BY CLAUDE-JEAN HAREL
Every nomad needs an oasis at some point along his or her journey.
Amy and Tony Raposo are the keepers of one such oasis in Barrie, Ontario.
Their Barrie KOA is a small world in itself: 150 sites, 2 cottages, 15 cabins over 60 lush acres in a pine-tree setting dotted with two heated pools.
What makes this KOA one of Central Ontario's best-kept vacationing secrets is likely the personal touch and love invested by Amy, Tony and their family in this place they call home.
“In 1985, I was wrapping up my studies in recreation at the University of Waterloo,” recalls Amy. “Tony and I were planning on getting married. He was farming at the time. I come from a family of five children, all running their own businesses. My father suggested we combine my recreation skills and experience — I had worked at a residential camp before — with Tony’s farming skills.”
Amy’s father was familiar with KOAs. The family had stayed at KOAs before. They lived south of Barrie and noticed this campground for sale in September of 1985.
“We did a handshake deal with the owners of the campground in January of 1986. I had yet to graduate in May. From then on, it went fast. Tony moved from home to the campground. My father — being the traditional man that he was — suggested that I commute back and forth to the campground initially.”
Tony and Amy were married on Saturday July 5, 1986.
“I remember going to work the next day to pick up garbage at the campground in my going away dress. We were 21 and 22 at the time. Today people say that when you have lasted 20 years in the business, you are fossils. Average KOA franchisee life expectancy is about seven years. When we went to KOA University in Billings, Montana to learn how to run a campground, we didn’t know anything. People told us we wouldn’t last.”
Nearly 20 years later, not only have Amy and Tony outlived all predictions; they now look after a thriving establishment that is consistently recognized as a Gold rated campground within the KOA system; was named KOA Franchisee of the Year 2001 and was the recipient of a 2004 KOA President's Award.
“We have three children aged 16, 14 and 9 that were raised at the campground. I love the freedom this lifestyle allows us. We all work hard during camping season but we have the winters to spend time together as a family. The opportunity to raise your children where you work and the independence that comes with owning your own business are priceless.”
Amy is obviously at peace with her career choice.
“We love the outdoors. When your customers are camping, you are essentially dealing with people who are happy and on vacation. We are in the experience business, in the making memories business — in the business of joy, really.”
Amy Raposo points out that there are not many bingo halls where you can take a four-year-old, that come with crayons for them to play with.
“Lately, we have buying these giant games like snakes and ladders with oversized dices that children can play with. We diversify our activities and create themes around things like chicken. We have Zany Chicken games; we’ll make chicken fingers and chicken themed movies available.”
Because Amy and Tony liked pizza so much and the only way to get it was to have it delivered, they actually launched their own Bando’s homemade pizzeria right on the campground.
“We are getting a lot of positive feedback for these initiatives and we are constantly looking to stage a better experience for our guests,” says Amy.
When her and Tony married, they honeymooned in Florida in November and spent a great deal of time looking at top campgrounds in that part of the world. The 'Big Rig friendly' concrete pads they saw for RVs there seduced them so much, they decided to implement the concept at their own KOA.
“These are 13 by 75 feet pads with an attached 30 by 40 feet attached patio. The area is entirely surrounded by grass. We developed a 40 such sites concept we call Cedarwood Country. We saw a need for this in guests who particularly appreciate the pristine character of campsites.”
Amy explains how some of her guests invest as much as $500,000 to $1 million in rigs that become permanent homes. They spend their winters in the United States:
“We want them to come spend their summers with us. This subdivision has its own adult lounge and washrooms. We are hoping to build a clubhouse there down the road. People make lifelong friends through camping. This is a very family-friendly environment.”
Amy and Tony helped one of her brothers start their own KOA franchise. Now that her kids are old enough to start helping around, who knows? They might just catch the KOA bug as well:
“Of course, it is easier to get them to help out if you throw in a golf cart to get the work done. It is a good life for them. Of course, they think money grows on trees for the time being, but they’ll get the gist of it down the road.”
Perhaps in another twenty years or so, their children will be running the place, while Amy and Tony Raposo are off explore the world of opportunities that await those who dare to dream.
