Security for RV Women + Latest RV Park News

Copyright Janet Groene 2025.  This site has had more than 241,000 views. To ask about placing your ad on all six Groene sites for one low rate, email janetgroene (at) yahoo.com

When

Bad

Things

Happen...

Will anyone hear your SOS?

The

Ultimate

Security 

Device? 

Every travel needs extra security measures. As a woman RV traveler,  you need the very best search and rescue aids available. Some phone apps can call for help or report your location. Most cell phones broadcast a GPS location. But wait! There’s more.

DOES THE OPEN ROAD CALL YOUR NAME?

 Do you dream of living and traveling in a complete home on wheels? Living Aboard Your RV, 4th Edition by Janet Groene & Gordon Groene is a total guide to the full-time life on wheels. Should you sell the house or rent it out? Downsize possessions or put them in storage? Too young to retire? See the chapter on ways to make a living anywhere. Kids on board? We cover home schooling and also an exit strategy if and when the time comes to settle down. Order at any book store or let Amazon gift wrap and ship it for you.  https://amzn.to/29XFEkq 

Smart phones, cell phones, Wi-Fi and other communications devices are limited by signal coverage, signal strength and battery power.

    A Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), by contrast, does just one thing. It sends a strong, clear message from anywhere on earth to whatever rescue service is available in that area. Best of all, it operates without a monthly subscription. 

Think of the black box device that sends out a ping after an airplane crashes. Once used primarily on ships and planes, these locator beacons are now available in affordable, personal, pocket size devices for skiers, archaeologists, hikers, climbers, parachute jumpers, rafters, paddlers and anyone else who might ever need rescue.

And that could be any of us, anywhere, even as close to home as a roadside ditch or a trail just minutes from your campsite.   

 There is a drawback. A PLB isn’t a two-way communication device. It is activated only when you’re in grave and imminent danger. 

 Which PLB is For You?

First, look at your own basic needs. Size and weight are a consideration for easy carrying at all times. If you want it to work on the water, you need a PLB that is waterproof and buoyant.  (Some activate automatically when they hit water).  Some units have a strobe light. Cost is also a factor. There are basic models and others with fancier features. 

By government standards a PLB operates at 406MHz, a special frequency used only for search and rescue,  and it must undergo rigorous testing.  One manufacturer, ACR, has units that can put out 6.4 watts for more than 30 hours at minus 20 degrees C. You’ll probably pay more than $250 for a PLB but that’s all. There are no more costs until you have to replace the battery, usually about every five years. There is no monthly fee. 

How It Works

When you need rescue, press a button on the PLB, which you might wear on an armband or carry in a pocket.  Your unique signal code is sent to satellites that service your unique signature.  In seconds the  signal is routed to a ground station (Local User Terminal or LUT) and transferred to the Mission Control Center (MCC). A Rescue Coordination Center passes the information to Search and Rescue (SAR) forces in your location. 

To date, more than 30,000 lives have been saved by these beacons. Once you own a PLB, bought new or used, register it with NOAA. As soon as you’re registered, SAR forces worldwide have your back.   

                            PLB'S AND SATELLITE MESSENGERS

                  ARE POCKET SIZE

What's a Satellite Messenger? 

Like a PLB, a Satellite Messenger ($150 to $400 on Amazon) can provide worldwide coverage to send an SOS. Depending on the model it can also  provide two-way texting and nav aids such as maps and GPS. Unlike the PLB it requires a subscription and it requires a clear view of the sky. 

For information on how to choose a PLB see rei.com and westmarine.com

The latest in the Yacht Yenta cozy mystery e-books brings widow Farley Halladay closer to the answer of her husband's death. 

Read the six cozies in any order as Farley copes, cooks and solves crimes with the help of her wacky cast of characters. You'll laugh at her frailties; cry with her as she grieves. Find it on Google Play and other ebook formats and also on  Kindle,   https://amzn.to/3wcf6ao

 

Is a new RV Park or Campground coming next year to your state  or province? 

