman said about running his campground today versus corporate ownership: “If I ran my campground today, it may not be 100% full, but it’d be damn close. You know why? Because it’s got me and I care.”

That’s not ego talking. That’s reality.

When you show up at a family park needing help: The owner will bust their butt for you. They don’t want payment—maybe just a “thank you” or a cold drink. Why? Because their reputation lives or dies with every guest who walks through that gate.

Corporate parks? They’re too busy implementing dynamic pricing algorithms to worry about whether you specifically had a good time. They’ve got data that says someone else will fill your spot if you don’t come back.

THE CAMPING CRISIS: Between 2022 and 2024, active RV households dropped by 39%. The industry built tens of thousands of new sites during the boom, but people aren’t showing up. Maybe it’s because they’re tired of being treated like walking wallets instead of fellow camping enthusiasts.

7. The Magic Can’t Be Measured (But You Can Feel It)

The Wingman asks a profound question in his video: How do you measure loyalty, love, kindness, or sadness? You can’t define these things on a spreadsheet. But you can absolutely feel them.

That’s the magic of family campgrounds. That’s what corporate America will never understand because it can’t be monetized in the way they want.

Think about this moment from the video: Campers were offered cheaper rates to leave Galen’s campground for a newer, fancier place nearby. They refused. Why? “You don’t have a Galen.”

THE WINGMAN’S WARNING: “Many campgrounds today have lost that feeling. Yes, some of it is because of our culture. But some of it is because people just want to go after money. They don’t understand the magic of that thing you can’t put a dollar amount on.”

What You Can MeasureWhat You Can’t Measure (But Matters More)
Number of amenitiesHow welcome you feel
Site dimensionsWhether neighbors become friends
WiFi speedMemories your kids will remember forever
Distance to attractionsThe owner remembering your name next year

REAL CAMPER TESTIMONY: One viewer commented about a campground trying to steal customers: “They said, ‘So-and-so offered us a chance to leave here and go over there and they’ll even charge us less money.’ The response? ‘We’re not going to do that…you don’t have a Galen.’”

Final Thoughts

The RV Wingman’s message isn’t about bashing corporate campgrounds or pretending family-owned parks are perfect. It’s about recognizing what we’re losing in the rush for profit maximization.

You can have the fanciest facilities in the world, but if nobody knows your name and the staff is counting minutes until their shift ends, you’re just sleeping in a parking lot with hookups. The soul of camping lives in the connections we make—with nature, with fellow campers, and with people who genuinely care about our experience.

Next time you’re planning an RV trip, consider seeking out a family-owned campground. Yeah, the pool might be smaller and the pickleball court might not exist. But you might just find your own “Galen”—and that’s worth more than all the corporate amenities combined.

As the RV Wingman says: “Be safe, have fun, play nice, and don’t leave your good manners at home.”

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