Ocean Lakes Family Campground in Myrtle Beach, SC received the 2006 Governor's Cup at the awards luncheon of the 41st annual Governor's Conference on Tourism & Travel at Kiawah Island Golf Resort on Tuesday, February 7, 2006. The Governor's Cup is given annually by SCPRT to an organization that has had a significant economic impact on its community and state while also helping to improve the quality of life in South Carolina. “We are extremely excited about this award,” explains Lance Thompson, Vice President/General Manager of Ocean Lakes. “Ocean Lakes has received major recognition in the camping industry, but the Governor's Cup covers many industries. We are honored to be in the company of past recipients such as Broadway at the Beach, Ripley's Aquarium, Parmount's Carowinds, and The Carolina Opry, all outstanding in their industries.”
(Photo above: Lance Thompson, VP/GM of Ocean Lakes, accepts 2006 Governor's Cup from SC Governor Mark Sanford, right, and Director of SCPRT Chad Prosser, left.)
The Campground…
Ocean Lakes Family Campground has been a family vacation destination for 34 years. The largest campground on the East Coast, and one of the largest campgrounds in the United States, Ocean Lakes has 3,435 sites on 310 oceanfront acres. Privately owned and built by Nelson and Mary Emily Jackson and their five daughters in 1970, Ocean Lakes has created the loyalty of thousands of tourists to the Myrtle Beach vacation market, many coming back year after year and bringing new customers with them. Ocean Lakes' goal is to be the best campground in America and “Create Family Memories that Last a Lifetime.” The Jacksons developed their land into a campground because they believed that every family should be able to enjoy an oceanfront vacation, and camping caters to people of all walks of life. Over the years, they also were able to reach out to the non-traditional camper by developing annually leased sites and rental units, these sites range from a trailer with a deck, to a two-story house that sleeps up to 17 people. Ocean Lakes gave the tourism and camping industry of South Carolina a megaphone on a national level when it was the first campground in South Carolina to be named the National “RV Park of the Year” - it has brought that title home to South Carolina three times. “The Governor's Cup is a special honor and tribute to the Jackson family and 400+ teammates that help make Ocean Lakes a special place to visit,” comments Dennis Wade, CEO of The Jackson Companies, the parent company of Ocean Lakes Family Campground.
Economic Impact…
Ocean Lakes has a substantial economic impact to South Carolina and the Myrtle Beach market, both directly and indirectly. There is not another resort on the beach that has more than 3,435 units! There are many sources of revenue at Ocean Lakes including transient campsites, annual lease revenue, real estate sales, rental site revenue, RV sales, golf car rentals and sales, store and food service sales and ticket sales to area attractions. Ocean Lakes continued to break occupancy and revenue records in 2005. On an average seasonal day, Ocean Lakes has more than 23,000 guests in park. Customer service is a main focus in training its employees, referred to as “teammates.” Marketing efforts include a variety of major events throughout the year, including a Bluegrass Weekend that has featured popular bands such as the Lonesome River Band, J.D. Crowe, David Parmley, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Charlie Waller & The Country Gentlemen, BlueRidge, Jimmy Martin [“The King of Bluegrass”] and the Sunny Mountain Boys, IIIrd Tyme Out, Ronnie Reno, U.S. Navy Band "Country Current" and more. The 2006 show features Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys. Ocean Lakes' Beach n' Boogie Weekend has featured the Chairmen of the Board, the Band of Oz, Men of Distinction and Fantastic Shakers - the Embers this month. October's South Carolina Fossil Fair is open to the public and features three Museum Specialists from the Smithsonian Institute's National Museum of Natural History, Department of Paleobiology, for free identification of fossils. December's 7th Annual Polar Bear Plunge had a record number 173 polar bears - nearly double from 2004, with an audience of more than 500. The event began in 1999 with 3 participants. Other events include the “4th Annual Field of Dreams Baseball Camp,” the “2nd Annual All Star Golf Car Show,” the annual “Summer Luau” held weekly, expanded Halloween Weekends and club rally groups all help fill sites during the lower occupancy periods.
Community Support…
Ocean Lakes encourages its staff to be proactive and involved in the community through various organizations, both related to the tourist industry and civic duties. This involvement is encouraged from the executive management team to each teammate. Most of Ocean Lakes' managers are involved in several organizations throughout the community. Ocean Lakes teammates have demonstrated an ongoing commitment through its “High Performance Partnership” with Socastee Elementary School since 2002. Dozens of teammates have volunteered to go to Socastee Elementary weekly to tutor/mentor the students in this business/school partnership organized by the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce. The relationship has produced outstanding academic results. Corporately teammates make a concerted effort to raise fund for the American Heart Association, The United Way, and March of Dimes among dozens of other charities. Ocean Lakes designed a brick fundraiser on the walkway of their new Camptown Center. Guests and teammates have been purchasing personalized engraved bricks for $100 each. Many teammates participate in payroll deductions for The United Way. Ocean Lakes helps many organizations by allowing these organizations to use their facilities for beach outings, gatherings, training, events like the Horry County Museum's Annual Quilt Gala and parties like the Turbeville Free Will Baptist Children's Home's Annual Christmas Party. A civic and community responsibility is emphasized with all teammates and began with the example set by Ocean Lakes' founders Nelson and Mary Emily Jackson. The family continues to lead by example in partnership with the Coastal Carolina Educational Foundation by establishing the “Jackson Family Center for Values & Ethics” at Coastal Carolina University in June, 2004. Ocean Lakes is a “city within a city” - its own community. Caring teammates, longtime guests, and a “home away from home” attitude have helped to make Ocean Lakes successful. Many of its teammates live or have lived inside the park. Their ideas and feedback have helped to improve the park. The family-friendly feel began with its founders, Nelson and Mary Emily Jackson, who are still living at Ocean Lakes today. Now in their 80's, they befriend many teammates, welcoming them to Ocean Lakes. It's their nurturing, caring attitude that is carried through all customer service training, and an attitude that helped them accomplish great things - attracting Governor Sanford's attention, who recognized them with the “Order of the Palmetto” in 2004.
Continued Improvements…
Ocean Lakes continues to make capital improvements. In 2005, Ocean Lakes completed its multimillion dollar renovation of its Camptown Center which includes a new laundry facility “Sandy's Soapy Suds” featuring a drop-off laundry service at “Sandy's Fluff n' Fold”; an expanded store, “Sandy Mart” with 12,600 square feet of shopping; a new food service, “Sandy's Meet n' Eat,” with covered dining for 150 and a large wooden deck with seating for 200 featuring a propane fire pit; and a large gazebo for entertainment events adjacent to the deck called “Sandy's Center Stage.” Keeping technology in mind, the Camptown Center also features free Wi-Fi for up to 250 users at the “Wireless Zone.” A wooden boardwalk was designed to lead guests from the Camptown Center, over a large dune with a canopy of Live Oaks, to Sandy Harbor Family Fun Center. The two-acre recreation complex, Sandy Harbor, is a multimillion dollar renovation that was completed in 2002. It features an 18-hole mini-golf course with a fisherman's wharf theme, two kiddie pools, an Olympic sized pool, an indoor pool, an interactive wading pool for kids and a building with a large game center and café with indoor and outdoor seating.
The Jackson Companies founded by Mary Emily and Nelson Jackson and their five daughters, includes Ocean Lakes Family Campground, Prestwick Golf & Country Club, Ocean Lakes Properties, Crystal Lakes Mobile Home Village, Ocean Lakes RV Center, the Jackson Farm, Sunway Charters and the new master planned mixed use development “SayeBrook.”
