Family-owned Maine campground Acres of Wildlife has revealed a major operational uplift since switching to RMS, saving over 32 staff hours each week, increasing upsell revenue and simplifying the way guests book and interact with the park.
For more than 45 years, Acres of Wildlife has offered a uniquely nostalgic escape for families in southern Maine. Home to over 300 wooded sites, a private lake, seasonal events and multi-generational guest loyalty, it’s a park built on tradition. With a 90% return rate and rising expectations, the team knew they needed faster, smarter systems to keep up with demand.
Previously, guests had to call or email to reserve a site. With RMS, Acres introduced a direct Online Booking Engine and interactive map, enabling guests to choose their preferred pitch. Automated emails and SMS now keep them informed with confirmations and reminders, which is especially useful with bookings often made months in advance. The RMS Guest Portal also gives guests easy access to their booking information whenever they need it.
Tyler Davis, park manager at Acres of Wildlife said: “Switching to the online booking engine has saved us over 32 hours a week and online bookings have increased tenfold in less than a year. This switch took a huge load off the team with fewer phone calls, less back-and-forth, and has given them way more time to focus on what’s important — the guests.”
Before RMS, Acres ran flat pricing and struggled to track extras like golf carts, visitor fees and late check-outs. The RMS Rate Manager now automates seasonal and demand-based pricing, while custom reports ensure no charges fall through the cracks.
Since integrating RMS with Inex’s license plate recognition at the gate, unregistered visitors and late departures are flagged automatically, leading to a 15-20% bump in visitor fee revenue. In July 2024, Acres reported a 36.8% increase in ADR compared to 2020.
Managing RV moves used to be a manual juggling act that often caused last-minute disruptions. With RMS, automated requirement reports keep the team ahead of arrivals, and move data is now tied to guest bookings. RV fixes have dropped from as many as three per week to just one per month, freeing staff to focus on guests instead of operational headaches.
Chris Bonds, vice president of sales, North America at RMS said: “Acres of Wildlife is a great example of how a long-standing park can use the right technology to protect its legacy while scaling operations. Their team embraced automation in a way that delivers real value for both staff and returning guests.”
