KOA did a feature article on New Orleans KOA! Read below!

For most KOA campers, it’s all about the excitement and adventures inside the park — making sure that all the amenities are in tip-top shape, upgraded, renovated and ready for the masses. But for Michael and Deborah Dunn, owners of the New Orleans KOA Holiday, it’s all about the excitement and adventures outside the park. In fact, many of the guests who arrive at their campground can’t wait to leave it.

And here’s the weird part: the Dunns actually help them make their plans to leave. They even have a dedicated desk where guests go to plan their departures.

It’s all true, of course. And yet so is the fact that the New Orleans KOA Holiday has one of the top camper-night totals in the country. It’s also true that many guests sign up for additional nights after they arrive.

Confused? Understandable. But Michael explains:

Deborah agreed that while helping guests leave the campground for other excursions may sound strange, it’s actually part of what makes the park unique.

You read that right: concierge. The New Orleans KOA has one and it’s one of the staples of the campground. So is “knowing your audience,” Michael said.

That knowledge extends beyond simply knowing where to send guests who want chicory coffee and a beignet. It also has something to do with ketchup.

Michael added, “We make sure our souvenirs are cheaper than everybody else. And we could charge more, but they come in, they go downtown, they come back, and they don’t feel like they are being ripped off.”

The couple has more than 25 years of experience in the KOA system. They came into ownership in large part because of their passion for adventure and travel. 

“We fell in love with KOA 25 years ago,” Deborah recalled. “When we camped, we camped at the Niagara Falls KOA on our honeymoon. And it was such an amazing experience. We stayed in a cabin there.” 

Michael quickly jumped in. “Oh yes,” he said, laughing, “we weren’t sleeping on the ground in a tent on our honeymoon.” 

Michael recalled that things started to come together when they learned about work campers. He had spent his entire career in construction, and both were certain he was up to the challenge.

And that was all she wrote.

From campers to work campers to managers to owners, Michael and Deborah have observed — and practiced — the art of hospitality.

Michael added, “We tell our staff … ‘we are here to help them with whatever they need. I don’t care if they break a nail and need to find a salon.’ We are going to help them find a salon.”

And yes, even if that means helping them leave the campground — at least for a while.

The New Orleans KOA Holiday is located in River Ridge, LA. Check out the website here.