Today we speak with Andrea and Bongo, who had the courage and vision to restore the former Riverview Cottages into Camp Bongopix near Algonquin Park. They discuss the transformation, and how they have been able to reinvent themselves during COVID-19. Camp Bongopix: A legendary Canadian experience in the making!

Q: Tell us about the history of Camp Bongopix, and when you became owner.

We are Andrea and Bongo, owners of Camp Bongopix. Our origin story is very serendipitous. We were living in Toronto and had very stable jobs and lifestyles, but we were escaping the city almost every weekend to slow down and camp out in Algonquin Park. In 2015, on a whim, Andrea decided to apply for a job in Algonquin Park, and she was offered the position. When we came up to Whitney (the closest town to the Park) to look at some places for sale, there was only one available MLS listing - Riverview Cottages, a forgotten cottage resort that was semi-operational at the time. We saw it as a true diamond in the rough and jumped on the opportunity. We loved the character of the place and how "retro" everything felt. We decided to highlight the retro theme and we spruced up all of the cottages with a vintage vibe. There's no wifi here, and all of the cottages are equipped with old, analog technology: record players, VCR's and VHS tapes, and Super Nintendo systems. Our theme is super popular with millenials and Gen-Z clientele, who are usually looking for a break from the sometimes overwhelming feeling of being online and constantly connected.

Q: It looks like you have some great activities available, share some of the experiences you offer.

We've got lots going on here, that's for sure! In the summer, canoeing, fishing, and kayaking are the most popular activities. You can canoe into Algonquin Park right from our docks, and fish right from shore. In the winter, there are wonderful cross country ski trails accessible right from our cottages, and snowshoeing on a frozen lake under a blanket of stars is a great way to spend an evening!

What we are most known for, though, is our world famous jam nite, which happens at our main lodge every Saturday evening. We host a live music session around the campfire and provide instruments for anyone that would like to join. Andrea plays guitar, drums, and banjo, and Bongo plays fiddle, ukelele, bass, harmonica, and basically every other instrument you can think of! We are very community-oriented people and we love to have our community be part of our evenings. Locals and tourists alike mingle, dance, and play music together in a fun, inclusive setting. We've been jamming since 2016 and jam nite is what keeps bringing people back to us. It's like summer camp for adults!

Q: As an independent property, what are some of the challenges you face?

We are a small operation, so managing our time and prioritizing what needs to be done is huge. As of right now, we run everything ourselves without any staff, so there's a lot of work that goes into each day. We also have learned so much when it comes to the work involved in property maintenance. When we were living in the city, we never so much as picked up a hammer. But living here and being independent owners, we have had to learn how to do all sorts of odd jobs, from plumbing, to installing flooring, to roofing, the list goes on and on!

Q: What advice would you give to those in the hospitality industry, especially during this challenging time?

The one thing that we've especially learned since moving here is that being able to adapt is so important. We have closed down our operation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and at first it was a very intimidating decision. We didn't know how we were going to make ends meet. We decided to shift our focus to highlight what we can still share with our customers, and that turned into our digital jam nite, which is now being livestreamed online every Saturday. This turned out to be a great decision for us, as it's now opened a huge door of opportunity for digital content and business for us.

It's easy to get overwhelmed by the unknown. But if you can focus on one good thing that you do, and find a way to get that out to existing or potential customers, now is the best time to do that. It's a great time to grow.

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