       CAMPGROUNDS &  RV PARKS, 

             GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS

NEW CAMPGROUNDS & RV PARKS

The former Val Chatel ski resort near Park Rapids, Minnesota is due to become a new county park with a campground. Located at the headwaters of the Mississippi River, it’s the site of Deep Lake, which will give its name to the campground. The alpine setting will become a new county park with trails and a campground. The  12-year plan  calls  for RV and tent campsites and trails. An opening date is not known at this time.

Harris Ranch Resort, Coalinga, California is more than just a pit stop along the I-5. It’s a full destination with fine dining, lodging, special events and a new RV park coming soon Go to harrisranch.com or call (559) 935-0717 to get on the mail list

Coming next year to West Memphis, Arkansas is the Brownstone Water Park & RV Resort. The luxury RV destination adjoins the Brownstone Country Club with its 18-hole golf course. Go to  BrownstoneStayAndPlay.com/ to get on the wait list. 

The story of Talona Ridge RV Resort in East Ellijay, Georgia continues to unfold. A new, ultra-luxury resort in the mountains of North Georgia, the destination has a dog park, dog washing station, pickleball and coaching, fitness center, year-round hot tub,  upscale bar and grille, laundry, propane refill station, golf cart rentals and much more.  Call (706) 636-2267 to see if your RV meets standards for this resort. 

On the drawing board at Bigwind Lake  Provincial Park, east of Bracebridge, Ontario are plans for a large expansion and development that includes a 250-site campground, visitor center, trails and facilities throughout.  Follow the developing story at  https://www.ontario.ca/page/new-operating-provincial-park-bigwind-lake-provincial-park

SCUTTLEBUTT

Chassahowitzka River Campground, Homosassa, Florida won’t be sold after all! Instead, ownership will go from the water district to the county after the district contributes $200.00 for repairs. The popular campground will remain  publicly owned for 40 years.  ThIs  wilderness site on the Chassahowitzka River has RV and tent sites, cabins, a boat launch and rentals, laundry, bath house, pavilion,  a spacious observation deck on the river, a bait shop/ concession and a playground. (352) 382-2200. 

South Beach in the Village of, Kaslo, British Columbia is one step closer to getting an RV park with as many as 90 sites and a boat launch.  Follow this story and grab reservations as soon as they open.

Arizona residents are offered a Buy One, Get One deal for free camping nights at regional parks in Maricopa County. It’s good until October 31. Get details at  (602) 506-2930. .Participating parks include Cave Creek, McDowell Mountain, Usery Mountain and White Tanks.

RV PARK AND CAMPGROUND CHANGES, UPGRADES

Price hikes. According to the RV Miles podcast, Jellystone RV Park in Lodi, California, is raising its monthly rate from $1200 to $1300 in low season and $3250 monthly in summer. In Oregon, some state parks are raising rates for RV sites with full hookups to $52 starting next May. Learn more about these informative podcasts and You Tube features at rvmiles.com 

Jackson Rancherie Casino Resort has expanded its new RV park.in Jackson, California. The 100 RV sites have cement pads and the park offers manicured landscaping, golf and a dog park. Due for completion later this year and early in 2026 are an additional 100 full hookups , a second swimming pool, another spa, a clubhouse, new laundry more trails, a new chlldren’s play area, a barbecue pavilion and a new outdoor recreation area for pickleball and bocce. (800) 822-9466

EVENTS

Learn “All About Astronomy”  at Platte River State Park, Louisville, Nebraska on Fridays in October. For information about the naturalist-led programs call the park at (402) 234-2217. The park has 48 full hookup RV sites. Features of the scenic park include a waterfall, archery range, nature center, lodge, marina and trails for hiking or biking. 

October programs at Eugene R. Mahoney State Park in Ashland,  Nebraska feature f Birds of a Feather mornings.  On select  Tuesdays, meet at the Family Conservatory and Nature Center to learn about migratory birds seen here at this time of year. The park has two campgrounds. Check out reservations and events at https://outdoornebraska.gov/location/eugene-t-mahoney/

    For tips on getting the most nutrition into your RV's emergency food locker, see Survival Food Handbook.  It's a guide to stocking an emergency pantry in a small space such as a camper, RV,  boat or cabin with the most food value per inch, per ounce and per dollar using familiar, affordable supermarket staples. Paperback or ebook.     http://amzn.to/1WdYqbe

 

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RV PET MYTHS + Latest RV Park News Breaks

Copyright Janet Groene 2025, all rights reserved. To ask about placing your ad on all Groene sites for one year, one low rate, email janetgroene (at) yahoo.com

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THIS WEEK'S LATEST NEWS BREAKS ABOUT RV PARKS AND CAMPGROUNDS 

Don’t believe it! 

