DiscoverWomen Making Money on the Road | RV Travel, Business Ownership, BrandingπŸ•οΈ What It Really Takes to Start a Campground (Finances, Land, and Lessons Learned) with Tonja Lesmeister @fireflyhills - Part 1
πŸ•οΈ What It Really Takes to Start a Campground (Finances, Land, and Lessons Learned) with Tonja Lesmeister @fireflyhills - Part 1

πŸ•οΈ What It Really Takes to Start a Campground (Finances, Land, and Lessons Learned) with Tonja Lesmeister @fireflyhills - Part 1

Update: 2025-09-01
Share

Description

What happens when a full-time RVing family buys 38 acres to create the kind of campground they always wished existed?


In this episode, Kate sits down with Tonja Lesmeister β€” full-time RVer, campground owner, and founder of Firefly Hills β€” for a wildly inspiring conversation about RV life, land ownership, and designing spaces that actually work for full-time families.


Tonja shares her journey from hitting the road to homesteading in the Kentucky hills, how she built Firefly Hills to be intentionally inclusive and community-centered, and what the real process of buying and building out a campground looks like (spoiler: it’s not all sunshine and s’mores).


If you've ever dreamed of owning land, building something of your own, or just finding a better way to full-time RV, this is your sign.



πŸ”‘ Key takeaways:

  • What it really takes (emotionally & financially) to buy land and build something meaningful
  • Why most campgrounds aren’t designed for full-time RVers β€” and how Firefly Hills breaks the mold
  • Tonja’s approach to building a β€œkids-first” campground community
  • Her advice for other women who want to create something different
  • Plus... a totally unexpected twist near the end involving πŸ‘» the other residents of Firefly Hills



πŸ”— Connect with Tonja:



β€”



πŸ‘‘ Join the RV Queens Community – Get 20% off your membership for life with code PODCAST at rvqueenspodcast.com/community



β€”



Support our Partners


Planning your kids’ fall curriculum? Hoffman Academy is the leading online platform for kids to learn piano. It’s a complete music education that’s affordable and packed with fun for kids aged 5+!

Use code RVQUEENS for 15% off your Premium Membership today 🎹🎢

πŸ‘‰ Learn Piano Today



Cortez RV Resort by Rjourney is the best place to camp in southwest Colorado near 4 Corners and Mesa Verde. You’ll LOVE the mountain views, heated pool and 3 acre (!!!) dog park during your stay! 🐢

πŸ‘‰ Book Now

CommentsΒ 
In Channel
loading
00:00
00:00
x

0.5x

0.8x

1.0x

1.25x

1.5x

2.0x

3.0x

Sleep Timer

Off

End of Episode

5 Minutes

10 Minutes

15 Minutes

30 Minutes

45 Minutes

60 Minutes

120 Minutes

πŸ•οΈ What It Really Takes to Start a Campground (Finances, Land, and Lessons Learned) with Tonja Lesmeister @fireflyhills - Part 1

πŸ•οΈ What It Really Takes to Start a Campground (Finances, Land, and Lessons Learned) with Tonja Lesmeister @fireflyhills - Part 1

RV Queens Podcast