Campground Investment: Why Park Model Cabins Are A Game Changer
Campgrounds can be risky investments. Even if you have plenty of campers in the summer, that revenue often dries up in the colder months, leaving you scrambling for cash if a large branch falls on the bathroom during a windstorm.
But if you own a struggling campground, don’t despair! You can do plenty of upgrades to extend your camping season and attract more customers.
One fantastic option is to put park model cabins on your property.
At Lancaster Log Cabins, we create high-quality, real-wood log cabins for campgrounds like yours. In this blog, we’ll talk about how park model cabins, if utilized correctly, are a game changer for keeping your campground afloat.
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What Is a Park Model Cabin?
A park model cabin is a small house designed for seasonal or recreational use. Park models have fewer than 400 square feet of space, can be moved with relative ease, and are classified as RVs. However, unlike typical RVs, park models look like small houses and are designed to be parked in one spot instead of being moved constantly.
But since park models are technically RVs, putting them on your campground is easy!
Park models are appealing to campers who want the convenience of an indoor bathroom, real beds, and a kitchenette.
5 Ways That Park Model Cabins Boost a Campground’s Popularity
Adding an option for campers to stay in park model cabins will ultimately boost your campground’s popularity and appeal.
How so?
Let’s find out!
1 - Extended season
Typically, a campground has a busy season and an off-season. People want to go camping in the warm months—not so much in the freezing snow or driving rain. Even if people have their own RV, most don’t want to drive it around in iffy weather!
But if you add temperature-controlled park models, there’s an option for people who need a little getaway in the colder months, too. They can bundle up and take a walk in the sparkling snow, then warm up in their cozy log cabin with a warm mug of cider.
This extended season means year-round revenue for you, so you won’t have to rely solely on summer income to make it through the rest of the year!
2 - Comfort and convenience
Although many people love tent camping, not everyone wants to sleep on the ground and cook over a campfire.
Park models offer comfort and convenience above and beyond other camping options. Depending on the model you choose, guests can experience:
- Cozy, warm beds
- A bathroom with a shower and a working toilet
- A kitchen or kitchenette where guests can whip up hot meals and warm drinks without the frustrations of dealing with a campfire
- A wide porch for eating and relaxing while sheltered from the rain or harsh sun.
- Comfortable temperature controls (including both heat and AC)
Even though some people love to live rustically, adding comfort and convenience gives you more flexibility and is always a good business decision.
3 - A wider range of guests
Nature is calming and healing, but as we discussed above, not everyone is a “camper.” Many find the prospect of cold mornings, no showers, clouds of mosquitoes, and uncomfortable beds wholly unappealing.
Park models offer a new option for those people. These cabins create an experience that some might call “glamping,” with all the rejuvenating benefits of camping and none of the pain points.
Your tent campers and those who bring in their own RVs will still come. But now, park models will make your campground appeal to a new demographic—those who want to show up and have a comfortable, convenient camping experience.
And more types of guests means more overall revenue!
4 - Family-friendly offering
Even diehard tent campers may find the camping experience daunting if they attempt to take children along. Their hungry children may throw a tantrum if a tricky campfire delays dinner. They’re almost guaranteed to get dreadfully dirty, and cleaning them up is challenging. And if the weather is terrible, the attitudes will be even worse!
For parents who want their children to know the joys of the outdoors but don’t have the energy to make traditional camping work, park models are a lifesaver.
Families are always looking for convenient, healthy, fun things to do as a family, and if you offer that at your campground, you’ll drastically increase its popularity.
5 - Space for groups and events
When campgrounds have some sort of cabin option, they open up to a whole new demographic: people looking for a place to host groups or events. For example, a campground with cabins is an ideal choice if someone is looking for a space to host a family reunion. Not only does it offer comfortable cabins for people to stay in, as well as fun outdoor activities, but it also leaves room for people to come in their own RVs.
Besides family reunions, campgrounds with park models are appealing for:
- Church camps
- Youth group camping trips
- Weddings
- Corporate retreats
Remember, if you plan to host these groups, simply putting park models on your campground might not be enough. The groups will want a large place to gather, as well as team-building activities, so be sure to add large pavilions and outdoor games to your property!
How to Maximize Your Cabin’s Appeal
Although park models tend to make your campground more prosperous, it’s a business move you want to make thoughtfully.
Let’s look at ways to ensure that your park model cabin has maximum appeal!
Choose a high-quality cabin
If your cabin has glitchy appliances and features, drafts or leaks, and mold growth, it will not appeal to campers!
It’s vital to research your park models beforehand and ensure you choose the best. Although the initial cost is higher, remember that poor-quality park models quickly depreciate. (For more information on selecting the right cabin, read our blog about features to look for in a park model.)
Developing a financially viable campground is a marathon, not a sprint, and if your cabins are poor quality, your long-term financial prospects aren’t great.
Match the aesthetic of your campground
Park models come in a variety of styles. Some look sleek and modern. Some are designed to look like English cottages. Others look like rustic log cabins.
Make sure to choose a style that matches the aesthetic of your campground and the clientele you’re trying to reach. An English cottage might look nice by the seaside or on an open, neat lawn bordered by flowerbeds. But it will look out of place, nestled in the woods.
Prioritize great views (if possible)
Everyone loves a good view!
When campers relax on the porch or look out the biggest windows, they want to see the lake, mountains, ocean, or even woods—not their next-door neighbors! If possible, position your cabins to maximize these views.
Of course, it’s not always possible to give everyone a great view. Consider having a few “premium” cabins with the best views for people who prefer to experience the beauty of nature from the comfort of the indoors.
Maximize privacy
Even more than having a good view, campers like to have a degree of privacy at their campsite. One way to achieve this is with the way you orient your cabins. If possible, face them away from each other so strangers aren’t constantly making awkward eye contact.
It’s also nice to keep trees or shrubs between cabins to enhance privacy.
Finally, be sure to equip your cabins with closable curtains or blinds!
What sets Lancaster Log Cabins Park Model Cabins Apart
At Lancaster Log Cabins, we make park model cabins for campgrounds like yours! Here’s what sets us apart:
- High-quality: We make our cabins with real wood and quality features
- Turnkey: Our cabins come move-in ready!
- Log cabin aesthetic: Our rustic log cabins look gorgeous and cozy in a woodsy campground.
- Integrity and good communication: If you have questions or concerns, we’re eager to help!
We would love to hear from you—contact us today for a meaningful conversation about how our park model cabins can increase the value of your campground!