Page 60 - 2018 Camping RV NJ Guide

Joe and Aimee Taylor Clayton and Jean Taylor

father started the business as a swim to help with winter maintenance
club of sorts. He purchased a blueber- or work through the summers as a
ry farm with a stream that ran down kid,” said Randy Pricskett. “I con-
Sam, Justin, Frank, and Tom Crane from Hospitality Creek the center,” said Justin Crane, third tinued working here as I attended a
generation owner. “Someone told him local college and it was during this
to put up tents. He started to enlarge time I became a majority partner
the campground and got out of the along with my mother and brother
Member Spotlight blueberry business.” in 1983. Soon after that my broth-
er decided to pursue another career
Justin’s father Thomas Crane began
working at the campground after his
and left the partnership. I met my
graduation in 1972. His brother Sam wife at the campground while she
Camping through Generations also worked in the family business. was camping here and we married
Tom took the reigns from his father in 1987. Knowing I met my wife at
Frank to grow the campground. Sleepy Hollow has made the camp-
T’S said that one third of management,” said Clayton. Like his father, Justin started work- ground very special to us. She joined
family businesses thrive af- The family also operates a com- ing at the campground as a young the partnership in 1990. Upon the
ter the transition from first mercial maple syrup production. child, learning the ropes, and the dif- passing of my mother in 1993, my
to second generation own- This is a far cry from Camp Taylor’s ferent jobs in the operation. wife Lynn and I have continued op-
I ership. Many New Jersey humble beginnings. “I always enjoyed working when I erating Sleepy Hollow Campground
campgrounds are following this rule. “Camp Taylor started in 1960 as a was a little kid,” said Justin. “I started and have grown it to the great place
Not only have several been passed hunting camp with vacation cottag- out in the store at 11 or 12. As I got it is today.”
from first to second generation, but es. In 1964, we had a family show up older I started messing around with Randy is now grooming his son
many have gone on from second to and ask if they could pitch a tent. So the maintenance end. In 2002, I went Noah to take over the campground.
third. It’s this link to history that gives my two older brothers and I built a full time. I took over in 2008.” “Our plans now are to start turning
generations of guests a sense of fa- campsite and we became Camp Tay- Justin’s wife Danielle and sister Me- the campground into a third-genera-
miliarity, pride, and comfort during lor Campground. That family came lissa also work at the campground. tion business,” said Randy. “Now it's
their campground stay. back for a number of years and their “Melissa is involved with the office, about helping them take our hard
Camp Taylor, in the Skylands Re- kids came back,” said Clayton. “We the front desk, the reservations, hires work and working with them to
gion, was first started in 1953 when basically had our first camper before all the lifeguards and activity directors. make their dreams become their re-
Joe and Aimee Taylor purchased we had a campsite.” Danielle is in charge of the store. She ality. It's a lot like Disney's The Lion
acreage up in the mountains by the And Camp Taylor is keeping it in took over from my mother. My mom King where Mufasa is sitting with
Delaware Water Gap. When Joe the family. Clayton’s wife Jean and Kathy comes in two days a week to Simba as he explains Simba's oppor-
bought those first 127 acres, he not their children Josh and Jessy work at make breakfast from Memorial Day tunities. We have recently purchased
only bought wooded land with big the campground too. Josh works full to Labor Day,” Justin said. additional property adjacent to our
potential, he bought a future for his time in the family business. Working with family is a common campground which will give the next
family. Fast forward 64 years - Camp “Josh is very interested in staying theme in New Jersey Campgrounds, generation growth opportunities.”
Taylor has grown to 400 acres and is with the operation,” said Clayton. especially ones that have passed from This type of forward thought and
owned by Clayton Taylor, Joe and “It’s important to me that my son is generation to generation. At Sleepy commitment to family seems to be
Aimee’s son. Growing up, Clayton involved.” Hollow Campground in the Greater one of the reasons New Jersey camp-
and his brothers James, Joe Jr., and Of the one third of businesses that Atlantic City Region, it’s been all in grounds can overcome and survive
Philip all worked at the campground survive the transition from first gen- the family for the Pricsketts since they the transition from generation to
in one way or another. Now, of the eration to second, only 50% make it purchased the campground in the ear- generation. And this transition plays
four sons, only Philip and Clayton from second to third. Bucking this ly 1970s. out all over the state. Maybe even at
work at Camp Taylor full time. statistic is Hospitality Creek Camp- “I’ve been involved since the age of your favorite campground.
“My younger brother Philip is ground. 12 which was in 1973. I would of- - Stefanie Godfrey
running the firewood and tree farm “In 1961, Frank Crane, my grand- ten have to come home from school

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