For nine decades, Evanston’s Phillips RV Park has stood as a rare pillar of American small business, maintaining its status as one of the oldest family-owned and operated recreational vehicle parks in the nation. With no outside employees to manage the grounds, the Phillips family has navigated 90 years of changing technology and travel trends while keeping their legacy alive.
A Legacy Built Through Generational Evolution
The park’s story began in 1936 when Bona and Maggie Phillips established “Phillips Camp,” a humble roadside stop along the historic Lincoln Highway. At the time, the site featured a Sinclair service station, a family home, and basic amenities for travelers—a far cry from the modern facilities offered today. Following Bona’s untimely death in 1936, Maggie took the helm, managing the transition from gas station to “Phillips Cabins” in 1945, and eventually expanding into a motel and trailer park by 1947.
Throughout the decades, the family meticulously upgraded the site to match the pace of technological advancement. From the introduction of color televisions in the late 1950s to the transition from manual labor to modern internet connectivity and wireless services in the 2000s, the park has mirrored the modernization of the hospitality industry. Today, the park is managed by third-generation owner Darla Phillips alongside her children, Brian and Courtney, with the family matriarch—92-year-old Joyce Phillips—remaining involved in the business.
Embracing Modern Tools and Customer Engagement
While the park is steeped in history, the family remains forward-thinking in their business operations. The current generation has embraced digital tools to manage the customer experience, with Courtney Phillips leading the charge on website management and technical administration.
To celebrate their 90th anniversary, the family has rolled out a creative, tech-forward engagement strategy. Customers are welcomed with gift bags containing branded bookmarks and pens, along with smart, interactive tokens. These physical tokens can be used upon a guest’s return visit, where they are “flipped” to determine a 5% or 15% discount. Furthermore, the family utilizes data-tracking through a punch-card system to reward their 90th customers of the summer with significant incentives, such as 90% off site fees. This blend of traditional, personal hospitality and modern incentive programs helps the family maintain a competitive edge in the crowded RV park market.
Tech-Driven Maintenance and the Future of Hospitality
Maintaining a 56-space facility requires more than just manual effort; it requires strategic planning and infrastructure investment. The family has recently integrated advanced underground irrigation systems, improved dog-run facilities, and added aesthetic features like custom waterfalls to enhance the guest experience. Looking toward the future, the family is already planning to restore their original 1936-era barn, blending heritage preservation with property improvement.
As the Phillips family looks ahead, they are grappling with the same questions as many modern business owners: how to bridge the gap between their historic roots and the fast-paced, digital future of travel. By maintaining a clean, well-documented, and tech-supported property, they have transformed a 1930s-era gas station into a modern destination. Whether through their refined, web-based booking outreach or their careful landscape management, the Phillips family proves that even the most historic businesses can remain relevant by evolving alongside the modern traveler. As they move toward their centennial, the family continues to ask a vital question: “What will the future hold for this family legacy?” With four generations of commitment and a keen eye for operational efficiency, the answer seems to be that they are just getting started.
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