“We have multiple generations of campers
camping with us,” said Meadville KOA owner Tim Chilson. “We’ve not only served
them and their children, but we now have their grandchildren and
great-grandchildren camping with us. Our
goal is to provide a fun and safe family camping environment where families
make memories that last a lifetime.”
The Meadville KOA is offering multiple special discounts and
vacation specials this summer to celebrate their 35th year of operation,
as a thank you to their camping guests.
Those discounts can be found on their website at http://www.meadvillekoa.com/Discounts.html.
“We’ve got some great discounts planned for the 2013 camping
season as a thank you to the great camping families who’ve camped with us over
these many years,” Chilson said. “We’ve
been very fortunate to meet and serve so many wonderful camping families over
our 14 years of ownership. It is truly
our pleasure to serve them, and we’re honored that they rate our facilities and
service so highly. We’ve watched their
children, and in some cases grandchildren grow up to become fine citizens and
young adults.”
The
land was originally purchased from the Holland Land Company in 1893 by the McClemens
family, who built a homestead and barn at the site in 1914, in an area known at
that time as McClemen’s Flats.
In
1945, the Roae family purchased the property and turned the farm into an
auction barn and built ponds for a fish hatchery, where they raised and sold
flathead minnows for fishing in Pymatuning Lake. In 1978, they turned the
auction barn and farm into Brookdale 1914 Campground, taking the name directly
from the date on the old red barn and the brook that runs through the center of
the property.
The
barn served as the main building complex for the campground until it burned in
1984. The campers helped rebuild the main building, which now serves the
campers and local community with a camping & mini-mart store, which is
operated seasonally with the campground. The building also houses a recreation
hall, game room, restrooms and showers, and a laundry facility for campers.
Brookdale
Campground was purchased by Tim & Robyn Chilson in October of 1999 and renamed
Brookdale Family Campground. Since their purchase, the Chilsons have added 10
new full-hook-up pull-thru 50 amp campsites for big rigs, free Wi-Fi to all the
campsites, a new camping cabin, two new deluxe lake-front cabins, and
additional rental recreation with an 18 hole mini golf, a jumping pillow, and
pedal karts.
In
2011, Brookdale Family Campground was invited to join Kampgrounds of America as
the Meadville KOA. KOA is the largest and most recognized camping franchise in
the world with 488 member campgrounds throughout the U.S. and Canada. Meadville
KOA was honored to achieve both a guest "A Rating" from Guest Reviews
(GoCampingAmerica.com),
and the KOA President's Awards in 2011. They have won the KOA President's Award each year
since joining the KOA family.
Tim
and Robyn Chilson are Certified Park Operators by ARVC (The National
Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds). They are members of ARVC and are
graduates of the ARVC’s National School of RV Park and Campground Management. They are members of the Pennsylvania
Campground Owners Association where Tim serves as the regional vice-president
for Western PA, and they are members of KOA Owners Association.
By Robyn Chilson
Tim & Robyn Chilson Own and Operate Meadville KOA. You can contact Robyn at 814-789-3251.