8 MADDENING MYTHS ABOUT

RV TRAVEL WITH PETS

1. Pets don’t get motion sickness. (Wrong)

 

They do, according to WebMD. As with traveling children, motion sickness is more common in puppies and young dogs. The pet may drool, vomit or lick its jowls or it may show its discomfort by whining, yawning or being extra active or extra lethargic. 

Stress adds to the change that a pet will get sick,  so make the travel experience as comfortable as possible. My dog Gypsy loves being in the camper, so she joins me there when I’m working inside even if we are not going anywhere. This makes her feel more at home when we are underway. 

If possible the pet should see out the front or at least out of side windows. This helps orient its balance system to the world around it. A crate is a good idea, both to contain the pet and any vomit. Position it if possible to the pet can see the road ahead. Ask your vet about medications.

2. Pets don’t need restraints (Wrong)

Pets have incredibly fast reaction time but no pet is quick enough nor strong enough to withstand  the G faces in a panic stop or crash. It isn’t just the pet’s safety at stake. Even a small cat or dog could become a deadly cannonball when colliding with  a human.

3. Pets don’t need special food, water or medication for travel (May Be Wrong)

Depending on the destination, your vet may recommend shots or pills for snake bite, “kennel cough”, fleas, ticks  or other regional hazards. Some pet owners carry bottled water, or water from home, to avoid upsets from drinking different water in every campground. And it’s always wise to keep a pet on the same food or to introduce a new one gradually. 

4. It’s OK to Let the Dog Piddle as Long as You Pick Up the Poop (Wrong)

Most RV travelers are meticulous about cleaning up dog poop but many will just stand there when the same dog piddles on someone’s tires or hoses.  It’s hard to keep the dog from marking its territory and impossible to keep a male cat from squirting, but please don’t let another “No Pets Allowed” sign go up in another campground due to your pet’s bad manners.

DOES THE OPEN ROAD CALL YOUR NAME?

 Do you dream of living and traveling in a complete home on wheels? Living Aboard Your RV, 4th Edition by Janet Groene & Gordon Groene is a total guide to the full-time life on wheels. Should you sell the house or rent it out? Downsize possessions or put them in storage? Too young to retire? See our chapter on ways to make a living anywhere. Kids on board? We cover home schooling and also an exit strategy if and when the time comes to settle down. Order at any book store or let Amazon gift wrap and ship it for you.  https://amzn.to/29XFEkq 

 

5. Campground showers are a great place to wash the dog (Wrong)

 Some people go bonkers if they see pet hairs in shower drains and they make sure the manager knows who is responsible.  Many campgrounds now have dog wash stations. Just don't use the campground bathrooms. 

6. My Dog Doesn’t Bark (Oh yeah?) 

I once parked next to a couple whose large dog began barking as soon as they left the RV and didn’t stop until they returned. Find ways to keep your pet comfortable, safe and entertained while you're away. 

7. It’s a Cool Day, So Rover is OK Inside the RV (Maybe Not) 

Even with windows open on a 70-degree day, a pet can suffer heat exhaustion in as little as 30 minutes According to the Humane Society, signs of heatstroke are heavy panting, glazed eyes,  rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, excessive thirst, lethargy, fever, dizziness, lack of coordination, profuse salivation, vomiting, a deep red or purple tongue, seizure, and unconsciousness.

Animals are at particular risk for heat stroke, say the Society,  if they are very old, very young, overweight, not conditioned to prolonged exercise, or have heart or respiratory disease. Some breeds of dogs—like boxers, pugs, shih tzus, and other dogs and cats with short muzzles—will have a much harder time breathing in extreme heat.

8. My Dog Obeys, so Leash Laws Don’t Apply to Me (Tell it to the Judge) 

Dogs can bolt or disobey out of hunting instinct, fear or need of romance. You could lose a pet, or be evicted from a campground for ignoring leash laws. 

