Hundreds of RV Campers Lose $10,000+ “Lifetime” Memberships at Resort After Ownership Change

For years, hundreds of families believed they had locked in lifetime access at Roaring Run RV Resort in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands. Many paid $10,000 or more for memberships marketed as a one-time purchase. Some, like Mark and Fran Wills, say they invested about $16,000. Then an email said those memberships were “null and void.”

The email that changed everything

After longtime owner Jay Corl sold the 100-acre campground near Pittsburgh to Tannery LLC for about $2.5 million, more than 700 members received a notice: the old contracts would not be honored. They were given two choices. Pay new usage fees of $60 per day, $250 per week, or $3,000 per season, or leave immediately. The email stated that if members did not pick an option, the message served as a formal notice to vacate.

What members say they were told before the sale

Before closing, Corl told members at a recorded meeting that the agreements would transfer to the buyer and be honored as written. After the sale, the new owner said the memberships were not part of the deal. Some members now blame Corl for how the contracts were handled. Corl told reporters the memberships were included, but did not provide documentation. He later declined further comment. Tannery’s attorney has said the company wants to talk with members to “clean up this mess,” with no final resolution announced.

Why “lifetime” can fall apart under new ownership

So what does that mean for campers who paid $10,000 to $16,000 upfront? Consumer law experts point to how these contracts are structured. If the rights run with a specific company or individual, and not the property, a new owner may have no obligation to honor them. The Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection has cautioned that one-time lifetime offers can be difficult to sustain economically once ongoing maintenance and operating costs come due.

Similar situations have surfaced elsewhere. American Airlines’ AAirpass offered unlimited first-class travel for life in the 1980s; the airline later ended the program after heavy use by some customers. In 2024, E2M Fitness shifted from a one-time lifetime plan to monthly fees, prompting a class-action lawsuit.

Practical takeaways for RVers

• Read the transfer language carefully. Contracts should state what happens if the property is sold.
• Confirm the legal entity. Agreements tied to an owner or dissolved business may not survive a sale.
• Question one-time, lifetime pricing. Ask how long-term costs will be covered.
• Get representations in writing. Verbal assurances are hard to enforce.
• Know your recourse. You can file complaints with your state attorney general, a consumer protection office, or the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Community loss

Beyond the money, many members describe Roaring Run as a place where friendships formed over years. As camper Catherine Thompson put it, “It is just a different kind of life.” Now, families must decide to pay the new fees or move their RVs off a place they thought was theirs for life.