Bear Paw Was Born
The beginning of Bear Paw Adventure Park (not pictured: Bear Paw Ropes Course, Randy’s Thrill Hill, Land Amenities)
As far back as 2014, we began exploring ways to enhance the water amenities at Jellystone Park™ while also meeting the growing demand for day-use access. At the same time, we knew our campers valued exclusive access to the park's facilities.
That’s when my dad, Randy Isaacson, took it upon himself to start sketching plans—using a scale to design campsites, cabins, and one of the largest man-made lakes, complete with a Wibit (the brand name for our water obstacle course—one of the largest in the Midwest)—for local visitors to enjoy. He also had plans to expand the pool area for our campers.
As a seasoned campground financier, Dad understood the importance of a spacious beach. His vision called for a five-acre beach, with around three acres dedicated to swimming. Before owning the campground, he had worked as a loan officer and consultant for campgrounds and had recently assisted a customer in Kentucky with a one-acre pond. He could already see that we would outgrow that space in no time. We all chuckled a bit, calling it excessive, but he never did anything halfway.
After a lot of careful planning, Bear Paw Beach was born, now known as Bear Paw Adventure Park. The design was thoughtful and intentional, featuring a separate entrance for day-use guests, allowing them to experience a taste of Jellystone Park™—but in a day-use format. The location was perfectly integrated into Jellystone Park™, offering guests stunning beachfront views and access to additional amenities and activities.
In 2018, we broke ground, and by 2019, we were thrilled to open Bear Paw Beach and Ember Lodge (our wedding and event facility), along with 50 new cabins and 100 new campsites. Constructing such a large-scale project brought its share of challenges but also countless rewards. Watching my dad’s vision come to life—with input and efforts from our entire family, extended family, and team—was truly a special experience.
(Sadly, Randy passed away in February 2024. We’ll be celebrating his legacy of innovation with Wisconsin’s largest-ever drone show during our grand opening weekend on April 26, 2025.)
