The Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Mexico, NY, has brand-new owners this season! Bob and Marion Palmer, formerly of Charlotte, NC, joined the Jellystone Park family in March, purchasing the Camp-Resort from longtime owners Ed and Barb Lighthall, who have retired after 45 years.
The Palmers are outdoor enthusiasts and have long enjoyed camping, hiking and backpacking. In fact, Bob and his son hiked the entire Appalachian Trail – a journey that took over 18 years and was detailed in a 2010 article that appeared in Appalachian Trail Conservancy magazine.
Since leaving the corporate world in 2012, they have been on a journey to change their lifestyle. Bob has a degree in personnel management and has worked in HR since 1980, most recently as an HR manager and training and development specialist. Marion has an accounting degree and after being a stay-at-home mom when their children were young, she worked as a controller for 18 years at a software development company.
After a three-year search, they chose the Mexico location for several reasons. “After living in Charlotte for the last 30 years, we desired a move to rural America,” Marion said. The Palmers are originally from Port Jervis, NY and have family in nearby Ohio. In addition, they liked the park’s amenities and its proximity to Lake Ontario.
The Palmers look forward to helping families “unplug and enjoy one another” at their campground. “All kids are born with a sense of adventure,” Bob said, “and you have a few years when they are young to tap into that.”
The Palmers hope to provide an environment for their guests where a love of the outdoors and adventure can be cultivated.
Bob and Marion, who have been married 36 years, also enjoy antiquing. They have three adult children who live in Ohio, California and Kentucky – and five grandchildren.
Be sure to stop in and say hi to Bob and Marion when you visit the Mexico park!
