Growing Stonewall Resorts Through Marketing

For me, Stonewall Resorts has always been more than just a business—it’s my family’s campground, a place my parents built from the ground up. I’ve watched them pour their hearts into making it a beautiful, welcoming destination for campers and nature lovers alike. But, like many businesses, they hit a wall. The campground was doing well, but it wasn’t full—they were hosting 25-40 campers a month when they had the potential for so much more.

That’s when I decided to take things into my own hands. Over the past six months, I’ve been diving into marketing courses and experimenting with hands-on strategies, applying everything I’ve learned to grow their business. The results have been better than I ever imagined—now, we’re seeing 60-85 campers every month, and it feels like we’re just getting started.

Here’s the story of how my personal connection to Stonewall Resorts, along with some hard work and learning, has transformed our family business.

The Starting Point: A Beautiful Campground, But Empty Spots

Growing up, I spent countless weekends at Stonewall Resorts. It’s a special place, tucked away in Jenkinsville, South Carolina, surrounded by stunning landscapes, hiking trails, and peaceful lakes. My parents always knew it was a gem, but no matter how hard they worked, there were still open spots at the campground month after month.

They weren’t strangers to the idea of marketing—they had put up a website and dabbled in social media—but the results just weren’t coming. Their reach felt limited, and despite the quality of the campground, people weren’t booking as often as they should have. That’s when I realized that to get the word out, we needed to step up our marketing game.

I had already been learning about marketing through various online courses and was itching to put that knowledge into action. I figured, what better place to start than my family’s business? I had the drive, the tools, and most importantly, a deep connection to the business itself.

The Strategy: Learning and Applying Marketing Tactics

I wasn’t just trying to “do marketing”; I was learning as I went, fine-tuning my approach based on the courses I was taking and the real-time results I was seeing. My plan for Stonewall Resorts centered around three core areas:

1. Improving the Website: Our website was outdated and needed a facelift. I worked on making it more user-friendly, adding clear information about the campground, beautiful images of the property, and an easy booking system. This helped potential campers feel confident when deciding to book a spot.

2. Facebook Ads and Social Media: I knew that social media could be a game-changer, but it needed to be done right. I set up targeted Facebook ads, focusing on outdoor lovers and families looking for weekend getaways. I used what I had learned about creating engaging content to post regularly on our page, showing off the best parts of the campground and interacting with potential campers. It wasn’t just about ads—it was about building a community.

3. Engaging Content: People love stories, and I started telling the story of Stonewall Resorts through every post, ad, and email. I wanted people to feel the passion that went into creating the campground, to see it as more than just a place to stay. Photos, camper testimonials, and even live videos of the property helped bring the experience to life for those who had never been there.

The Growth: From Learning to Results

The first couple of months were all about experimenting—figuring out what worked and what didn’t. I tested different types of ads, tried new approaches with our website, and kept adjusting based on the feedback and analytics I was seeing.

By the third month, it was clear that the hard work was starting to pay off. The number of campers each month was climbing, and we were getting more inquiries than ever. Instead of seeing 25-40 campers a month, we began welcoming more families and travelers. The number of visitors grew steadily, and by the fifth month, we were hitting 60-85 campers a month—far beyond what we had expected when we started this journey.

It wasn’t just about the numbers, though. The community around Stonewall Resorts was growing. We were getting more engagement on Facebook, more shares and likes, and most importantly, more repeat visitors. Campers were sharing their experiences, and their friends and family were booking trips as a result. The marketing wasn’t just bringing in new business—it was building loyalty.

The Personal Connection: Why This Matters

For me, this isn’t just a business success story. This is about my family, about helping my parents’ dream flourish in a way they might not have been able to on their own. Stonewall Resorts is a part of who we are, and being able to take the skills I’ve learned and apply them here has been incredibly rewarding.

Every time I see the campground full of happy campers, knowing that the work I’ve put in has made a difference, it feels like a personal victory. And every time my parents tell me how much easier things have gotten for them, I know it was worth every late night spent tweaking ads or updating the website.

It’s one thing to learn about marketing in a classroom or online course, but it’s another thing entirely to see those strategies come to life, benefiting a business you care deeply about. That’s what’s made this experience so meaningful for me.

The Transformation: What’s Next for Stonewall Resorts?

With the campground now consistently full, we’re looking toward the future. The next steps are about expansion—not just in terms of more bookings, but in how we continue to engage with our community. We’re planning more interactive content, like hosting virtual tours and sharing camper stories. We’re also thinking about adding new experiences at the campground that we can highlight through our marketing efforts.

As for me, I’m going to keep learning and growing, refining my marketing skills and seeing where else they can take the business. There’s always something new to try, whether it’s a different ad strategy or a new way to reach potential customers. And with Stonewall Resorts continuing to thrive, I’m more motivated than ever to see how far we can go.

Conclusion: A Journey of Growth

What started as a learning experience has turned into a success story I’m proud of—not just for myself, but for my parents and our family’s business. Through consistent effort, trial and error, and a deep connection to the campground, we’ve been able to take Stonewall Resorts from a struggling operation to a thriving destination.

And the best part? We’re just getting started. There’s always room to grow, and I’m excited to see where the next six months take us.

For business owners out there, I hope this story shows how much potential is out there when you take the time to invest in marketing, even if you’re learning as you go. You don’t have to be an expert to get started—you just have to be willing to try, adjust, and keep moving forward.

If you’re looking to grow your own business like we did, I’d love to help. Let’s talk about how I can bring the same results to your business and take some of that marketing load off your shoulders.