The Mt. Gilead KOA Holiday, owned and operated by Chip and Bambi Hanawalt, has been named the KOA Campground of the Year for 2025. The award is the highest honor a KOA campground can receive.
After stumbling upon a campground for sale in Columbus, Ohio, the Hanawalts first became campground owners in 2000 and joined the KOA system in 2017. After selling that campground, the family embarked on a new greenfield development venture in Mt. Gilead, Ohio, breaking ground on the site in late 2019 on the site of an old golf course. They opened just in time for the July Fourth weekend in 2020 amid the challenges of COVID-19. This 150-acre property, located about 40 miles north of Columbus, offers ample green space and modern amenities.
The Hanawalts are committed to making the campground a family legacy, with their children and grandchildren helping with operations. The Hanawalts’ daughter, Haley, has grown up on her family’s campgrounds since the age of nine and now helps with daily operations.
“Joining the KOA system has been the greatest decision for our business,” said Haley Hanawalt, daughter of Chip and Bambi. “The brand’s high standards help us strive and strengthen our relationships with fellow KOA owners. The resources and support we receive have been amazing.”
Since opening, the Hanawalts have made significant additions to the campground, including expanded amenities such as walking and biking trails, a driving range, additional bathhouses, and recreational facilities like volleyball and basketball courts. They’ve also added new Paw Pen sites, a 24-hour laundry room, a new Deluxe Cabin, a security gate, and 30 new full-hookup Pull-Thru Sites with patios. In 2023, the couple received a Campground of the Future Grant from KOA, Inc. and used that towards introducing a luxurious KOA Signature Site, complete with shelter, furniture, a washer and dryer, a bar, and a putting green.
“The Hanawalts continue to enhance the campground with meticulous attention to detail,” said Toby O’Rourke, president and CEO of KOA. “Their unwavering commitment and passion for outdoor hospitality serves as a beacon for us all. We are immensely proud of their journey and visionary approach to crafting campgrounds that welcome families and bridge generations.”
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.