 

The latest in the Yacht Yenta cozy mystery e-books brings widow Farley Halladay closer to the answer of her husband's death. 

Read the six cozies in any order as Farley copes, cooks and solves crimes with the help of her wacky cast of characters. You'll laugh at her frailties; cry with her as she grieves. Find it on Google Play and other ebook formats and also on  Kindle,   https://amzn.to/3wcf6ao

Is your state or province in the news this week? 

RV PARKS & CAMPGROUNDS; GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS 

NEW AND FUTURE RV PARKS & CAMPGROUNDS

Cheyenne Mountain State Park in Colorado Springs, Colorado is adding nine new RV sites with full hookups. Presently there are 61 campsites. The park is open year round but check ahead for availability of sites and hookups. Programs and the archery range are also open all year. (719) 576-2016. cpw.state.co.us

RV@Olympic Park at  Port Angeles, Washington is now open with 98 RV sites, full hookups, Internet,  playground, camp store, laundry, dog park and clubhouse. Long-term stays are available. Rates start at $1,097. Go to  RvatOlympic.com,  (360) 209-8172

New on the Bayou Teche in St. Martinville, Louisiana is Camping on the Bayou. Rigs up to 35 feet can be accommodated and they say alternate accommodations can be arranged for larger rigs. The pet-friendly camp has direct frontage on the bayou, a barbecue pit, basketball, a treehouse hangout and a private pond.   (985) 306-2959

EVENTS

The dates are October 5-November 2 for the Pumpkin Patch filled with real pumpkins at the Moore Haven (Florida)  KOA Holiday, The month holds plenty of activities to generate proceeds that will benefit the  Croskeykidz Summer Camp for kids in Glades County. Get a full rundown on the pumpkins (daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.),  the  Halloween Bash, haunted trails, campsite decorating and other fun at the KOA website. The campground has a heated swimming pool, two pool tables, a camp store, cornhole, fiber optic Internet and cable, five fish ponds, a playground and fully serviced RV sites. 

Held monthly , every Hike With a Ranger is different at Wekiwa Springs State Park, Apopka, Florida. Camp here on October 16 and take the hike to see what’s new in the ecosystem along the 2.5-mile trail. The theme this time is Tails on Trails, and that means you can bring your leashed pet. Be at the Sand Lake parking lot at 9 a.m. In addition to campsite fees, admission to the park is $6. The hike is free but donations to the park are encouraged. The park has 60 campsites with water and electric. Some sites have a sewer and some are ADA accessible with advance reservation.  Campsites are wooded and have a picnic table and fire ring with grill.  FloridaStateParks.org/

Meet a real bison at the annual Guided Bison Saunter on November 6, 7 and 8 at Prairie State Park, Mindenmines, Missouri. Along prairie trails you may also see  buffalo, elk and deer. The park is picnic and public-friendly but campsites are few and basic, so check out nearby RV parks and campgrounds such as the Four Oaks RV Park in Pittsburg or the Joplin KOA. For information on the bison events call (417) 843-6711

Tickets are now on sale for  2026 concerts scheduled at The Palms RV Resort, Yuma, Arizona. , Headliners include a Moody Blues tribute on January 9, a tribute to country stars Luke Bryan and Keith Urban on January 16 and Mick Adams and the Stones playing January 23. The 60-acre resort has a bar, cabanas and more than 400 home or RV sites. Go to YumPalmsRVResort.com/

Save the date. The  2026 Telluride Bluegrass Festival in Telluride, Colorado will be held as usual in the month of June. Headliners, workshops and other details TBA. The iconic festival attracts 15,000 people or more, so start planning early. See https://bluegrass.com › telluride/

SCUTTLEBUTT (check it out) 

It’s reported that Grant Campground in Yellowstone National Park won’t open until June, 2026. 

Word is that North Beach Campground at  Emma Wood State Beach, Ventura, California, is closed through May,  2026 for repairs and construction projects. The group camp remains open. The Emma Wood Group Camp area near Ventura Beach RV Resort is expected to  remain open.

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE WHAT YOU MISSED LAST WEEK.

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Email janetgroene (at) yahoo.com

The latest in the Yacht Yenta cozy mystery e-books brings widow Farley Halladay closer to the answer of her husband's death on board their ketch in the Virgin Islands. 

