Kampgrounds of America, Inc. (KOA) Franchise Overview

About Kampgrounds of America, Inc. (KOA)

Kampgrounds of America, currently celebrating its 60th year of operations, is in outdoor hospitality.  United under the mission of “connecting people to the outdoors and each other.” KOA, a system of privately-owned, open to the public campgrounds. KOA also offers campground owners and operators unparalleled support in campground education, design, recruitment, marketing and technology. 

Franchise History

Kampgrounds of America, Inc. (KOA) was founded in 1962 in Billings, Montana by businessmen Dave Drum, John Wallace and two other partners. Drum got the idea to start the campgrounds while walking his property along the Yellowstone River and seeing travelers heading to the Seattle World's Fair. The first campsites, known as Billings Campground, were located on Drum's property north of the Yellowstone River. For $1.75 per night, campers could pitch their tent on a campsite that included a picnic table and fire ring. This first campground also provided hot showers, restrooms, and a small store. The campground was quickly successful and by the summer of 1963, Drum, Wallace and their partners decided to create a system of campgrounds throughout North America.  They named the company Kampgrounds of America and began selling franchises.

This web page does not constitute a franchise offering or an offer to sell a franchise. A franchise offering can be made by us only in a state if we are first registered, excluded, exempted or otherwise qualified to offer franchises in that state, and only if we provide you with an appropriate franchise disclosure document.