From Boo Boo to VP at Camp Jellystone — Lisa Courtney on the Real Work of Outdoor Hospitality Leadership

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You can learn a lot about outdoor hospitality from spreadsheets and site plans, but you learn the truth from the people who have carried the radio, calmed the queue, and still found a way to make the day feel fun. I’m joined by Lisa Courtney, VP of Operations and Sales at Camp Jellystone, and her career story starts in the most Jellystone way possible: stepping into a character suit and running recreation programming before working her way up to general manager and, later, brand leadership.

We get real about what campground management and RV resort operations demand, especially in year-round parks where staffing is tight and standards are high. Lisa shares what burnout looked like for her, how she thinks about boundaries now, and why “it’s okay to make mistakes” only works if you actually fix what you learn. We also unpack the simplest lever leaders control every day: culture. When a team feels supported and aligned, guests feel it immediately, and the guest experience becomes consistent rather than accidental.

From there, we zoom out to Camp Jellystone’s franchise model and how the industry has shifted since Covid: consolidation, more multi-park operators, third-party management, and the challenge of serving owners with very different systems. We talk seasonal versus transient mix, ancillary revenue, changing booking windows, and the rising cost of glamping cabins and other lodging. Lisa’s north star is clear: reduce friction points, elevate the experience, and create memory-driving stays that bring families back year after year.

If you care about campground leadership, guest experience, glamping strategy, or franchise growth in outdoor hospitality, press play. Subscribe, share the episode with a fellow operator, and leave us a review with the biggest lesson you’ve learned on the ground.
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