Read the six cozies in any order as Farley copes, cooks and solves crimes with the help of her wacky cast of characters. You'll laugh and cry with her and her cronies. Find it on most ebook formats including  Kindle,   https://amzn.to/3wcf6ao

Never miss another time-sensitive post. Let us send you a quick email each time new posts for up here. Your email will never be sold, shared, nor used by us for any other purpose.  Contact janetgroene@yahoo.com and put RV Yes in the topic line. 

GIFTS FOR RV-ERS + THIS WEEK'S RV PARK NEWS

Copyright Janet Groene 2025. To ask about placing your ad on all six Groene sites for one year,  one low rate, email janetgroene (at) yahoo.com/

WHAT  

TO

GIFT

AN

RV-ER

WHAT TO GIFT AN RV-ER? 

GOOD GIFT IDEAS

* A high tension, UV-treated, wind-resistant, folding umbrella. It  will serve your giftee in rain or shine and will tuck away in the RV in no space at all when not needed.. 

* Expendables such as paper goods, specialty foods suitable for meals on the go, Laundry and dryer sheets, air fresheners, 

* Customized garments if you know preferences and sizes. Have them printed or embroidered with the name of the event, cause or the RV itself.  

* Kits, store bought or homemade. A fresh new first aid kit, a sewing kit, doff kit, cosmetic bag, mani/pedi needs,  barbecue tools in their own holder, a bucket full of car wash needs, a set of pie irons or hot dog forks, ad inf.

* Day packs, fanny packs or stuff bags. They usually take a beating in the travel life, so fresh and kicky new ones are always welcome. 

* Gift certificates for RV park stays, but only if you know the user’s travel preferencs. Some state parks offer gift certificates for campgrounds and so do many individual and chain rV parks. Beware of blackout dates or other deal breakers. 

* Rainy day games, the more compact the better. Many happy hours can be spent with a small  deck of cards or set of dominoes.   

NOT SO GOOD

 Electronic gimmicks unless you are sure they are current for the person’s existing gear and interests. Clever inventions and games come and go quickly. They may not be suitable to the person’s network or needs and will probably soon be obsolete anyway. Does it need batteries?  An extra battery pack? Recharge? What kind of charger? 

* Some gift cards have a hefty set-up fee. Some expire. Some are for specialty gifts or shops that are regional or difficult to find or access. 

* Subscriptions for delivery later, such as the Fruit of the of the Month,  or foods that come packed in dry ice. RV-ers travel. Addresses change, sometimes every few days. . 

       CAMPGROUNDS; GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS 

We go to local sources such as zoning boards and business sites for breaking news of new and impending campgrounds and RV parks. This news is often premature and incomplete for the RV traveler. It's presented here so you can follow up on your own as the story develops. 

   Locations are in boldface; event dates are in red. No endorsements of any place or service is implied. 

NEW AND FUTURE RV PARKS & CAMPGROUNDS

* New in Morgantown, West Virginia is the  KOA Mylan Park Holiday with full hookups, a year-round swimming pool, WiFi, fishing, a dog park, camp store, indoor basketball court, pickleball, fitness center and more. The Ice Pavilion is nearby.  When reserving your RV site, note that the park covers 400 acres. Not all amenities are within walking distance of all sites. Reservations,  1-888-562-0397. With questions, call 1-304-322-8502.

* Own your own Arizona  lot within the KOFA CREST private acreage near Phoenix and Palm Springs. Lots sizes of 1.6 to 7 acres are available at prices ranging from $280,000 to as high as $760,000. Each site will hold a pad for your RV, laundry and bathroom facilities and your choice of a studio, storage building, or barnominium.  The area is surrounded by BLM land and is handy to  the Arizona Peace Trail and the Colorado River. Get details from La Paz Valley Properties, (760) 505-8999.

