MARION TWP — One family's hard work to build a small, tumble-down campground into a vacation destination for camping families has been awarded for the fourth time.

Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Kozy Rest on Campground Road outside of Harrisville was named Park of the Year last month by the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds.

They also received the honor in 2011, 2014 and 2015.

Gary Quigley, park co-owner, said his father quit his job in 2000 and sunk every dime he had into the rundown campground that had very little business.

“If it didn't work out, we had nothing left,” Quigley said.

Quigley said he, his mother, father, and sister used every little bit of profit earned from the few campers who used the park to upgrade the campground and add new features each year.

Today, in addition to 170 camping sites, the park boasts a pool, two jumping pads, playgrounds, pedal cars, a miner's sluice, miniature golf course, ice cream parlor, store, dog park, themed weekends, 14 rental cabins and two yurts.

“It's been kind of a true American success story,” Quigley said.

He plans to add a fishing pond, a “gaga ball pit” that is a sort of family friendly dodgeball game, remote control vehicle tracks and a laser-tag battlefield for the 2018 season.

Quigley also has traveled all over the U.S. since 2009 to give presentations to camping organizations.

His topics have included the transformation of his own campground, the importance of adding new features and what campground owners can do during the offseason to improve their parks.

Quigley said he often thinks back to the condition of the park and the inexperience of his family when they bought the park, especially when he receives an award.

“It's an incredible honor,” he said. “I never dreamed we could accomplish something like this.”