RV RED ALERT. New Owner at Your Camground?

  

 

Scroll down to see this week's breaking news of RV parks & campgrounds that are  new, changing, proposed, soon to open or are closing for good.  

RED ALERT!
Your Favorite RV Park Has a New Owner
WHY DOES IT MATTER? 

 

By Janet Groene
Copyright 2024

 

 

   The real estate scene for RV parks and campgrounds is changing at a furious rate.   Huge money is at stake. Demand for RV spaces is soaring. Inflation is roaring, raising the cost of everything from the park’s utility bills, taxes and staff salaries to the toilet paper in the bathrooms

Why does it matter to you? Here's just a small sample:

* RATES will probably rise or change under owners, perhaps in subtle ways that aren’t apparent at first. Read on.

 

Rules may not be this funny

 

  * LOCAL MANAGEMENT MAY NOT MEAN LOCAL CONTROL over rules and rates. When rates and rules are determined by corporate headquarters miles away, local managers may have little or no say about how the business operates. We once loved a bare-bones park with lots of space, trees and trails. New owners required a fancy new swimming pool, mansion-like clubhouse and tennis courts. Rates had to go up to pay for amenities we didn't want nor use.

* COST CUTTING.  REVENUE “ENHANCEMENT” measures are happening everywhere at all campgrounds. One popular profit gimmick is to open the swimming pool, fitness center and other amenities to day guests for a fee. The park's  facilities become crowded with outsiders. As a park resident, you lose a sense of security and privacy.

 

* LOYALTY POINTS. If you accumulated rewards or points under the former franchise, will they be honored by the new regime?

 

 

 

 

 

 

* TENANT RIGHTS. The saddest stories about RV park sales involve parks that are  purchased by developers who plan to clear the land and build housing, mixed use. communities and sometimes high-rise condos worth millions. RV dwellers who considered the park their home are being evicted. In other cases, new owners upgrade the park and your RV no longer qualifies because it’s too old or too shabby. 

 * RESERVATIONS The new owners may use a different booking service.  Gone are the days when you picked up the phone, called your old friend at the front desk and reserved Site A12 for two weeks next July. You may now be required to reserve online with a credit card .and pay a non-refundable res fee.  Some parks are now cashless while others take ONLY cash.  Some open the reservations window six months ahead; some a year ahead. The former owner reserved some sites for first-come-only guests. Is that still an option?

* SECURITY. As crime grows, so does security. Some parks now require a background check, especially for seasonal reservations.

* AUTOMATION. The new, non-attended RV parks are a huge plus, especially for RV travelers seeking hookups just for tonight. You reserve online and get a security code that activates the gate, hookups, shower house and laundry. If something doesn’t work, is there a panic number you can call 24/7?  

Bottom Line: Never forget that a Recreation Vehicle is built as a vehicle and for recreation.  The highways you travel and the land you park on are ruled by others. Stay aware, nimble and on the go.

See scads of recipes for scrumptious recipes for affordable, everyday camping meals plus tips on saving water, fuel, space, mess. New each week at  https://campandrvcook.blogspot.com 

           CAMPGROUNDS; GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS

 These news items are gathered from local sources to give you a brief heads-up. Check out each site on your own. 

RED ALERT! Dozens of campgrounds have been damaged or destroyed by Hurricanes Milton and Helene. Get current updates on the campground itself and whether access roads are open.

Other campgrounds are closed because of wildfires. On the plus side, many seasonal campgrounds are choosing to stay open through the winter due to the demand for sites. Be aware that being "open" doesn't always mean fully serviced.  Due to freezing, water may be turned off throughout the camp or at  individual campsites. And, of course, winterizing the RV is each RV owner's responsibility.

 * Good news! Savage Gulf State Park, Beersheba Springs, Tennessee is adding 60 new campsites with full hookups. Also new will be two bathhouses and a visitor center with gift shop, bathroom and meeting rooms. The RV sites are expected to be ready next year. 

    * Now under new owners, the 230-site  Niagara Campground & Resort in Grand Island, New York is expanding. To be added are 51 more RV sites plus permanently installed RV units and 13 glampsites. The dog friendly,  lakefront resort has a swimming pool, self-service laundry, high speed WiFi,  mini-golf and children’s playground and activities.  Ask about seasonal rates. (716) 773-7600)

 * Larid's Hideaway in Canyon Lake, Texas won’t hold its grand opening just yet but it’s already opening its pickleball courts. When fully open the campground will have daily, weekly and monthly RV rates, full hookups, bathrooms and shower, free Wi-Fi and a laundry. 

