The Blue Ridge / Toccoa River KOA Holiday, owned and operated by The Kieffer family, John, Beth, and their daughter Ali, has been named KOA’s 2025 Rising Star award winner. KOA’s Rising Star is awarded to an exemplary campground that has been a part of the KOA campground system for less than five years. Ali Kieffer, co-owner, said it best, “we’re not just running a business; we’re building a community.”
The Kieffer family’s dream of owning a hospitality location materialized when they found the perfect property near Blue Ridge, Georgia. Leveraging John’s background as a general contractor, they designed the 18-acre riverside property-turned-campground from scratch starting in 2018, working through the COVID-19 pandemic as best as possible and opening for business Labor Day weekend in 2020.
“We looked at Blue Ridge as a place for us to retire before we built the campground. Since our youth, Beth and I have talked about owning a lodge or a hospitality location, and so it was always on our radar as a thing to do once we retired and we found the perfect location,” said John Kieffer.
Campers themselves, the Keiffer family worked together to transform their passion for camping into a thriving business, a 94-site KOA Holiday.
The Kieffers emphasize that successful campground management requires adaptability, financial savvy, and practical knowledge of landscape design and outdoor maintenance. Their entrepreneurial spirit, a core KOA value, drove them to transform their idea into reality.
“John and Beth jumped into campground ownership with such passion, it’s amazing to see how far they’ve come,” said Toby O’Rourke, president and CEO of Kampgrounds of America. “Their quick success is a testament to their hard work and the welcoming experience they create for every camper.”
Committed to innovation, the Kiefers draw inspiration from fellow campground owners, guest feedback, and their own camping experiences. Recent upgrades include:
- 2023: Multi-purpose lodge, RV and boat storage facility, additional recreation areas
- 2024: Upgraded Deluxe riverside sites, added a Paw Pen KOA Patio Site, relocated and upgraded their KampK9® dog park
- 2025 Plans: Convert basic sites to Deluxe pull-through options, create more pet-friendly spaces
“You have to be very open-minded and knowledgeable about money, staffing, and plant management,” John said, highlighting the multifaceted nature of campground management. “We took an idea and made it materialize into a fantastic operation. It took an entrepreneurial spirit to get it all done.”
About the Author: Kampgrounds of America
Kampgrounds of America is the largest system of open-to-the-public campgrounds in the world, with over 500 locations across the United States and Canada. Founded in Billings, MT in 1962, KOA’s family of campground brands – KOA Journey, KOA Holiday and KOA Resort – today serve more than a million camping families each year. KOA is dedicated to “connecting people to the outdoors and each other” by providing people with a variety of camping experiences and the information they need to make the most of their camping trip. Read more of their camping and travel resources by visiting KOA.com/blog.
