(Yes, really. And it might be the best thing that ever happened to their business.)

Let’s address the elephant in the campsite:

Campers will complain about literally anything.
The sun is “too hot.”
The frogs are “too loud.”
The firewood is “too wood.”
And God forbid the Wi-Fi doesn’t load TikTok fast enough—suddenly your campground is being reviewed like it’s a failed tech startup.

So imagine this…

A campground with ZERO Wi-Fi signal…
Not “weak signal.”
Not “sometimes it works if you stand on one foot by the bathhouse.”
I mean nothing. Dead. Gone.

You’d think that would be a death sentence.

But at Hidden Valley RV Park?

It became a goldmine.

Because Terry—the owner—did something that most campground owners never think to do when something feels like a problem:

She didn’t panic.
She didn’t apologize.
She didn’t spend $40K trying to “fix” it.

She marketed it as a feature.

And campers… absolutely ate it up.

When your weakness becomes your hook

Here’s the real secret:

Most campground owners don’t have a marketing problem.
They have a perspective problem.

They see limitations like:

• weak cell service
• rocky terrain
• remote access
• “no Wi-Fi”
  …and they immediately think:

“We need to fix this.”

But what if you didn’t?

What if the thing that feels like a disadvantage is actually your competitive advantage—if you position it correctly?

That’s exactly what Terry did.

She turned “zero Wi-Fi” into a digital detox experience.

And instead of losing campers…
she attracted a totally different type of guest:

✅ higher quality
✅ less entitled
✅ more likely to stay longer
✅ more likely to bring family
✅ more likely to pay more for peace and privacy

In other words…

She didn’t fix the Wi-Fi.
She fixed the customer.

The “deliberate premium experience” hack

Here’s a pro tip straight from the trenches:

If you market your weakness like an apology, it becomes a liability.
If you market it like it was deliberate… it becomes a premium experience.

That means you don’t say:

❌ “Sorry, limited cell service.”

You say:

✅ “Unplug completely. Reconnect with nature and family.”

You don’t say:

❌ “The terrain is steep and rocky.”

You say:

✅ “Adventure camping for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts.”

You don’t say:

❌ “We’re kind of hard to access.”

You say:

✅ “A secluded destination for people who don’t want crowds.”

See the difference?

One is a problem.

The other is a story.

And stories sell.

Three brilliant strategies you can steal immediately

In the full article, we break down exactly how to do this in your park, including:

1) Limited service = Authentic wilderness

Turn weak cell signal into a selling point by building a full “disconnect” package—stargazing kits, nature journals, family games, campfire events.

2) Challenging terrain = Adventure camping

Rocky or steep sites become the perfect hook for hikers, climbers, and training groups—especially if you offer rentals and partner with local outdoor programs.

3) Remote location = Exclusive destination

Hard to access becomes “private,” “untouched,” and “premium.” Add a shuttle. Make arriving part of the experience. Sell secluded packages people can’t get elsewhere.

Here’s what’s wild:

Most owners have at least one of these “limitations” right now…

…and they’re treating it like a handicap.

When it might actually be their next marketing campaign.

Why this matters beyond marketing

Because when you run a campground, it’s not just about filling sites.

It’s about building a business that doesn’t drain the life out of you.

At Campground Accounting, we help entrepreneurs, legacy-builders, and family-business stewards make the most of their campground investment without it taking the most out of them.

Because there’s more to taxes than being on time…
and there’s more to life than business.

You bought this campground to breathe life into ownership—
not to drown in decision fatigue, operations overwhelm, and fear of surprises.

And sometimes the path to freedom isn’t working harder…

It’s learning how to see your business differently.

Connect with us!

Please follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Please make sure to check out our blog and our website link below. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and hit the bell to be notified when we post. You can email me at donna@campgroundaccounting.com.

Donna Bordeaux, CPA with Campground Accounting

Creativity and CPAs don’t generally go together. Most people think of CPAs as nerdy accountants who can’t talk with people. Well, it’s time to break that stereotype. Lively, friendly, and knowledgeable can be a part of your relationship with your CPA, as demonstrated by Donna and Chad Bordeaux. They have over 50 years of combined experience as entrepreneurial CPAs. They’ve owned businesses and helped business owners exceed their wildest dreams. They have been able to help businesses earn many times more profit than the average business in the same industry and are passionate about helping industries that help families build great memories.