KOA
| Company type | Franchise network |
|---|---|
| Industry | Campgrounds, RV parks |
| Founded | 1 January 1962 in Billings, Montana, United States |
| Founder | Dave Drum, John Wallace, and two additional partners |
| Headquarters | Billings , United States |
Area served | United States, Canada |
Key people | Toby O’Rourke (President and CEO) |
| Products | Campgrounds and RV parks |
| Owner | Oscar Tang (major shareholder since 1979) |
KOA (Kampgrounds of America) is a prominent American franchise network of privately owned campgrounds, with more than 500 sites operating throughout the United States and Canada. It represents the largest global collection of private camping facilities. Established in 1962 and based in Billings, Montana, KOA focuses on campgrounds and RV parks. The organization is currently headed by President and CEO Toby O’Rourke.
History
In 1962, KOA was created in Billings, Montana by entrepreneurs Dave Drum, John Wallace, and two additional partners. Drum was inspired to launch the concept after noticing travelers en route to the Seattle World's Fair near his Yellowstone River land. The inaugural site, Billings Campground, provided tent spaces equipped with picnic tables and fire rings at a rate of $1.75 per night, along with amenities such as hot showers, restrooms, and a small retail store. The campground experienced rapid success, prompting the founders to begin franchising under the name Kampgrounds of America by the summer of 1963.
KOA became a publicly traded company in 1969 and had expanded to 262 campgrounds across the U.S. by the end of that year. By 1972, the franchise network had grown to 600 locations. The energy crisis during the 1970s adversely affected travel-related businesses, resulting in a decline in KOA’s stock value. Following the 1979 oil crisis, major shareholder Oscar Tang took ownership of the company. Despite these difficulties, KOA’s franchise count approached nearly 900 by 1982. Subsequent implementation of stricter quality controls reduced this number to approximately 500 by 2002, mainly within the United States.
KOA maintains high operational excellence through a stringent annual inspection process involving a 600-point checklist for each campground.
Regarding executive leadership, Jim Rogers retired as CEO in 2015 after serving for 15 years and was replaced by Pat Hittmeier. In April 2019, Toby O’Rourke assumed the CEO position, becoming the first woman to lead KOA in its history.