KOA was founded in 1962 in Billings, Montana by businessmen Dave Drum, John Wallace and 2 other partners. Drum got the idea to start the campgrounds while walking his property along the Yellowstone River and seeing travelers heading to the Seattle World's Fair.

Is KOA privately owned?

Large Network: KOA is the world's largest network of privately owned campgrounds.

Who owns the KOA franchise?

Since 1992, KOA has expanded aggressively into international markets. The company is owned by the family of Oscar L. Tang. In the early 1960s, Montana businessman Dave Drum took note of the abysmal condition of most American campgrounds.