Local Campground Celebrates One Year as New Owners
Newberry/I-26/Sumter NF KOA celebrates one year as new campground owners with special, week-long event
Kinards, SC (May 4, 2021) – Newberry/I-26/Sumter NF KOA is celebrating their first anniversary as campground owners with a special, week-long event. Th event, called “Camping Makes You Young at Heart,” will feature daily events from May 9-16 for campground guests.
Originally built in 1974 as Joanna KOA (Kampgrounds of America), what is now the Newberry/I-26/Sumter NF KOA has long been a family-owned business in the community. The campground has had several owners and names before being purchased by three couples in May of 2020. Owners of the campground are Linda and Gene Nichols, Stanley and Mary Ellen (MEA) Ambroe, Steve Hernandez, and Becci Ambroe.
“Being new owners at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic was definitely a challenge,” said Stanley Ambroe. “But it’s been worth the effort. Again and again, we’ve heard guests tell us stories about camping here when they were kids. We truly love our guests and their stories that remind us how special camping is, with or without a pandemic. We’re very blessed and thankful to be a part of this community.”
Events to celebrate the campground’s first anniversary include daily games, an ice cream social, and a campground-wide scavenger hunt. Additionally, a pancake breakfast will be offered Friday morning. A Saturday night dinner included live entertainment from The Country Boys Band.
The week also culminates with KOA’s Care Camps Big Weekend where guests who stay Friday, May 14 get Saturday, May 15 for just $20. All funds raised from May 15 support KOA Care Camps Trust which distributes more than $1 million dollars annually to support 125+ Care Camps. These specialized, medically-equipped facilities offer a true summer camp experience to kids currently undergoing treatment or recovering from cancer.
“We’re really honored to be part of such a great cause,” Linda Nichols said. “We’ve already raised $1,650 this year, and our goal is to raise $3,000 by June 30th. It’s really important to us to give back and share our love of camping with kids who could use it most. That is also why 100% of all donations raised during the celebration will go directly to the KOA Care Camps Trust.”
While the anniversary events are limited to camping guests, sites are still available.
The Newberry/I-26/Sumter NF KOA is located at 567 Fairview Church Road in Kinards. To make reservations, please call Newberry/I-26/Sumter NF KOA at (864) 697-1214 or by visiting their website.
ABOUT KAMPGROUNDS OF AMERICA
Kampgrounds of America, Inc. (KOA) is the world’s largest system of open-to-the-public campgrounds with more than 520 locations across the U.S. and Canada. The industry leader in outdoor hospitality, KOA’s family of campground brands – KOA Journey, KOA Holiday and KOA Resort – offer sites and amenities designed for every type of camping experience. The company was founded 59 years ago in Billings, Mont., and today serves more than a million camping families each year, who rely on the standards of excellence and unique outdoor adventures KOA is known for. For more information, visit KOA.com.