Autumn Acres MH RV Resort in Brownsville, Texas, is a 55+ community where 30% of its sites are reserved for RV use. Facilities including a swimming pool, clubhouse and plenty of activities including an appearance by entertainer Julia Lane Cooper, scheduled for March 8, 2005.  Julie is a multi-talented traveling singer who also tells jokes and sometimes throws a Murder Mystery Party. Call  (956) 546-4979 for details.

    * The end is near for Sun and Sand RV Park in Okanagan Falls, British Columbia. Rezoning has been approved that will turn the site into a five story,  48-unit apartment building.

*Due to lack of funding, these Washington State Park motorized sno-parks are closing for the winter: Echo Valley, Skate Creek, Bethel Ridge/Soup Creek, Crow Creek, Cloverland, Elk Heights, Fish Creek, French Cabin, Nile, Taneum, Reecer Creek, Crawfish, Nine Bark and Clear Lake.

* New owners at the 135-site Leisure Acres Campground in Cleveland, Tennessee plan upgrades including pavng, a dog park and fencing. The park has a fishing pond, deck, community enter, playground, laundry and an updated bathhouse. Phone: (706) 865-6466

*  McFarland Park in Florence, Alabama will get new campsites, upgraded hookups, new picnic tables and grill, and Wi-Fi hotspots. The campground is just part of a large waterfront city park with a beach, ball fields, restaurant and fishing area.

* Save the date! August 14-17, 2025 are the dates for the Green Mountain Bluegrass Festival in Manchester, Vermont. Yes, there will be camping. As the date nears, get updates at (www.)greenmountainbluegrass.com/

* The new Echo Island RV Resort on the Weber River  in Coalville, Utah offers 157 paved RV pads as well as tent and glamping sites.  (801) 903-9265

* After a series of sodden summers the 41-acre, Lakeview Campground in Sibley State Park, New London,  Minnesota is drying out  and spiffing up for a grand opening next May. Historic buildings are being repaired and  41 large campsites will be created from the previous 71 sites.  (320) 347-7810.

* Florida has a new KOA. The Crystal River KOA Journey on the Gulf Coast has a variety of RV sites with full hookups plus premium tent sites and an off-leash dog park. (888) 562-0743.

Never miss another news story. Email janetgroene@yahoo.com and put RV Yes in the topic line. You'll get a quick nudge each time new posts go up here. Your information will never be shared nor used for any other purpose. 

What's New for RV Camping?

  

 

As I post this, my area is preparing for a Category 4 hurricane and probably a lengthy power outage. RV parks are being evacuated.  News will be added as circumstances allow.   

    SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THIS WEEK'S CAMPGROUND GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS

RV  Care at Lay-UpTime:

A TOP 5 LIST OF THINGS MOST OFTEN MISSED

    For many RV-ers, fall is lay-up time. Here are some of the steps that are most neglected: 

 

1. ZIPPERS AND SNAPS.  Zippers, snaps and other essential fasteners are made of high tech plastics, stainless steel, aluminum, stainless steel or brass. Most of them take a beating from weather, corrosion, rust, wear, stress or rough use. Pull tabs may be made of A DIFFERENT MATERIAL FROM THE ZIPPER ITSELF. IT MAY BE A CHEAP coated metal  that rusts,  or thin metal that wears out.

 

 

 

 If you’re lucky, the zippers and snaps in everything but heavy canvas to your rain jacket came with care instructions. It’s best to buy a dedicated zipper and snap lube product, but read labels to be sure it’s formulated for the zipper material as well as the material the zipper or snap is in.  For example, petroleum jelly is a popular home remedy but it’s messy. You don’t want grease stains on your rain jacket or backpack. For easiest application, choose a spray-on pump, aerosol, tube or stain stick made  for zippers. 

 

 

 2. BATTERIES are at the top of every  list at lay-up but “remove batteries” is often a neglected step. When you return to the RV next spring, how many items will be permanently ruined by batteries that died and corroded? 

 

 

 

 

 

Don't forget toys and games

 

The list includes cameras, phones, flashlights, games, toys and some tools and galley items like the spice grinder or wand  mixer. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. A BLACK WATER TANK FLUSH is essential, especially before a long period of non use. Residue dries out and turns to rock that will be difficult to dislodge from the tank, sensors, lines and hoses. 

 

 

4. HOSES. It isn’t enough just to winterize  the RV’s interior plumbing. Don’t forget accessories such as hoses. Say that on your last trip you  unhooked the drinking water hose,  coiled it and crammed it into the RV basement. If it wasn’t drained completely, water could remain in a one or two coils, freeze and split the hose. 

