Leander/NW Austin KOA

"It's brought in more nightly guests. Before, we didn't have the national recognition because we were just a small park and we weren't franchised," she said. "We have a distinct class of visitors who come in, and a lot of families with kids as well."

Many Leander KOA campers are drawn to the nationally recognized KOA name, said Jason Anderson, who helps manage the park with his mother and stepfather, the Motleys. He said campers from across the United States keep KOA Leander at about 70 percent capacity most of the time.

"KOA is known for families and groups. In the winter time, we cater to an older crowd who call themselves Winter Texans. Then we've got spring break crowds and SXSW groups that come in, which is a whole different group," he said. "When it comes September and October, it tends to be more of a crowd of storm chasers: people who fix dents and estimators and insurance adjusters. When the storm is done, there's a whole influx of people who come in after that, who travel the nation in RVs."

KOA Leander charges site fees on a nightly, weekly or monthly basis. Park hosts—extended-stay campers entrusted by the owners—help fulfill regular upkeep duties in exchange for waived site fees.

RV camper George Ohm and his wife sold their Pennsylvania home to live near their daughter, who resides in Cedar Park. He said the people and the park drew them to Leander KOA.

"The people are nice. I can yell at them and carry on with them, and they yell right back at me, but they know if they need me, I'm here," Ohm said. "They treat me good, and they ask if I want to be included in stuff. They enlisted me to lock up at night, so they trust me enough."

Over the next year, Leander KOA has planned upgrades to the park, including the addition of an outdoor shower, an outdoor kitchen and six new cabins.

Leander KOA, 1351 CR 269, Leander, 259-7200, www.nwaustinkoa.com