An institution in Southwest Michigan for more than 50 years is about to open its doors for the season, offering visitors a chance to camp in the style they choose while taking in all the region has to offer.
Karla Lemoine is the co-owner of the St. Joseph Coloma KOA campground, located at 3527 Coloma Road in Benton Harbor. The new camping season opens on April 17, running through October 12, and Lemoine tells us they’ve hosted thousands of campers throughout the years.
“Every year we welcome about 12,000 guests and a lot of them are from varying states across the country including some international guests,” Lemoine said.
The KOA campground offers RV Parking, cabins of all kinds, and amenities for both those who want to rough it and those who want to “glamp.”
“Everything from a basic rustic cabin to a deluxe two bedroom, bath and a half cabin for those that like a little more glamping. We also do offer glamping tents for a little more unique accommodation for our guests.”
Lemoine says the camp also has a heated pool, trails, and a cafe that serves up ice cream and pizza, among other things. A major event this year will be KOA’s “Big Weekend” on May 8 and 9, a fundraiser for the Care Camps Foundation.
“Care Camps Foundation is a charity that raises funds to support pediatric oncology camps across the country, providing a day camp or overnight camp type experience for kids that across the country, providing a day camp or overnight camp type experience for kids that are battling cancer along with their siblings and their families.”
Guests who stay that weekend receive a discount, and part of the proceeds are donated to the cause. Lemoine says the Big Weekend is always a big deal for the camp.
“It usually falls on Mother’s Day weekend. We love to celebrate moms camping. We do a pancake breakfast so moms don’t have to cook breakfast and that type of thing, but the benefit to Care Camps is our guests who come for the weekend, if they stay Friday night, Saturday night, we only charge them half price. So it’s 50% off Saturday night, and then half of those proceeds, we donate to Care Camps Foundation. So it’s our biggest fundraiser of the year.”
Lemoine says the KOA camp is also a popular place to stay among locals because it offers a memorable camping experience close to home.
“One of my favorite stories is we have a guest who lives probably three miles from the campground and they often stay with us multiple times a summer, and we asked them one time, ‘Why do you camp so close to home?’ And they said they just like supporting local. And they gave the example of going out to eat. You know, you’ll go out to eat at your favorite local restaurant, even though you have food in the fridge.”
For more information about the Care Camps Foundation, visit CareCamps.org. You can learn more about the St. Joseph Coloma KOA right here.
