This summer, campers in Iowa won't have to travel very far to enjoy this popular US campground!

The owners of Walnut Acres Campground in Monticello have decided to take their campground to the next level by making it the very first Jellystone Park in the state of Iowa. Chip and Kim Smith have owned this popular chunk of land for over nine years, and it has become a family favorite here in the area. According to an article by Woodall's Campground Management, Chip says,

We really wanted to strengthen our brand recognition as far as being a family-friendly park. The whole atmosphere behind Yogi Bear is family fun, and that’s what we provide. Parents know their kids are going to be entertained and that it’s a fun, safe environment.” 

They believe that the re-branding will bring in more visitors, as the Jellystone name is a very popular one. Chip says that the new name is already bringing in campers from areas farther away, like Des Moines, when they typically get campers from a 45-minute radius.

The park will have plenty of organized activities and theme weekends, like Hawaiian, Mardi Gras, Christmas in June, and Halloween. The Smith family has always offered family activities, but because of the Jellystone network, those can now be expanded. Some of the features listed on the website include fishing, volleyball, basketball, paddle-boat rental, train and wagon rides, river tubing, a jumping pillow, character bedtime tuck-ins, and more!

The new Jellystone Park is located in the same location as Walnut Acres, right beside the Maquoketa River in Monticello between Dubuque and Cedar Rapids. It will be open from April 15th-the end of October.

For more info, click HERE and HERE.

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