Over the past six years of camping, Thomas and Shannon Connolly have taken their two children to campgrounds across the nation near many of America’s most popular national parks.
While the younger Connollys have worked toward earning their junior park ranger recognitions, their parents have recognized the differing quality of many of the campgrounds in and around the national parks.
“Our family loves to visit national parks, and we stay at various campgrounds around the country, but many of them have left much to be desired,” Thomas Connolly said in a telephone interview. “From cleanliness issues and a general lack of amenities to problematic site layouts and inconsistent service, there is so much opportunity to improve the outdoor experience.”
As a real estate agent, builder and former hotel developer, Connolly is convinced campgrounds can become better and more oriented to today’s camper, and he is launching a new venture to provide a different and better camping experience.
Connolly, who is owner of Connolly Development Ventures and a partner in Curbed Construction in Chattanooga, announced his new brand Tuesday known as “Roamstead” — a combination of roaming and homestead. The first Roamstead campground is being developed near the Great Smoky Mountains this summer and, if successful, Connolly said he hopes to open similar campgrounds across the country.