Coming soon to Blair City, Nebraska is a new campground that will start with 25 sites and eventually expand to 45 RV sites plus a storage area. Overnight and long-term stays will be available to travelers as well as to construction workers who are on temporary assignment in the area. https://www.blairnebraska.org/

By summer 2006, Brownstone Country Club and RV Resort in Marion, Arkansas, will become a large, luxury RV resort and waterpark as well as an 18-hole golf club and a fine dining destination. Sign up for the waiting list at BrownstoneStayAndPlay.com/   

Knights of the RV resort and park will open officially on September 15 in Plantersville, Texas with 94 RV hookups,  fishing pond, laundry, bar and grill, dog park, camp store and golf cart rentals. In time the resort plans to add a swimming pool, splash pad and pickleball courts.  See KnightsOfTheRV.com/

SCUTTLEBUTT

Newly approved in Apache County, Arizona are plans for a 40-site RV park in Concho Valley next to the onetime golf course. Stay tuned. 

In Kentucky, plans are in place for a 10-year program to repair, renovate and expand the Jericho Lake Campgrounds. 

EVENTS

It’s Apple Cider Festival time at Prince Gallitzen State Park,  Patton, Pennylvania. Be here October 5 for food, crafts,, chainsaw carving and education demonstrations. Take a hay ride. Admission is free and donations aid improvements in the park. The campground has more than 400 sites. Reserve at (www.)ReserveAmerica.com/ Questions? (814) 674-1000

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Hands On! RV Wash Day + Latest RV Park News

Copyright Janet Groene 2025. Your voluntary subscription helps support these free blogs. Send $10 once a year via PayPal to janetgroene (at) yahoo.com

SCROLL DOWN FOR THIS WEEK'S RV &

CAMPGROUND GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS

How To Wash by Hand

 In his book Travels with Charley, John Steinbeck described laundry day in his truck camper. He put dirty clothes, water and soap in a plastic can with a lock-on lid, such as a trash can. After sloshing down the road for a while, his clothes were ready to rinse, wring and hang on a hickory limb. 

As a solo woman RV traveler it’s likely you have at least some delicate duds that need hand laundering, so here are some ideas to make the job easier:

* It’s best to do hand laundry while parked. It can be hazardous and messy to drive with a heavy load of water sloshing around in the RV. 

   *  Shop for the right wash tub.  I use a small,  inflatable swimming pool. Some RV’s have a bathtub. A diaper pail is a good size for small loads of unmentionables. Use a plumber’s helper as an agitator. 

* Many campgrounds prohibit attaching clothes lines or any other objects to trees. It can damage bark.  It's also a no-no in many parks to spread clothing on bushes, fences, rear view mirrors or anywhere else outside the RV. Have a plan in mind for the wet clothing before doing a lot of laundry. 

:

* Spot-treat first, just as if you were using a machine, then and give the treatment time to work.

* Old fashioned scrub boards are still made and sold.  Amazon sells as lightweight plastic washboard for under $10. A sturdy,  galvanized  metal board is a good investment and you can also play it on Talent Night in the campground.

* Wringing and twisting are tough on clothes.  Drip-dry is best for wrinkle-free duds. Delicate items can be rolled in a heavy towel

* Before washing, zip zippers and button buttons to keep garments from being pulled out of shape. Tie drawstrings or you could lose the bitter end. 

* Use a low-suds laundry detergent and use it sparingly. A tablespoon per bucket of water is probably enough.

See Janet’s RV-tested ideas and  recipes at

http://www.CampAndRVCook.blogspot.com

   

DOES THE OPEN ROAD CALL YOUR NAME?

 Do you dream of living and traveling in a complete home on wheels? Living Aboard Your RV, 4th Edition by Janet Groene & Gordon Groene is a total guide to the full-time life on wheels. Should you sell the house or rent it out? Downsize possessions or put them in storage? Too young to retire? See the chapter on ways to make a living anywhere. Kids on board? We cover home schooling and also an exit strategy if and when the time comes to settle down. Order at any book store or let Amazon gift wrap and ship it for you.  https://amzn.to/29XFEkq 

 CAMPGROUNDS; GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS

    These just-in RV  news items from local sources may be premature or incomplete. It's up to you to verify and follow up as the story develops. Locations are in BOLD print, event dates are in RED. 

