A Rich History

RAC was established in 1972 under the name “Palmer Gulch Development Co” with the purchase of Palmer Gulch Lodge in the Black Hills of South Dakota. At the time, Palmer Gulch was nothing more than a dude ranch with 15 rental cabins although it has a rich history as one of the first visitor enterprises in the Black Hills, pre-dating the carving of Mount Rushmore. During the summer of 1972, the development of what today is known as the Mt. Rushmore KOA began in the guest ranch’s lower pasture as a Holiday Inn Travel Park franchised by Holiday Inn Hotels. In 1978 Holiday Inn decided it didn’t understand the campground business and closed down the franchise, which led to Palmer Gulch Development Co entering into a franchise agreement with Kampgrounds of America (KOA).

In 1980 DEH&S, a sister company to Palmer Gulch Development Co, purchased the Rapid City KOA. The purpose of this purchase was to protect the Mt. Rushmore KOA by locking up the franchise territory along HWY 16 from Rapid City KOA to Mt. Rushmore KOA.

In 1985 Palmer Gulch Development Co, DEH&S and Satellite Cable Services Inc, a small cable company in eastern South Dakota, all merged. Satellite Cable Services Inc., having two divisions, a cable company and a campground company, was able to provide the capital necessary to expand the company from two campgrounds to three with the purchase of the Pine Island Florida KOA in 1990, which was later sold in 2005. In 1995 Satellite Cable Services Inc purchased the Cody KOA in WY and in 1996 the Seattle KOA in WA. Following the sale of the cable TV division in 2001, Satellite Cable Services Inc was re-named Recreational Adventures Co (RAC). RAC purchased the Memphis KOA in 2007 and the Monroe County KOA in Michigan in 2009. More recent acquisitions include the Steamboat Springs KOA in Colorado in 2014; the Leavenworth KOA in Washington in 2015; The Fredericksburg KOA in Virginia in 2019; and the Des Moines KOA in Iowa in 2020.

Other expansions include the creation in 1992 of Recreational Adventures Corp in Oregon to Purchase the Astoria/Warrenton/Seaside KOA. Recreational Adventures Corp would eventually become Recreational Adventures Campgrounds, LLC.
In 1996 Satellite once again created another company, Recreational Adventures Campgrounds Limited Liability Company, to purchase the Harpers Ferry KOA in West Virginia. Recreational Adventures Campgrounds Limited Liability Company would later go on to purchase the Front Royal KOA in Virginia (which it later sold in 2004), Newburgh/NYC North KOA in NY and Capitol KOA in Maryland as well as becoming the concessionaire for the National Park Service at Travel Trailer Village in Prince Williams County, Virginia.

Once again in 1997 Satellite Cable Services created other company, Recreational Adventures Campground of Missouri, LLC, to purchase the Branson KOA which it later sold in 2005.

In 2001 Satellite Cable Services Inc sold its interest in the cable TV division. The campground division was renamed Recreational Adventures Co. Recreational Adventures Co is the sole owner of Recreational Adventures Campgrounds, LLC, and Recreational Adventures Campgrounds, Limited Liability Company. The three campground companies are referred to as RAC and operate fourteen KOAs making us the largest franchisee of Kampgrounds of America. In addition, we operate the National Park campground concession in Virginia and the Camper Reservation Center, the only phone reservation service for the KOA system, and the Mount Rushmore Lodge at Palmer Gulch Resort. Our intention is to continue to acquire quality campgrounds over time.

Not only has the company grown with the addition of new properties, but each property has grown as well. For example, since its purchase, Palmer Gulch has grown by hundreds of campsites, dozens of cabins, and acres of recreational opportunities. Sites, upgrades, and amenities have been added at each of the properties.

Our Properties

We own and operate 19 properties across 13 states. Our guests trust us to give them a great experience and we take that responsibility very seriously. You can see it in every part of our operations.