Thousand Trails
Thousand Trails is a membership-based network of private campgrounds and RV resorts in the United States and Canada.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Thousand Trails is a membership campground and recreational-vehicle resort brand serving campers and RV owners in the United States and Canada. Its business is built around private campgrounds, which the company commonly describes as preserves or resort parks, rather than conventional public campgrounds. Members generally pay an initial membership fee and recurring annual dues in exchange for access to participating locations under the rules of their membership plan. Depending on the plan, members may receive access to a wider network, longer permitted stays, or other usage privileges. The company was founded by Milt Kuolt in 1969, beginning with a campground in Chehalis, Washington. That property officially opened in 1972 and became the brand's foundational location. By the late 1970s, the Chehalis site had expanded across a large tract of land and included recreational facilities such as a swimming pool and lodge. In 1979, Kuolt made Thousand Trails a publicly traded corporation. He later founded Horizon Air, which was sold to Alaska Airlines in 1986. Thousand Trails subsequently passed through several ownership and corporate-structure changes. In 1991, it and National American Corporation, commonly known as NACO, were brought under the newly formed USTrails, Inc. USTrails entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in May 1991, and the organization adopted the Thousand Trails, Inc. name in 1996. In 1999, Thousand Trails acquired the holding company behind Leisure Time Resorts of America, adding a network of ten membership campgrounds in Washington and Oregon. The brand was acquired by Kohlberg & Co. in 2003, by Privileged Access Group Corp. in 2006, and by Equity LifeStyle Properties in 2008. The brand's principal offering is access to a geographically distributed portfolio of campgrounds and RV-oriented resorts. The network has included locations in many U.S. states and in British Columbia. A 2014 company claim described more than 100,000 member families and guests and more than 80 locations in 22 states and British Columbia; these figures are historical and should not be treated as a current count without updated company reporting. Thousand Trails has also positioned itself as a family-oriented outdoor recreation community. In the mid-2000s it introduced Club Blazer, an environmental education initiative intended to teach children about conservation and stewardship. The company has published the TrailBlazer magazine for members and customers. Its Chehalis resort includes a nature-reserve setting, thousands of campsites, recreational amenities, and an open space known as Roy Rogers' Field, named in connection with the company's early spokesperson. The membership-campground model has historically attracted both strong consumer interest and criticism. Unlike a property purchase or timeshare ownership, a campground membership generally provides contractual use rights rather than ownership of a campsite. Contemporary press coverage also questioned the industry's sales practices, including high-pressure presentations and promotional tactics. These issues form part of the broader history of the membership-resort sector, but the available reference material does not establish a specific regulatory finding or court judgment against Thousand Trails.
History
Thousand Trails began in 1969 when Milt Kuolt established a campground venture in Chehalis, Washington. The property officially opened in 1972 and served as the company's first major site. It was developed on approximately 640 acres and expanded during the 1970s with facilities including a pool and lodge. By the late 1970s, the site had become a substantial recreational destination rather than a simple camping ground. In 1979, Kuolt took the company public. He later became associated with Horizon Air, the airline he founded and eventually sold to Alaska Airlines in 1986. The company operated within the growing membership-campground sector, which offered RV owners and other campers recurring access to private campgrounds in return for an upfront membership payment and annual dues. Membership terms varied. Some plans offered access to more preserves, while others permitted longer continuous stays. The model resembled a club or resort-access arrangement, but it did not ordinarily give the member ownership of a campsite. This distinction became an important point in public discussions of the industry, particularly as membership prices and sales presentations attracted scrutiny in the late twentieth century. In 1991, Thousand Trails and NACO, or National American Corporation, were consolidated under USTrails, Inc. The new structure soon encountered financial difficulties, and USTrails filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May of that year. The organization later adopted the Thousand Trails, Inc. name in 1996. In 1999, the company expanded through the purchase of the holding company associated with Leisure Time Resorts of America. That transaction added ten membership campgrounds in Washington and Oregon and strengthened Thousand Trails' presence in the Pacific Northwest. Ownership changed repeatedly during the following decade. Kohlberg & Co. bought Thousand Trails in 2003 for a reported $113 million. In the mid-2000s, the company introduced Club Blazer, an environmental education program designed to teach children about conservation and responsible stewardship. The brand also published TrailBlazer magazine, helping connect the campground network with its membership community. In 2006, Privileged Access Group Corp. acquired the company. Equity LifeStyle Properties purchased Thousand Trails in 2008, and the brand has since operated within that company's broader portfolio. Thousand Trails' network has included private campgrounds and RV resorts across the United States and in British Columbia, Canada. A 2014 company statement cited more than 100,000 member families and guests and over 80 locations spread across 22 states and British Columbia. Because those figures are historical, they describe the scale claimed at that time rather than a verified current network total. The Chehalis property remains central to the brand's identity in historical accounts. By 2007 it was described as part of a nature reserve and included approximately 3,000 campsites, a large Slip 'N Slide, and an open recreational area called Roy Rogers' Field. The name commemorated Roy Rogers' association with the company as an early spokesperson. Press coverage in 1980 and 1986 placed Thousand Trails within a wider debate over membership-only resort parks. Supporters viewed such parks as private, destination-oriented alternatives to ordinary campgrounds. Critics questioned whether purchasing access without acquiring real property represented a sound value and raised concerns about aggressive sales methods used by parts of the membership-campground industry. The available sources report these industry-wide characterizations and criticisms but do not provide enough evidence to attribute a specific unlawful practice or adjudicated scandal directly to Thousand Trails.
