Of course, all the time :baseballhat:  Heck, I have even drawn a map to keep the same "picture" in my head as I daydream about it.

Whenever DW or I have a bad day at work I mention we could buy a campground and not have to put DS in daycare, no commute in horrible traffic, hopefully better schools for our son, have something substantial to leave our son when we pass away, in general it would be doing something more enjoyable.  One time Lori said find one we can possibly afford and she will consider it.  I found one for $250k near Penn State (3 1/2 hours away) but it has basically nothing except a river next to it that looks like it floods often (hence no major improvments/buildings).

The semi negative side is DW would have to continue to work at first so we have income and health insurance.  She could probably stay in her same job but work from home.  My mom just moved from NJ to PA to be near my Sister and I and the grandkids.  This would mean we would probably have to move.

I think KOA would be the way to go.  You get the name recognition/advertising/reputation that goes with being a chain.  Of course one of the first things I would probably do is cut down on the number of sites.  I would want State park distance among the sites and let the trees and foliage grow so there is a buffer between you and your neighbor.  I looked at one campground that boasted how they increased their sites over 5 years from 100 to 150.  The pictures looked like a parking lot.  If I had that place I would cut it back down to the 100 sites or even less.  I also have an idea of what to do with the undeveloped portion of the campground.  They usually list "20 acre campground, 10 acres undeveloped."  Why not put a primative road in and put in some boondocking sites in. 

I have a degree in Hospitality and used to work in hotels.  I rocked when I worked in the hotels dealing with the guests  :rock:  What is a campground?....a hotel where the guest brings their own room!!! DW is an accountant so she could keep the books  :reader: I have leisurely read about campgrounds and the thing today is they have to be modern.  An old farm with a barn for a gathering place is kind of old. 

I have a killer idea to make an all inclusive type campground.  Sort of like an all inclusive resort in Jamaica.  I would put in a cafeteria style restaurant that would provide inexpensive meals.  This would bring in some people who just don't want to cook or don't enjoy cooking as much or want to just veg out all weekend. Lets face it....often when you eat out you get way more than you really need or would normally eat.  In college you could get a sensible meal and they provided it at a reasonable cost.  I'm thinking $3 for lunch, $5 lunch, $8 for dinner.  No a-la-carte options.  Tonight it is meatloaf, peas, and mashed potatoes.  Tomorrow it is chicken , stuffing and carrots.  Breakfasts would be easy,  1 scoop of eggs,  2 pieces of meat and some toast.  Overhead would be minimal because you just have an enclosed  pavillion with picnic tables and a cafeteria line.  1 cook and 1 cashier/ticket taker.  On the weekend busy times you have another person help out. during busy times.  Of course in my mind there is a local senior citizen o town nearby that also takes advantage of the inexpensive meals and the cafeteria is a money making venture on its own. :chef:

No, sorry, I don't think about owning my own campground often 😉

I took a break from camping with the Boy Scouts until recently when I got my first popup.  In that time was when I went to school for hospitality and worked in the Hotels, including Disney.  After Disney I should have taken my hotel experience and love of camping and gone to work for KOA or one of the State or Federal parks (I figure working and owning a CG are close).  At that time I did not realize how closely related Hotels and Campgrounds were.  Instead I burnt out working nights and weekends in the hotels and hit a dead end in Accounting before I moved into the corporate 9-5 boring office job.  🙁

Best of luck in pursuing your goal - everyone at CanvasCampers would be sure to visit your place.

On a side note, I give you a lot of credit; it takes a special kind of person to want to be a host.  Best of Luck!

For years I've dreamed about it.  But then reality sets in...  It would be a whole lot of work!  I've never really had the desire to be my own boss either so that doesn't help things.  I like the idea of a small widely spread-out-sites type of CG, but then there isn't the cashflow from many sites to make it work well.  I certainly wouldn't want one that is parking lot style catering to pull-thru RVer's.  I've always thought if I found the right place to have a small CG, along with including a nice car-wash and/or storage facility, right off the road to help the cashflow it could work fairly well?  Bottom line, I think I would take a chance at it, if I already had a comfortable nest-egg put away for retirement...