NEW RV AND FUTURE  PARKS AND CAMPGROUNDS

A Grand Opening marked the debut of the expanded  Golden Mesa Casino & Hotel and its RV park in Guymon, Oklahoma. The glittering complex has restaurants, a four-story hotel, gaming and shops. It’s a project of the Shawnee Tribe and is said to be the only entertainment venue in the OK panhandle. The RV park has 45 sites, showers and a welcome center. Go to GoldenMesa.com or call (580) 754-2777. 

Finishing touches are being put on two new campgrounds and the new visitor center at the all new Lehigh Portland State Park in Iola, Kansas. Hookups are installed and the bathhouse is nearing readiness. The Lehigh Portland Trails are known for hiking, bicycling and mountain biking. 

Once the site of the nation’s largest cement plant, the new state park will eventually have an amphitheater, swimming beach, kayak and paddleboard access and cabins. Get updates at TravelKS.com/

Construction isn’t over yet, but a modern, 50-site RV park is now open at Eagle Island State Park, Idaho. Reserve at (www.) parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/ Contact the park at (208) 939-0696. The 545-acre park west of Boise has a swimming beach, horseback riding, non-motorized boating, concessions, picnic areas, restrooms and five miles of trails. 

On the drawing boards in Georgiana, Alabama  is another of those one-stop travel centers that RV-ers love for oernighting. It’s to be the BusyANT Travel Center with fuel, multiple shops and food centers, a dog park, RV park, recharge stations, and someday a motel. Its opening date is projected to be late summer, 2026. 

Now open in Eight Mile, Alabama (near Mobile) is the newly renovated campground in Chickasabogue Park. The park now has two disc golf courses, a playground, splashpad, 13 miles of hiking trails, sports courts, picnic pavilions  and a beach on  Chickasabogue Creek. Places are provided for 25 RV’s, 12 hard-sided pop-up trailers and nine tents.  A boat ramp will be added. Later the park will add an event and  interpretive center.  Reservations (251) 574-2267

RV PARK ADDITIONS, CHANGES, NEW OWNERS

* Ten new RV spaces are available now at the Elks Lodge in Colville, Washington. Elks members get first priority, but slots are open to the public. While you’re here, play golf at the Dominion Meadows Golf Club next door. Go to: (www.) elks1753rvpark.com

* Between West Glacier and Essex, Montana,  Glacier Haven Resort has updated its campground and  cabins. RV sites have full hookups now. Guests also get planning and scheduling help for  visits to Glacier National Park. The resort has a home style restaurant: (406) 888-5720, : https://glacierhavenresort.com/

* Family owned and operated, Mendota Hills Campground, in Amboy, Illinois has added  a new, nine-hole disc golf course, an RC track,  game areas such as GaGa ball and a big, well-stocked camp store selling everything from clothes to coffee. The 130-acre park offers a variety of campsite categories plus four lakes, kayaking and paddleboards, a beach and fishing.  There’s also a church on the property. The season runs from late Aptil to mid-October. (815) 849-5930

RV EVENTS

“ Happy Halloween Weekends at Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana are September 20 through October 26.  They are filled with spectacles and special surprises such as unlimited soft drinks, free parking and sunscreen with every ticket. The dinosaur theme show will cover 12 acres and 500 drones will  star in the “Dinos in the Night Sky” shows.  See the full theme park story at HolidayWorld.com. A full-service RV resort is  across the road at Sun Outdoors Lake Rudoph. SunOutdoors.com,  · (812) 937-4458. The resort has free shuttle service to the theme parks, as well as an arcade, dog park, golf cart rentals and large, fully service RV sites.

 SCUTTLEBUTT

Plans are being made to renovate all campgrounds in Big Basin Redwoods State Park near Santa Cruz, California. To follow the story go to (www.) Reimagining.BigBasin@parks.ca.gov/

Phases two and three of new BLM construction at Vulture Mountains Recreation Area , Wickenburg, Arizona are underway. Included are an OHV staging area, three pull-through RV sites, trail heads, parking spaces,  picnic tables with shade structures, a nature enter and amphitheater. .Get updates at MricopaCounyParks.net/

Keep an eye on this area of the Lonestar State. It will someday mean new campsites. Post Oak Ridge State Park. Texas, across from Colorado Bend State Park, is located on the Colorado River and spring-fed Yancey Creek. Under development now, it’s only open for hunting in the fall and limited hiking next year. The full opening is planned for  2030.

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