Membership program Harvest Hosts acquired Boondockers Welcome, an RVer community where hosts allow guests to stay overnight on their property for free.
Both companies share a stated mission of giving travelers opportunities to camp in “unforgettable” areas. There are 2,900 hosts in the Boondockers network that will add to Harvest Hosts’ 2,420 locations. Hundreds more sites are being added each month.
The acquisition follows a 200% Harvest Hosts membership spike last year.
“Road travel exploded in 2020, and our goal at Harvest Hosts is to be the go-to source for amazing RV camping experiences,” company CEO Joel Holland said. “We have always been huge fans of what Marianne Edwards and Anna Maste have built with Boondockers Welcome, and we are excited to bring Boondockers Welcome into the Harvest Hosts family.”
Both companies will continue to operate independently with separate membership plans. Travelers can choose to be a member of one or both. Harvest Hosts stated the businesses plan to merge in the coming months, allowing the company to invest in more product features that enhance guest experiences and both programs.
“While Harvest Hosts and Boondockers Welcome members will not see or feel immediate changes, our future vision is to create bundled options that give members access to more than 5,000 locations through one simple platform,” Holland said. “As a natural pairing, these two programs will create an even stronger network to help RVers enjoy road travel no matter where it takes them.”
While the majority of Harvest Hosts’ locations are family-owned businesses, Boondockers Welcome connects RV community individuals and lists their properties as locations to host fellow travelers.
“Over the last nine years, we have loved building Boondockers Welcome and becoming ingrained in the RV community,” Boondockers co-founder Marianne Edwards said. “We are excited for the next step in our journey, and look forward to seeing Boondockers Welcome become part of the Harvest Hosts family. Joel has grown the Harvest Hosts network by leaps and bounds, and we know that he and his team will grow Boondockers Welcome as well while staying true to its roots.”
