For years, families thought they had secured a permanent getaway at Roaring Run RV Resort in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands. Many paid $10,000 or more for what they were promised were lifetime RV campground memberships, a one-time fee that would let them park their rigs year after year. But after a recent sale of the property, hundreds of RVers received an email declaring their memberships canceled, leaving them shocked and scrambling for answers.
“I can’t imagine someone would be so disconnected and cold and say your memberships mean nothing,” said Catherine Thompson, a longtime camper, speaking to KDKA.
Lifetime RV campground memberships—not lifetime
The trouble began earlier this year when longtime owner Jay Corl sold Roaring Run to Tannery LLC, a Texas-based company. Corl had assured campers their memberships would transfer. “They’re going to honor the membership agreement as they are written,” he told members during a video-recorded meeting.
But soon after Tannery took over, more than 700 families received a stark email declaring their lifetime RV campground memberships “null and void.” They faced two choices: pay new rates—$60 per day, $250 per week, or $3,000 per season—or vacate immediately.
Mark and Fran Wills, who invested more than $16,000, said the fees are impossible for them. “We spent our life savings to join here,” Mark said. Fran added, “We’ve spent too much time here and getting to know everybody. We’re all friends and it’s family.”
When “lifetime” isn’t forever
Consumer experts warn that “lifetime” doesn’t always mean permanent. Whether the rights were tied to the property or just to the owner matters. If memberships were personal agreements with Corl, they may not automatically carry over to new owners.
Sally Greenberg of the National Consumers League told the Wall Street Journal, “You have to be a very savvy consumer to sign up for something like this, if you’re going to get your money’s worth.”
History offers cautionary tales. American Airlines’ unlimited First Class AAirpass, sold for $250,000 in 1981, eventually collapsed under heavy use. Fitness programs promising “lifetime” access have similarly shifted to subscription models, sparking class-action lawsuits.
Legal battles in the works
Dozens of Roaring Run members now plan to sue Corl, claiming they were misled. “We’re gonna take legal action,” said camper Ron Kepchia. Tannery LLC says it wants to work with members to “clean up this mess.”
For now, campers face a stark choice: pay the new fees or move their RVs from the place they thought was theirs for life.
What RVers should know
Roaring Run’s story is a warning for anyone buying lifetime RV campground memberships:
- Check whether memberships transfer to new owners.
- Confirm agreements are with a company, not just an individual.
- Ask how one-time fees cover long-term costs.
- Keep written proof of promises.
- Know your rights—file complaints with your state or the FTC, if needed.
For Roaring Run families, it’s not just money—it’s community, friendship, and trust. Thompson summed it up: “It is just a different kind of life.”
Source: Moneywise
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RVT1234b
We bought an appliance with a “lifetime” warranty. It failed after a couple years. Seller told me “it’s life is over”.
🫨 Wow! Have a good evening/night, Brad. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Reminds me, I had a similar situation not long ago and was complaining to my good buddy. With a laugh, he said: “Kelly, you just didn’t die soon enough.”
Yep, that would be another excuse/way out for whoever is offering the “lifetime” warranty. Have a good evening/night, Kelly. 😀 –Diane
We had a similar experience with Escapees RV Organization. We had a site under their ERPU special lease program. It was a one time fee up front for a 5 year lease & unlimited 5 year renewals for $1 each 5 years. We planned to spend 6 months a year on our site in Summerdale, AL, for the next 10 years or so. But Escapees sold the park. The new owners are honoring the existing leases, but will not allow any future renewals, so everyone will be out in the next few years. The good thing is we got our up front fee back which was part of the original lease program anyway. So, no one is losing any money, but it is changing a number of peoples’ lives, who had developed community there.
I don’t trust any guarantees/warranties. Nobody is good to their word. It’s always a fight! (Rant over.)
Sadly, Rick, I agree. For anything I’m looking at my purchase or no purchase assumption is that I’m on my own, ESPECIALLY when it comes to the RV industry, which I personally believe to be one of the dirtiest there is when it comes to backing up what they promise.
As a side note, my career was global supply chains and finance. I have directly negotiated and dealt with companies around the world in numerous industries. So I have a lot of personal experience to make my comparison.
I agree, the unbridled GREED in this country is rampant. It is the root cause of all that is making America turn into a third world country.
Don’t forget Trump, he is speeding up the process!
I have been watching several lifetime RV campground deals. A Canadian company is selling lifetime RV camping memberships here in Canada at northernstay.com It looks like a Canadian version of Thousand Trails. I don’t plan to buy as they only have one participating campground within 200 miles of where I live but I am following their progress.
Lifetime membership or lifetime warranty — who’s lifetime?
I wouldn’t buy a “lifetime” anything, especially from Thousand Trails, Escapees, or any other RV”resort”. I don’t even buy extended warranties on big ticket items because most of the companies will find an exception in the warranty to avoid paying a claim. My attitude is “if I can’t afford to repair or replace it, I can’t afford to buy it”.
At 78 years old, a lifetime guarantee doesn’t mean much…..
Their membership lasted the lifetime of the previous owner’s ownership.
Sure wish they would end my “membership” to Advance Resorts of America. Bought when they had 4 parks, now down to one that anyone can use.
Better get a new hobby. Life savings? “””””Mark and Fran Wills, who invested more than $16,000, said the fees are impossible for them. “We spent our life savings to join here,”””””””
This is exactly why we chose carefully and researched diligently before joining Treasure Lake RV Resort in Branson, MO. It’s is “member-owned” and board of directors managed with an actual membership “deed” which can be sold just as individually-owned real estate is. It functions with a paid staff and general manager, gated, 24-hour security personnel, many great amenities. It has a long history of success. It would be very unlikely to experience an event like this “privately-owned” sale was. 5 of our 7 grandchildren live in the area so it’s a great place to have guests and gather family.
We also own a timeshare property called Treasure Lake in western PA- exact same description as you.
The costs of those amenities, management, & upkeep over the years exceeded the revenue – & forced a sale of the condo properties. So, even our deeded property was not a 100% guarantee.
Fortunately, they transferred property ownerships to another townhouse group within the resort to consolidate & reduce costs. It’s got the appearance of a commercial version of flipping houses….
Sadly, the only “winners” in this mess will be the lawyers for both sides, as they will slow-walk this situation out until neither side has any money left.