Outdoor-equipped wheelchairs will be wheeled around Kampgrounds of America (KOA) locations. The organization is partnering with Grit to pursue outdoor adventure for everyone. Grit’s all-terrain wheelchairs will be at select properties.
KOA’s Outdoor Accessibility Report revealed 38% of consumers who camp report having a physical disability, elevating the need for enhanced accessibility in outdoor environments. Grit’s primary product, the Grit Freedom Chair, is an all-terrain wheelchair combining a traditional wheelchair with a mountain bike.
KOA President and CEO Toby O’Rourke said, “Our partnership with Grit Freedom Chair is a crucial step forward in our mission to ensure the outdoors is accessible to all.”
Massachusetts Institute of Technology engineers created the Grit Freedom Chair. Consumers using the chair have unpaved access to the outdoors, whether on trails, boardwalks or sandy beaches.
Randy Howell, KOA assistant vice president of risk management, used the Grit Freedom Chair on paved, gravel and dirt trails.
“The Grit Freedom Chair surpassed my expectations in durability and versatility,” Howell said. “I was able to effortlessly navigate terrains that often challenge conventional, light-duty motorized wheelchairs. The chair enhanced my outdoor experience while allowing me to maintain an active lifestyle despite my mobility challenges.”
KOA and Grit originally united last summer to analyze the Freedom Chair at the Terramor Outdoor Resort in Bar Habor, Maine.
This season, KOA is launching a beta test of the Freedom Chair at the Terramor property. The chair will be a part of the resort’s complimentary gear lending program, providing guests with mobility restraints with free use.
The chair will be at KOA’s headquarters in Billings, Montana, to boost accessibility access to the KOA team.