 

 

 
5. PAPER WORK. Times of spring commission and fall lay-up are usually also times when certain bills come due, leases have to be renewed, reservations must be made for the next camping season and expenses (such as the cost of shrink wrap or storage) must be met. It’s also a good time to review insurance coverage or to decide whether it’s wise to sell, buy new gear or  re-fi.

 

     CAMPGROUNDS GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS

* According to National Park Traveler the following National Parks have dropped their entry reservations for the Fall/Winter 2024 season. The are Acadia, Arches, Glacier, Mount Rainier, Rocky Mountain and Yosemite. Note that campsite reservations are made separately.  Check ahead directly with the park.

* Interior, Premium, Lake View and Lakefront RV sites with full hook-ups are offered at 4 Lakes Campground, Hastings, Florida. Now the gated community is about so grow, so get your oar in the water early. Nightly, weekly and monthly rates are available. RV’s must be self-contained. There is no bathhouse.  (904) 601-2267

*  After a three-year closure, the campground in Singing Waters Park in Greig, New York is open again with a new look. The county campground SSE of Watertown has new bathrooms, campsites, grills and a pavilion.  (315) 376-5972 .  

    * It’s been ten years in the making and now Hidden Springs RV Resort in Ivins, Utah is a reality. Covering not quite 25 acres, the resort has pull-thru and back-n sites with full hook-ups. Also here are tent sites, a swimming pool, hot tub and  a Rumpus Room for kids.  (435) 334-5517

* Two months ago, a tornado destroyed some RV’s as well as the boat dock at Holly Park Marina in Milam, Texas. Rebuilding is underway and this vacation spot on Toledo Bend Reservoir  hopes to be fully open again by next spring.  For now about 3/4 of the RV sites are  is said to be open. (409) 625-4424

* The 7,500-acre Jericho Mountain State Park in Berlin, New Hampshire is about to double the size of its 20-site  campground. New campsites will be adjacent to the present park and will have full hook-ups. The park has 60 miles of ATV trails, a playground and a lake for swimming and paddlesports.  https://www.nhstateparks.org/p

* See stars during your stay at Platte River State Park, Louisville, Nebraska. On Fridays in October, beginner astronomy meetings are led b by  naturalists who give you the moon an stars, The park has 19 RV sites with full hook-ups.  Get program details at (402) 234-2217

* Attention RV-ers who boat. New owners are at the helm at Rivertown Marina and Tucker’s Landing RV Park on the Ohio River,  Cincinnati, Ohio. Covering more than 50 acres it’s the largest dry storage marina in the region. The new, 83-site RV park has fire pits, river views, carport storage for trailered boats and large storage areas for blocked larger boats.  (513) 533-3000

* Celebrate Earth Science Week with lessons on fossil collecting at Caesar Creek, State Park, Wayneville,  Ohio.on October 20.  In a three-hour program, paleontologist Mark Peter and geologist Chris Wright take participants on a fossil hunt. The park has multiple campgrounds, ranging from non-electric to full hook-up, and there is also an equestrian campground.  The park has a 2,800-acre lake, playgrounds, picnic tables, hiking and bridle trails, archery, historic sites and blazing fall color at this time. Campgrounds close October 31. Check ahead on programs and reservations at (513) 897-3055

Save a tree. Read RV news here every week

Why Go Self Contained + Campground News

 

Copyright Janet Groene 2024. Ask about using some or all of this content, email janetgroene@yahoo.com

 SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THIS WEEK'S CAMPGROUNDS; GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS

5 Reasons to Invest in
a Self-Contained RV

    All recreation vehicles have sleeping quarters but that alone doesn’t spell total  I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-C-E. 

When an RV is totally self-contained it is a complete home, at least for a while,  without reliance on campground hook-ups, public shower houses, meals at roadside beaneries or  (shudder)  gas station restrooms. 

It may be tiny but it's yours

    What is “self-contained”?  In RV jargon, that means having the tankage, plumbing and electricity to operate your home without hooking up to campground utilities. Why is best to "go all the way?" 

    1. It’s safer.  Behind locked doors in your home on wheels you have everything you need to get through the day (or night).  If you don’t like the looks of the campground bathrooms or you hate to go out after dark (bugs, animals, humans),  you don’t have to take the dreaded “path to the bath”.

    2. You’re independent on the highway. When you pull into  a roadside rest stop for  lunch or a nap, you don’t have to look for a public restroom or a fast food restaurant. We were once trapped in a sudden traffic tie-up on an Interstate for three hours while authorities cleared a major accident. We could cook, eat, turn on reading lights, watch TV,  use the bathroom and have all the comforts of home.

