Holidays take top billing, even yearlong in some parks

While Thanksgiving is upon us, a time when we gather with family and friends to give thanks for the blessings we’ve received, watch football on TV and devise a strategy for the day after Thanksgiving shopping spree, thoughts begin to turn toward the Christmas season. So, it’s only fitting that we look at Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort, named the National Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds’ (ARVC) Park of the Year in the large park category (251-499 sites) for 2008-09.

The park is in the heart of Christmas, literally with its home in Santa Claus, Ind., and neighbors Holiday World Theme Park & Splashin’ Safari Water Park, a theme park that features rides and fun in the Christmas spirit year-round.

While parts of the Midwest are under snow and the rest is just cold, it may not seem like time to think about camping, but that isn’t true for those at Lake Rudolph. The RVer is top of the list for staff, so while the park is closed, plans are already working for next camping season. It’s that attitude that helped the park earn the award based on national directory ratings, operations excellence and community service, among other areas.
“We are honored to receive this award from our peers in the campground and RV park industry,” said Philip Koch, owner and president of Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort. “My father, Bill Koch, opened Lake Rudolph in 1958. Receiving this award during our 50th anniversary year makes it even more meaningful. I want to thank our tremendous staff for their outstanding efforts, and I especially thank our guests for helping us create the great family atmosphere we have at Lake Rudolph.”
Although sites won’t open to campers until April for weekends and daily starting on May 1, reservations are being accepted now. The season runs through October, and then the first two weekends of November are added before the park closes for the season. The park also runs special HalloWeekends in September and October. For seven weekends, the park is host to families for hay rides, ghost stories, scary movies, a kids carnival, trick or treating from sites, site decorating contests, HallTEEN games and an outdoor dance.

Nearly half of the sites are rentals, so the park can open up the RV experience to numerous visitors who don’t own RVs. Of the park’s 456 sites, it has 19 park model cabins and 197 park trailers permanently located on sites. All of the rentals sleep up to eight and have full kitchens, bathrooms and are equipped with air conditioning. And key to the rental is the care and maintenance that are given to them, complete with housekeeping, said Dave Lovell, marketing director.

And add the pool, mini golf, golf care rentals and free WiFi, and nearly any desires of RVers are met. Lake Rudolph also provides free shuttle service to and from the theme parks.

It’s about customer service. With 100 seasonal workers and an experience management team with Certified Park Operator certification, keying in on the needs of the customer is everyone’s job, Lovell said.

Meeting those needs also means improving the campground. Improvements and expansion have been done every year of the past 11 years. Improvements includes adding and improving WiFi to the entire 160-acre campground, adding a food service facility, custom designed RV rentals, a new shuttle bus and shelters and improvements to the camp store and game room.

All of this is geared at bringing in guests – both RVers and those who have never experienced them before. The rental operations open up the world of RVing to more people each year. They won’t likely forget where that experience came from. So, if you like the idea of trying RVing, think about visiting Rudolph Lake next camping season.

The park allows up to eight people per site, which is also a great deal, and most amenities are included with the site rental. The only exceptions are golf car rentals and paddleboat rentals. And, the park offers discounted tickets to Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari.

So, whether the weather outside is frightful or delightful, Lake Rudolph opens its gates to RVers beginning in April and would love to have you visit.