Whatever Happened To Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Campgrounds?
What To Know
- Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts were founded in 1969 by Doug Haag, who combined the popular cartoon character with the idea of a family-friendly, destination-style campground.
- The parks quickly grew in popularity, offering themed activities, character appearances, and evolving amenities such as cabins, RV hookups, and water attractions to appeal to modern families.
- Today, Jellystone Park operates over 75 locations across the U.S. and Canada, hosting around 2 million guests annually and continuing to expand under new ownership by Sun Communities.
If you grew up during any time from the ’60s through, well, now, there’s a good chance you love Yogi Bear. The picnic basket-stealing troublemaker first appeared on television on The Huckleberry Hound Show, and just a few years later landed his own series, The Yogi Bear Show, which premiered on January 30, 1961.
As one of Hanna-Barbera’s biggest breakout stars, Yogi has spun off into his own series, specials, and movies over the decades — and even a modern reboot, Jellystone!, which aired from 2021 to 2025. But one of the most unexpected chapters in Yogi’s legacy was when the bear got his own chain of family-friendly campgrounds: Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts, many of which are still around today. As Yogi Bear celebrates his onscreen anniversary, let’s go back and find out how the Jellystone Park came to be.
How did Yogi Bear get his own chain of campgrounds?
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The idea for Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts traces back to 1969, when entrepreneur Doug Haag was driving through Wisconsin and noticed how many families were hauling campers and tents down the highway. According to company history, Haag envisioned a destination-style campground where families could stay for more extended vacations rather than quick overnight stops. Around the same time, he overheard his children watching Yogi Bear cartoons and realized the character would be a great mascot for his park idea.
Haag approached Screen Gems, which at the time licensed Hanna-Barbera properties, and secured permission to use the Jellystone Park name and Yogi Bear characters. The first Jellystone Park campground opened in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, in 1969, charging just $3.50 per night, and the response was immediate and enthusiastic.
Hanna-Barbera Productions/Everett Collection
Families already trusted the Yogi Bear brand, and seeing the characters woven into a real campground made the experience feel like stepping into a cartoon world. Early grand openings reportedly drew far more visitors than expected, helping the idea spread quickly. By the early 1970s, multiple locations had opened across the country, turning Jellystone into a recognizable vacation name for families who liked to camp. Each park leaned heavily into the theme, with character appearances, playful signage, and kid-friendly activities that made camping feel more like a mini theme park.
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Over time, the parks evolved alongside changing travel habits. Traditional tent camping remained part of the experience, but many locations added cabins, RV hookups, and eventually glamping options like yurts and deluxe cottages. Amenities expanded as well, including swimming pools, water attractions, mini golf, playgrounds, and organized activities designed to keep kids entertained while parents relaxed.
The parks remained independently owned but operated under a franchise system through Camp Jellystone, LLC, which maintained branding standards and character licensing.
Everett Collection
The business side also continued to grow. According to franchise data, the Jellystone system expanded to more than 75 locations across the United States and Canada. In 2021, Sun Communities acquired Leisure Systems, the franchisor behind Jellystone Park. As of late 2023, the brand estimated that roughly 2 million guests stayed at Jellystone locations each year.
Kid Stuff
June 2018
Unleash your inner child by reliving your favorite kids TV shows, cartoons, toys and more!
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