Jim and Jackie Blurton
KOA owners since 1993
In 1992 we were living and working in Phoenix, Arizona, when we decided to make a lifestyle change and escape the city. Jim was an aeronautical engineer and engineering manager for a firm in Tempe and Jackie, a graphic artist. On a two-week vacation, we packed our vehicle with camping gear, backpacks, and mountain bikes and headed for northern Arizona, Utah and Colorado. It would be a decision-making trip. As we traveled, we talked about looking for a business of our own in a small town.
Outside a town in southern Utah we saw a KOA in a beautiful setting in the middle of nowhere. When we returned home we investigated KOA as well as other unrelated campgrounds. KOA is highly rated as a franchise. They have great guest services, standards, and support for their franchisees. It was the only organization that gave us the confidence to quit our jobs and risk it all. In January 1993 we purchased the Silver City KOA and moved to Silver City.
Over the years we’ve made many changes to our campground as we’ve strived to improve and renovate our sites and facilities. It’s a never-ending process and we’re dedicated to providing the best service and accommodations that we can for our guests. We’ve met wonderful people through the years and have made friends from all over the country and around the world. Our guests are the greatest and most important part of our business.
The Silver City KOA has provided us with the life style we hoped for in a community and area of New Mexico we love. We are avid hikers, backpackers, bicyclists, and birders, and are fortunate to have the Gila National Forest and Wilderness at our doorstep where we can pursue our recreations. We’ve been backpacking through out Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico since 1978. Some of our favorite backpacking trips include the Grand Canyon, the Continental Divide Trail in south Colorado, and of course, the Gila Wilderness.
We’re active in our community and work on our Chamber Tourism Committee, local water association, and help in organizing local events. We also work with KOA to develop better ways to serve our campers.
We love our business and life style choice and we’ll be here for some time to come welcoming our guests and helping them enjoy this beautiful country of ours.
