What happens when you have an abandoned 110,000 square foot barn-like structure, 39 acres of land in one of the most popular travel destinations in America, and a great working partnership with Jimmy Buffett? (Or, to clarify, Jimmy Buffett’s multi-billion-dollar global lifestyle brand, Margaritvaville.) We developed a driving principle for Go Outdoors that leans into fun and entertainment as an essential and leading component of our business.

A Time to Dream:

The size of the property, existing infrastructure, and great location gave the team plenty of room to dream. Our concept was the first of its kind for the Margaritaville brand: Camp Margaritaville RV Resort & Lodge Pigeon Forge would be a new camp-style resort, ideal for any type of guest. We transformed the dilapidated barn-like retail building into a beautiful, deluxe 79-room Lodge with a full-service restaurant, snack bar, and bar. On the property, we added 159 paved RV sites, from standard and deluxe to family-sized options. Each site offers electricity, full hook-ups, free WiFi, cable, picnic tables, and fire rings. The upscale bath house and guest laundry provides all the creature comforts our RV guests are looking for. 

What If…?:

We knew that having accommodation options would encourage families and groups of friends to gather in a place where everyone’s needs are met. And while the location in Pigeon Forge is a destination in and of itself due to the proximity to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, we wanted our guests to enjoy time together on the property as well. Our vision was to create a real resort with all the amenities that people expect - and then some. This is where the fun began. We started with a list of “what if’s” starting with the basics: What if…we add a pool? Check. With a slide. Let’s make it a super fun double slide. Check. Let’s add a lazy river. A big one. 120 feet long. And of course, a hot tub. Plus a kids’ playground. We were just getting warmed up and then the creativity really got rolling: Duckpin bowling. Billiards. A craft room with plenty of activities. Then we added a 20,000 square foot entertainment center with foosball tables, gaming consoles, and a full arcade. And as the pickleball phenomenon grew, we listened to our guests and added plenty of courts outside. Plus an activity lawn that features summer concerts, entertainment, and lots of activities for the kids. And because we know they’re family too, we added Bark-aritaville, our dog park, for guests’ furkids to enjoy their vacations, too.  

Fun By Numbers:

We invested more than $45 million in capital improvements to the property, and it’s proven to be a huge success. So much so that we are looking at our portfolio of properties to see where we can add and expand new entertainment offerings. Why? Because our guests continue to tell us they want to spend time as a family, with safe and entertaining activities for their kids, accessible and enjoyable activities for grandparents, and opportunities to relax, recharge, and escape for themselves. And they’re not alone in this thinking. 

According to the Resonance Consultancy Future of US Millennial Travel Report, 62% of Millennial travelers brought children under the age of five to travel with them. And the average Millennial takes 2.6 trips per year. Those with families travel significantly more than couples or singles. 

Putting a different twist on travel, the Family Travel Association found that 52% of their respondents to a recent survey intend to make a multigenerational trip, while 11% intend to take their children on a “Skip-Generational” trip with their grandparents. 

And confirming what our guests tell us time and time again, Expedia reports that, when it comes to family travel, people tend to agree that experience is more important than expense. 

Keep the Fun Going!

As President of Entertainment for Go Outdoors, Dale Kaetzel brings his experience in strategic planning and operations, having led teams at major theme parks, professional sports franchises, events, and venues.

“We want our guests to feel like they’ve enjoyed a wonderful escape, that they’ve been able to connect more deeply with friends and family. And ultimately, that this shared experience leads to incredible memories that last a lifetime.” - Dale Kaetzel

Dale looks across all the properties in the Go Outdoors portfolio and encourages his team to dream and imagine, creating a growing list of  “what if’s” and new ideas. He is often found talking with our guests finding out what they want and thinking up new adventures we can create for families to enjoy.  

At the moment, Dale is focused on the expansion of the water park at Camp Margaritaville RV Resort Lanier Islands. Recent projects include the renovated Wave Pool, new and improved Aquatic Adventure, improvements to the Parakeet Springs kids’ zone, the return of a fan favorite, the Fin Dunker Bucket, and the opening of the new Parrot Mountain summer tubing slide. Dale has even more exciting projects in the works to further expand the Water Park and is looking forward to announcing these new additions soon. 

Fun As A Business Goal

Focusing on fun is serious business, and it’s essential in our business. By providing families with opportunities to create lasting memories, we strive to build loyalty, create a competitive advantage, and attract new guests to our properties. We feel it’s crucial to listen to our guests and anticipate their wants and needs. When it comes down to it, all the research in the world points to something we’ve all experienced traveling with our own kids: sometimes the logistics and travel obstacles lead to stress and disharmony. We aim to provide a backdrop and infrastructure to eliminate these stress points, offering a variety of ways to enjoy time together, where cultivating harmony and pure unadulterated fun is as simple as asking “What’s next?”