PRVCA Staff Visit Members to Learn More About Their Operations

In an effort to learn more about its members’ businesses, Pennsylvania Recreation Vehicle and Camping Association staff visited Buttonwood Campground, Harrisburg East Campground and Keller Marine and RV last month.

Keller Marine & RV

Keller Marine & RV, Port Trevorton, Pennsylvania, is celebrating nearly 70 years in business. Founders George and Margaret Keller opened in 1958 as a boat manufacturer and eventually moved into selling boat and RV parts. They have overcome many challenges through the years, including a fire in 2013 that destroyed their main parts building. Today, their son Mike Keller and daughter Lori Morrow operate the business along with Mike’s son Michael T. Keller and a dedicated team of associates. They have grown the Pennsylvania-based operation to include additional warehouses in Florida and Louisiana.

Mike Keller has  made technology integration a priority. The company offers an online ordering system with real-time information on parts availability. The company’s online store front provides dealers with a massive parts inventory available for customers to order through the dealer’s website.

Buttonwood Campground

Family-owned Buttonwood Campground is located along the Juniata River in Mifflintown, Pa. Owners Ryan and Mike McFarland offer 245 RV sites and 15 cabins.  They are in the middle of a huge renovation, which includes an additional 130 campsites, an indoor pool, an outdoor pool and a splash pad. Ryan McFarland says it will be completed in the 2027 season. 

“The things that make us special are the winery, the fact that we’re on the river and the fun that we provide,” he says. “Other campgrounds have similar amenities, but not all three at one location.”

Harrisburg East Campground

Harrisburg East Campground, located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, is owned by the Laird family – father Ken and his daughter Sherri and son Bill. They offer 65 full-service sites, most pull-thru; 50- and 30-amp electric, sewer, cable and Wi-fi. In addition, they have RV storage on the property.

It’s one of the few campgrounds open all year. Sherri Laird suggests calling ahead for reservations in the summer. In the winter they are open to host people traveling north and south and for the many contract workers who need a place to stay while working in the area.

“We are an urban campground,” Laird says. “Most people use us as a base camp and plan their weekends around the activities that they want to do in the area. They come and relax in the evening, set up their campsite, have dinner, use the pool and just relax.”

PRVCA thanks Mike Keller, Lori Morrow, Michael T. Keller and Nick Aucker, Keller Marine and RV; Ryan McFarland, Buttonwood Campground, and Sherri Laird, Harrisburg East Campground, for their hospitality.