The owner of what was once known as Roaring Run Resort is facing three lawsuits, two filed by former members and a third from the company to which he sold the Donegal Township property in 2025.
The members claimed Jay Corl misrepresented how their memberships would be handled upon sale of the RV park, leaving them out thousands in fees, according to the filings in Westmoreland County court. Some are seeking an injunction to prevent Corl from spending the $2.5 million in proceeds from the sale.
The new owners of what is now known as Pittsburgh Roaring Run RV Resort have also sued Corl, alleging he misrepresented the membership agreements, which they said were not part of the sale, according to the filing. The RV park has since been opened to the public, eliminating the membership model.
“Corl’s misrepresentations and bad faith actions following the closing produced disastrous results for plaintiffs, which have cost them tens of thousands of dollars in unnecessary legal fees and lost revenues, in addition to causing plaintiffs immense reputational damage,” the suit states.
Attorney Cameron Seigfreid, who is representing Corl, said Monday that the membership agreements were terminated by the new owners after the sale.
”Mr. Corl is deeply saddened by the impact these decisions have had on the members, “Seigfreid said. “This resort was his life’s work, and he devoted many years to building a community that meant a great deal to him. He continues to care deeply about the members and is disappointed to see the difficulties they have experienced as a result of the actions taken after his ownership ended.”
That’s not how the new owners see it, according to attorney Paul Toigo. They made it clear to Corl during negotiations that they didn’t intend to purchase the memberships.
“We’re very sympathetic to the members,” Toigo said Monday. “No memberships changed hands.”
Roaring Run Resort was owned by Recreational Financing, under which Corl was listed as president, beginning in 2000, according to business filings and deeds. Recreational Financing, which did business as nonprofit Roaring Run Resort Club, sold the property for $2.5 million in August to 194 Tannery LLC, according to a deed. The Texas-based firm was named after the campground’s address and is connected to Investorade, which specializes in buying RV parks and campgrounds, according to the company’s website.
The sprawling complex was established on the site of a 1920s Boy Scout camp and has recreational amenities including a swimming pool and sports courts. It is in a rural spot near the borders of Westmoreland, Somerset and Fayette counties.
A class action lawsuit was filed May 15 by former members Rhonda Miller, Jerry and Susan Dye and Alexander Dongilli against Corl, Recreational Financing and Roaring Run Resort Club, as well as 194 Tannery and Investorade.
The second matter was filed Thursday by 194 Tannery and Investorade against Corl, Roaring Run Resort Club and Recreational Financing.
A third lawsuit was filed in February by former members Gregory and Mary Jane Clark against Roaring Run Resort Club, Recreational Financing and 194 Tannery.
Members of Roaring Run Resort previously told the Trib that they paid fees up to about $10,000 for lifetime or 20-year memberships, sometimes making a down payment and financing the rest. Some bought land at the campground and invested thousands more in their properties, according to the suit.
During the impending sale of the property, Corl repeatedly told the members the new owners would honor the memberships, according to the suit and a video obtained by the Trib.
That was never the plan, 194 Tannery and Investorade officials have told the Trib. During negotiations, they expressed intent to switch to a public-access model and noted the memberships weren’t part of the sale. As laid out in their suit against Corl, he “advised Investorade that the memberships either had been or would be terminated prior to closing on the asset sale.”
After learning of the change following the sale, some members refused to leave the property, sabotaged facilities and threatened physical violence, according to the suit, and 194 Tannery fielded complaints reported to the state attorney general’s office.
“Simply put, Corl made a series of representations to plaintiffs during negotiations for the asset sale on one hand, and, on the other, made contradictory and misleading statements to former members … ,” the suit stated.