| In 1968, Doug Haag, an advertising executive, came up with a business idea to start family campgrounds for adults and children. He and his friend bought 30 acres of land in Wisconsin for $3,000. He knew he needed a kid-friendly idea to set his campground apart from others. The idea to start the campground came to Doug when he drove on the highways and observed dozens of vehicles pulling trailers. He decided to make the campground a reality and partnered with a friend who was a local contractor. Doug and his partner knew they had to come up with a clever name for their family campgrounds. They discussed several names and tried out various historical figures in history. One Saturday in 1969, Doug observed his three children watching a cartoon on TV called Yogi Bear in Jellystone Park. He decided that would be an ideal name for the campground. Getting The Rights to Use the Name Doug made an appointment with the vice president of Screen Gems, the agency that licenses the use of the name Yogi Bear and Jellystone Park. He went to New York and discussed his idea for the campgrounds. With his persuasive personality, he convinced Screen Gems to give him a licensee to use the name for the campground resorts. During the winter, he and his partner planned a grand opening, made signs, and built a Yogi Bear statue made of chicken wire and plaster. He purchased collectible items from a Hardee’s restaurant that used Yogi Bear items for a special promotion. The construction of the park began in 1969, and the park opened three months later. Opening and Eventual Expansion The first weekend they opened, they had more campers than camping sites and allowed some families to camp in a nearby field. They opened two more parks from 1969 and 1970 in Orlando and California. Doug met with famous movie stars and their agents to try to convince them to own and run a campground. By the end of 1971, there were 10 campgrounds in operation. The business continued to grow and in 1974, Doug Haag decided to leave and left Jim Webb in charge. He works as a consultant for the current franchise owner Leisure Systems. Leisure Park Yogi Bear Jellystone Park Camp-Resort Franchises Currently, there are over 75 family campgrounds resorts, and they are focused on family camping demographics and being kid-friendly. In a study by Kampgrounds of America, 20% of campers ranked a kid-friendly camp as important. The camp resorts at Yogi Bear Jellystone Parks offer campers swimming, mini-golf, entertainment, merchandise, and food. Owning a franchise will give you access to their well-known brand, experienced staff, and extensive training programs. Franchise owners are trained in management, recreation, entertainment, safety, merchandising, and marketing. You can convert a campground you own to their brand or build a new one. Are you interested in owning a franchise of the Yogi Bear Jellystone family campgrounds? Contact the Director of Franchise Sales and Development by filling out the online form on the website for an appointment or call (800) 626-3720 to learn more. |