- 2008
Equity LifeStyle Properties acquisition
[1]Equity LifeStyle Properties acquired Thousand Trails.
- 2006
Privileged Access acquisition
[1]Privileged Access Group Corp. purchased the company.
- 2003
Kohlberg & Co. acquisition
[1]Kohlberg & Co. acquired Thousand Trails in a transaction reported at $113 million.
- 1999
Leisure Time Resorts acquisition
[1]Thousand Trails purchased the holding company behind Leisure Time Resorts of America, adding ten campgrounds in Washington and Oregon.
- 1996
USTrails adopts Thousand Trails name
[1]The consolidated organization took the Thousand Trails, Inc. name.
- 1991
USTrails consolidation and bankruptcy filing
[1]Thousand Trails and NACO were brought under USTrails, which filed for Chapter 11 protection in May.
- 1979
Public listing
[1]Thousand Trails became a publicly traded corporation under Milt Kuolt.
- 1972
Chehalis campground opens
[1]The original Thousand Trails campground officially opened in Chehalis, Washington.
- 1969
Company founded
[1]Milt Kuolt founded the campground company that became Thousand Trails, beginning with a property in Chehalis, Washington.
Products and positioning
A membership-based alternative to conventional public campgrounds, focused on RV travel, recurring access to private resort-style campgrounds, family recreation, and a broad network of outdoor destinations.
Membership access
Thousand Trails membership plans
Membership contracts provide access to participating Thousand Trails campgrounds and RV resorts in return for an initial fee and recurring annual dues. Plan terms have varied over time, with differences in the number of available preserves, permitted stay length, and other usage conditions.
Outdoor accommodation · 1969
Private campground and RV resort network
The brand operates or has operated a network of private campgrounds, sometimes called preserves, designed especially for recreational-vehicle owners and family camping. Locations combine campsites with resort-style amenities and access rules tied to membership status.
Campground resort · 1972
Chehalis campground
The original Chehalis, Washington, property is the company's historic founding location. Historical descriptions identify a nature-reserve setting, approximately 3,000 campsites, a lodge, a pool, a large Slip 'N Slide, and Roy Rogers' Field.
Marketing campaigns
- 2000Club Blazer
United States · Canada
Thousand Trails introduced Club Blazer as an environmental education and stewardship initiative for children participating in the campground community.
Outcome. The available reference material confirms the program's educational purpose but does not provide measured participation or outcome data.
Brand decisions
2008
Equity LifeStyle Properties acquisitionM&ABackground
Thousand Trails had experienced multiple changes in ownership and operated a network of membership campgrounds and RV resorts.
Action taken
Equity LifeStyle Properties purchased the brand.
Aftermath
Thousand Trails became part of Equity LifeStyle Properties' broader portfolio of recreational-vehicle and resort communities.
2006
Privileged Access Group acquisitionM&ABackground
Thousand Trails changed ownership after its period under Kohlberg & Co.
Action taken
Privileged Access Group Corp. acquired Thousand Trails.
Aftermath
The company was sold again to Equity LifeStyle Properties two years later.
2003
Kohlberg & Co. acquisitionM&ABackground
Thousand Trails had undergone earlier consolidation and ownership changes in the membership-campground sector.
Action taken
Kohlberg & Co. acquired the company.
Aftermath
Thousand Trails remained under private-equity ownership until its acquisition by Privileged Access Group in 2006.
Reported acquisition price. 113000000 (2003 transaction)
1999
Leisure Time Resorts acquisitionM&ABackground
Thousand Trails sought to expand its membership-campground network, particularly in the Pacific Northwest.
Action taken
The company purchased the holding company for Leisure Time Resorts of America, adding ten campgrounds in Washington and Oregon.
Aftermath
The transaction broadened the brand's regional campground portfolio.
1991
Chapter 11 filing under USTrailsOtherBackground
Thousand Trails and NACO had been placed under the newly formed USTrails structure.
Action taken
USTrails filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May 1991.
Aftermath
The organization continued through subsequent restructuring and adopted the Thousand Trails, Inc. name in 1996.
Recent events
- 2008
Equity LifeStyle Properties acquires Thousand Trails[1]
M&A
Equity LifeStyle Properties purchased Thousand Trails, bringing the brand into its portfolio of manufactured-housing and recreational-vehicle communities.
- 2006
Privileged Access Group acquires Thousand Trails[1]
M&A
Privileged Access Group Corp. of Frisco, Texas, acquired the campground membership company.
- 2003
Kohlberg & Co. purchases Thousand Trails[1]
M&A
Private-equity firm Kohlberg & Co. acquired Thousand Trails in a transaction reported at $113 million.
- 2000
Club Blazer environmental education program is introduced[1]
Campaign
Thousand Trails developed Club Blazer as an educational initiative focused on children's environmental protection and stewardship.
- 1999
Thousand Trails acquires Leisure Time Resorts holding company[1]
M&A
The company acquired the holding company for Leisure Time Resorts of America, adding ten membership campgrounds in Washington and Oregon.
- 1991
USTrails enters Chapter 11 proceedings[1]
Bankruptcy
After Thousand Trails and NACO were placed under the USTrails umbrella, USTrails filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
- 1979
Thousand Trails becomes publicly traded[1]
Other
Milt Kuolt converted Thousand Trails into a publicly traded corporation.
- 1972
Chehalis campground officially opens[1]
Other
The company's original Chehalis campground began formal operations and later became its foundational resort property.
- 1969
Thousand Trails is founded in Washington[1]
Other
Milt Kuolt established the company that would become Thousand Trails, initially developing a campground in Chehalis, Washington.
Sources2 sources
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