In 2005, Scott and Susan Bacher left contracting and real estate careers in upstate New York and headed west to find the perfect campground — and campground business. Their search ended in Carlsbad, New Mexico, where they became the new owners of a 40-acre Kampgrounds of America park. In 2012 their son Brian joined the business. KOA is the world's largest system of privately held family-friendly campgrounds, with almost 500 locations throughout the United States and Canada.
Scott said his family chose KOA because of its great brand name in the business. "Between 2005 and 2006, my wife and I talked to dozens of KOA franchisees and asked them if they had to do it over again, would they pick the same franchise and they all said yes," Scott said. His campground in Carlsbad is open all year and in 2015 had 84,000 guests. The typical guest stays on the campground between two and three nights. During their stay, guests can hike, visit the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park and even spend time at Roswell's International UFO Museum.