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Kampgrounds of America (KOA) is the world's largest system of privately held campgrounds with almost 500 locations across US and Canada. Known as KOA and featuring a distinctive yellow and red logo, Kampgrounds of America has become part of American popular culture. Founded in 1962 and still based in Billings, Montana, USA, the current CEO of Kampgrounds of America Inc. is James D. Rogers. In an interview with Forbes magazine in 2012, Rogers described the KOA experience as "really all about making outdoor adventure easy. We provide something unique to the campground, we provide service."〔http://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonfogelson/2012/02/17/koa-promotes-comfort-camping//〕 The President of KOA is Pat Hittmeier.〔(KOA Executive Profiles )〕 == History == KOA was founded in 1962. Billings, Montana businessman Dave Drum got the idea to start the campgrounds while walking his property along the Yellowstone River and seeing travellers heading to the Seattle World's Fair. Dave Drum, along with John Wallace and 2 other partners, offered modest campsites on his property north of the Yellowstone River. They called it Billings Campground. For $1.75 per night, campers could pitch their tent on a campsite that included a picnic table and fire ring. This first campground also provided hot showers, restrooms, and a small store. 〔http://billingsgazette.com/business/features/koa-s-history-started-with-a-good-idea-and-a/article_67af2f6a-cece-526d-82dc-d51e34799174.html〕 The campground was quickly successful. Drum visited the campground nearly every night, talking to campers about their desires. From their conversations, Drum got the idea to expand his concept nationwide. By the summer of 1963, Drum had two partners and the goal of creating a system of campgrounds throughout North America. The yellow logo was created, and Drum and his partners started selling franchises. By the end of the 1969 camping season, KOA had 262 campgrounds in operation across the U.S. By 1972, 10 years after KOA's creation, KOA had 600 franchise campgrounds. The Arab oil embargoes of 1973 and 1978 caused the collapse of many travel-oriented businesses. KOA, however, survived the troubles, which they credit to the strength of its system. By 1982, the KOA franchises had increased to nearly 900 campgrounds across North America. Today, KOA annually inspects each campground with a 600-point inspection, which it claims is the most stringent in the business. In 2010 KOA campgrounds number over 470, according to their corporate website, with around 450 in the US. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Kampgrounds of America」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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