Camping with a view: Kona Hills Campground opens in Marquette

Michigan boasts many campgrounds, but few can boast views of Lake Superior, the southern Huron Mountain range, Presque Isle and Marquette.

Kona Hills Campground, perched 200 feet above Lake Superior, opened this spring and offers 40 rustic campsites on 80 acres. The campground is the creation of Marquette friends Jeremy Johnson, Devin Mahoney and Tim Piirala. The trio are lifelong friends who grew up in Marquette and have spent their lives enjoying outdoor recreation and share a deep love for rustic camping.

Kona Hills CampgroundLake Superior overlook.“As someone who grew up in Marquette, I’ve always looked at this location with a mix of intrigue and reverence for its beauty and spectacular landscape,” says Johnson, co-owner and co-founder of the campgrounds. “Developing Kona Hills Campground with conservation and preservation in mind, and now sharing it with the world, is a dream come true.”

What's happening: Kona Hills Campground, an 80-acre, 40-site campground, opened this spring in Marquette and began taking reservations May 30.  The campground’s design and layout were completed by Shubbe Consulting and Copper Harbor-based Rock Solid Trail Contracting, known internationally for mountain bike trail design and development. The property was purchased in 2020 when Johnson and Mahoney saw a “for sale” sign on the side of the highway. 

Kona Hills CampgroundThe co-founders of Kona Hills Campground: (from left) Jeremy Johnson, Devin Mahoney, and Tim Piirala.

Funding: An investment of $1.5 million came from the founders and Peoples State Bank of Munising. The development also received a $100,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. 

Sen. Ed McBroom was instrumental in helping the owners navigate the complex state regulatory landscape, which culminated in receiving a campground permit from the Michigan Department of Energy, Great Lakes and Energy.

“Kona Hills Campground is a perfect example of innovation, conservation and providing a resource that addresses unmet needs in the Marquette area,” the senator said. “Konda Hills Campground is a wonderful addition to the Marquette landscape.”

Kona Hills Campground helps bridge the gap in short-term accommodations in the Marquette area, where visitor housing demand has exceeded the local supply for years.

About the campground: The campground offers a mix of walk-in and drive-in locations, hand-pump potable water from a deep artesian well and portable toilets. Each campsite comes equipped with walled fire rings and picnic tables. Eight drive-in sites can support recreational vehicles up to 24 feet long. Not offered, however, are electric or water hookups. Gas generators are prohibited. The campground will be open through October.

The campground’s name derives from the Kona Dolomite found throughout the property and which exists nowhere else in the world, according to the owners. Dating back 2.1 billion years, the dolomite is known for its light pink, orange and yellow hues, along with banded patterns due to iron. 

Industry background: Kona Hills Campground opens amid the full or partial closing of more than 20 state campgrounds this season. Michigan offers more than 1,000 campgrounds, including state parks, RV parks and backcountry camping areas, representing a $417 million slice of the outdoor industry’s economic pie. More than 2 million camping nights are recorded in Michigan each year.  Michigan’s Outdoor Recreation economy contributed $13.9 Billion in value-add in 2023, supporting 118,000 jobs and $6.4 billion in compensation to employee households.

What's next:  After the 2025 season, Kona Hills Campground plans on erecting permanent bathhouses, adding a fully graveled road loop and improved site access and offering glamping for those looking for a more curated and luxurious escape. The owners also are looking to provide unique outdoor recreation activities, including rock and ice climbing as well as the creation of private trails to connect to the regional trail network.