Economic and Managerial Characteristics of the Private Camping Industry in the Black Hills and Badlands of South Dakota

Abstract

The private camping industry in the Black Hills and Badlands began in the late 1950’s. There is still little information available from which present and potential campground operators can make sound management decisions. Many people buy or develop a camping firm with little or no past experience in the business. After a few years, they discover that they are unhappy, and are not realizing an acceptable rate of return on their investment. They sell their camping facilities, and a high turnover in campground ownership results. During the last two weeks in May, June, and part of July 1973, a stratified random sampling of private campground operators was made in the Black Hills and Badlands of South Dakota. The sample was drawn from the list of 66 campgrounds in operation during the 1972 season. Only campgrounds with 20 or more campsites were included. The stratification was based on the number of developed campsites per campground. All campgrounds having 100 campsites or more were surveyed, while 60 percent of those having 50-99 campsites and 40 percent of all campgrounds with 20-49 campsites were surveyed. The field enumerator used a personal interview procedure