Click here for more information on camping in Canada
Click here for more information on touring in Canada
Every nomad needs an oasis at some point along his or her journey.
Amy and Tony Raposo are the keepers of one such oasis in Barrie, Ontario.
Their Barrie KOA is a small world in itself: 150 sites, 2 cottages, 15 cabins over 60 lush acres in a pine-tree setting dotted with two heated pools.
What makes this KOA one of Central Ontario's best-kept vacationing secrets is likely the personal touch and love invested by Amy, Tony and their family in this place they call home.
“In 1985, I was wrapping up my studies in recreation at the University of Waterloo,” recalls Amy. “Tony and I were planning on getting married. He was farming at the time. I come from a family of five children, all running their own businesses. My father suggested we combine my recreation skills and experience — I had worked at a residential camp before — with Tony’s farming skills.”
Amy’s father was familiar with KOAs. The family had stayed at KOAs before. They lived south of Barrie and noticed this campground for sale in September of 1985.
“We did a handshake deal with the owners of the campground in January of 1986. I had yet to graduate in May. From then on, it went fast. Tony moved from home to the campground. My father — being the traditional man that he was — suggested that I commute back and forth to the campground initially.”
Tony and Amy were married on Saturday July 5, 1986.
“I remember going to work the next day to pick up garbage at the campground in my going away dress. We were 21 and 22 at the time. Today people say that when you have lasted 20 years in the business, you are fossils. Average KOA franchisee life expectancy is about seven years. When we went to KOA University in Billings, Montana to learn how to run a campground, we didn’t know anything. People told us we wouldn’t last.”
Nearly 20 years later, not only have Amy and Tony outlived all predictions; they now look after a thriving establishment that is consistently recognized as a Gold rated campground within the KOA system; was named KOA Franchisee of the Year 2001 and was the recipient of a 2004 KOA President's Award.
“We have three children aged 16, 14 and 9 that were raised at the campground. I love the freedom this lifestyle allows us. We all work hard during camping season but we have the winters to spend time together as a family. The opportunity to raise your children where you work and the independence that comes with owning your own business are priceless.”
Amy is obviously at peace with her career choice.
“We love the outdoors. When your customers are camping, you are essentially dealing with people who are happy and on vacation. We are in the experience business, in the making memories business — in the business of joy, really.”
Amy Raposo points out that there are not many bingo halls where you can take a four-year-old, that come with crayons for them to play with.
“Lately, we have buying these giant games like snakes and ladders with oversized dices that children can play with. We diversify our activities and create themes around things like chicken. We have Zany Chicken games; we’ll make chicken fingers and chicken themed movies available.”
Because Amy and Tony liked pizza so much and the only way to get it was to have it delivered, they actually launched their own Bando’s homemade pizzeria right on the campground.
“We are getting a lot of positive feedback for these initiatives and we are constantly looking to stage a better experience for our guests,” says Amy.
When her and Tony married, they honeymooned in Florida in November and spent a great deal of time looking at top campgrounds in that part of the world. The 'Big Rig friendly' concrete pads they saw for RVs there seduced them so much, they decided to implement the concept at their own KOA.
“These are 13 by 75 feet pads with an attached 30 by 40 feet attached patio. The area is entirely surrounded by grass. We developed a 40 such sites concept we call Cedarwood Country. We saw a need for this in guests who particularly appreciate the pristine character of campsites.”
Amy explains how some of her guests invest as much as $500,000 to $1 million in rigs that become permanent homes. They spend their winters in the United States:
“We want them to come spend their summers with us. This subdivision has its own adult lounge and washrooms. We are hoping to build a clubhouse there down the road. People make lifelong friends through camping. This is a very family-friendly environment.”
Amy and Tony helped one of her brothers start their own KOA franchise. Now that her kids are old enough to start helping around, who knows? They might just catch the KOA bug as well:
“Of course, it is easier to get them to help out if you throw in a golf cart to get the work done. It is a good life for them. Of course, they think money grows on trees for the time being, but they’ll get the gist of it down the road.”
Perhaps in another twenty years or so, their children will be running the place, while Amy and Tony Raposo are off explore the world of opportunities that await those who dare to dream.
Click here for more information on camping in Canada
Click here for more information on touring in Canada
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