YOGI BEAR'S
JELLYSTONE PARK FRANKENMUTH, MICHIGAN
By Harold Merton
Photos by Harold Merton
Yogi Bear himself has long been an attraction for kids, and the TV show
was always one of the most popular with the youngsters in my family. It
made sense then that when Leisure Systems Inc. began their system of franchised
campgrounds they would license Yogi and his cartoon character friends
from the company that created them.
Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts caters to kids! If you want your
kids to have fun at the campground then I have not found a better place
than a Yogi Bear Jellystone Park. There is a special emphasis on entertainment
for the kids and you can see that when you visit any of their parks. The
first park we visited was many years ago in Frankenmuth, Michigan. Erv
Banes and his family purchased the former Frankenmuth RV Park in 1980
and in1981 they were occupying the park and began transforming it into
the deluxe resort it is today.
In 1994 they converted to a Yogi Bear park and the popularity grew even more. Now 25 years later this park is one of the finest in the entire Jellystone Park system. We visited the Frankenmuth park again this past year and are pleased to report that they are still making the resort even better.
In past years they have added a huge pool wing that houses one of the finest indoor pools we have seen at any campground, as well as a hot tub. You'll find a picture with this feature that shows you what I mean.
After you clear through the controlled entry gate you will find that they have 250 licensed campsites of which 150 have water, electric and sewer (30 and 50 amp service). An additional 100 sites have water and electric and nearly 50 are pull-throughs. When we were there they were busy constructing another 25 plus sites to handle big rigs. A standard site is about 25 by 55 feet and premium sites can be up to 30 feet wide. The new sites will be 40 by 75 feet - large enough for the huge rigs that quite often visit the park. Facilities are second to none here! You'll find a great mini-golf, a game room, a rec hall, planned activities (they had a great pancake breakfast when we were there), and of course that fabulous swimming pool and rec hall. There is also a laundry and a very well stocked camp store that has some RV items you won't find very many places. Their office is bright and efficient and the wall is covered with plaques and awards they have won over the years. The owners daughter Cindy Keinath is campground manager and won the Yogi system's Operator of The Year award in 2004. That same year the campground also won The Carroll Award for a superior inspection, a Comfort Station Special recognition Award and the Recreational Programming Special Recognition Award. The have also won the Pinacle Award for high inspection marks.
There are two major washroom areas at the park. One is in the main building but there is also a relatively new fabulous satellite washroom building that offers beautifully tiled showers along with sinks and toilet areas sufficient to handle the number of people they have at a busy time. Ladies have one side and the gentlemen have the other. I think you would agree it deserved that superior washroom award they won. You can have campfires in special fire rings set up to make this activity not only fun but safe.
There are special activities weekends from February to October so be sure to write or visit their website to find out what they have planned. The campground is open all year and this makes it a popular spot for RVers who are visiting Frankenmuth, Michigan's most popular tourist attraction.
The bavarian town is famous for its chicken dinners that are served in a number of eating establishments. The main street is a delightful collection of shops and attractions and there is a major factory outlet mall just a few miles out of town on I-75. Bronner's Christmas Wonderland, (the size of over 5 football fields) famous for its exterior Christmas lights is right across the road from the campground. In town you can watch the glockenspiel, or stroll across the largest covered wooden bridge built in the 20th century or visit music, art and folk festivals. There's plenty to do in the rankenmuth area and a few days stay is the norm here. Standard rates in 2005 were $48 for W/E/S and $46 for W/E. This covers 2 adults and 2 children 5 through 18 years. Additional children are $3 and adults $4. They offer special spring, fall and winter rates. Directions: Located 7 miles off I-75 in the City of Frankenmuth. From northbound I-75 take Birch Run Exit 136 turn right. Go 2 miles turn left on M83. Go 5 miles. Turn right onto Weiss Street. From southbound take Exit 144. Turn left onto Dixie Hwy. Go 2 miles turn left onto Junction Road. Continue 4 miles to Main Street. Turn right onto
Main Street. Go 2 miles to Jefferson. Turn left onto Jefferson. Go 2 blocks turn right onto Weiss Street.
Frankenmuth Jellystone Park
339 Weiss Street
Frankenmuth MI 48734
989.652.6668
www.frankenmuthjellystone.com
email: reservations @frankenmuthjellystone.com
Frankenmuth information
1.800.FUN TOWN
www.frankenmuth.org