In this episode of Outdoor Hospitality Weekly, we break down the latest industry trends, economic pressures, and market shifts impacting campgrounds, RV parks, and outdoor hospitality operators across the country.

The conversation covers Matt’s trip to the Florida & Alabama RV Park Conference, where AI, rising payroll costs, park valuations, and increasing competition dominated discussions among operators and investors. We also unpack the latest developments surrounding Sandy Pines Campground in Maine and what its bankruptcy proceedings could signal for high-profile outdoor hospitality assets.

We dive into the newly released 2026 Outdoor Hospitality Industry Outlook Report, discussing occupancy trends, ADR, RevPAS, rising credit card processing costs, staffing challenges, and the growing divide between transient and long-term campground business models.

Finally, we revisit the proposed Lippert and Patrick Industries merger and what its collapse could mean for RV manufacturers, campground operators, and the broader RV ecosystem.

To subscribe and see all of our content for free, join our Substack: ohweekly.substack.com

In this episode of Outdoor Hospitality Weekly, we sit down with Billy Rhyne, developer of Horseshoe Ridge RV Resort in Wimberley, Texas, to break down what it actually takes to build a high-end RV resort from the ground up.

Billy shares his journey from working in software with no prior experience in outdoor hospitality to developing a luxury, amenity-rich RV resort in the Texas Hill Country. We dive into the full process—from finding the property and navigating complex entitlements to self-performing construction and delivering a high-end guest experience.

We also explore the realities of operations after opening, including lessons learned from third-party management, and Billy’s deep dive into marketing—from firing multiple agencies to building his own conversion tracking systems, AI-driven SEO tools, and automated email campaigns.

This is a candid look at the complexity behind building and operating a modern RV resort—and the level of detail, effort, and persistence it takes to do it right.

To subscribe and see all of our content for free, join our Substack: ohweekly.substack.com

In this episode of Outdoor Hospitality Weekly, we break down the latest industry data, major hotel brand expansion into outdoor hospitality, and new signals from the RV market.

We unpack insights from the 2026 KOA report and Campspot’s Q1 data, including shifting demand, changing camper demographics, and the evolving balance between occupancy and pricing.

We also cover continued hotel entry into the space—from Best Western’s new glamping collection to Under Canvas expanding near Yosemite—and what it means for independent operators.

Finally, we dive into major RV industry news, including a potential merger between Lippert and Patrick Industries and what slowing RV sales could signal for the broader market.

To subscribe and see all of our content for free, join our Substack: ohweekly.substack.com