    3. You control your environment by having your own heating and air and the means of running them without a campground hookup.   

    4.  Travelers in self-contained rigs have more options at campgrounds. If you arrive late and no sites are available, you can ask for a “dry” campsite in an overflow area and still have access to campground security and facilities. You can also choose to stay at no campground at all. Where permitted and safe, boondocking is an option.

    5. Resale value is probably higher. The trend in RV’s is to more conveniences. Flush toilets and showers are found now in some of the smallest RV’s.

The Down Side

You have to take care of your own utilities

    The more complicated the RV systems, the more maintenance is needed and the more breakdowns occur. Don’t over-do with complex conveniences. 

                ++++++++++++++++++++++

Walk to downtown Palm Springs, California restaurants and smart shops from your RV site at the Happy Traveler RV Park. Hike scenic trails in the surrounding mountains. Laze by the shimmering pool. Soak in the spa. Summer is family time.  In summer it's family friendly. Starting November 1 the resort is adults only. Bonus points: the night manager speaks most Scandinavian languages. The calendar is packed with parties and special events. Call (760) 325-8518 or email happytrav@hotmail.com/ 

                ++++++++++++++++++++++

 

 

 

 Janet Groene’s Survival Food Handbook isn’t just for doomsday preppers. It’s also a guide to stocking your camper with ordinary, shelf-stable supermarket ingredients for boondocking and emergencies such as fridge failure, evacuation or breakdown.  http://amzn.to/1WdYqbe

 

       CAMPGROUNDS; GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS

   Get an earlybird look at what campgrounds are coming, closing, changing. This is breaking news from local sources and may be incomplete or premature. Follow-up is up to you.  Note that many seasonal campgrounds are closing down soon for the winter.

 

  * Upgrades began at once this year when new owners took over the 22-acre Suncook River Camp, Allenstown, New Hampshire. Now the family-operated camp has a new bathhouse, upgraded showers and portable potties, and a choice of RV sites with or without water and electric. Shop the camp store. Rent a kayak, canoe, tube or paddleboard to float or fish the river. Swim in the pool with a choice of pool toys. Coming in 2025 will be a completed loop road, covered courtyard gathering place, glamping cabins and more RV sites. (603) 210-1729
 

 * New near Pierce, Colorado, the Gastown Campground has 10 pull-thru  RV sites, Wi-Fi, monthly rates and  free use of laundry machines.  (785) 375-1976

     * It’s over. The request of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe to build an RV park with more than 300 RV sites has been denied. The park would have been north of the Foxwood casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut.

* Th 387-site Ocala Sun RV Resort, Ocala, Florida is under new ownership. The resort has a heated swimming pool, full hook-ups and park models for rent. Will there be changes? Check ahead.  (352) 307-1100

* Here's another new place to camp. Winding Waters on the Etowah River in Cartersville, Georgia,  has 252 full hook-up RV sites, stocked fish ponds (with a Georgia license you can also fish in the river), playground, hot tub,  high speed Wi-Fi, a lazy river, water slides, snack station, a camp store, dog parks, a  resort-style swimming pool and ball courts. Book by the night or month.  www.windingwatersrv.com.

* The bad  news out of Curtin, Oregon is that the Pass Creek County Park & Campground will close permanently on September 30. At $25 nightly for full hookups the park was a good buy but it just didn’t generate sufficient revenue to stay viable. The Parks Department plans to sell the property.

* The good news from Streetsboro, Ohio is that Woodside Lake campgrounds have been approved for the addition of 62 campsites plus a greenspace with fire pit, a playground and a pavilion with grill.  At this time the campground has 250 campsites on 100 acres. Eventually restrooms and showers will be added. : (330) 626-4251 

 

 

* New in Hillsborough,  New Hampshire, the family-run Rocky Valley RV Resort is as big as all outdoors. Bring or rent an ATV, swim, fish, boat, hike and hang out by the fireplace in the spacious clubhouse. Bathrooms are private suites. Five categories of sites range from $69 to $84 nightly, with longer terms up to seasonal available. Book now for leaf peeping until the resort closes at the end of October or nail down your site now for the 2025 season.  (844) 988-8880

 

    SCROLL DOWN TO SEE SAMPLES OF PAST POSTS
See Janet Groene's recipes for cooking on the go at https://campandrvcook.blogspot.com

Rule # 1 in RV Care + Campground Good/Bad News

Copyright Janet Groene 2024. 

 

 

            WHEN RV MAINTENANCE GOES WRONG
Copyright Janet Groene

    The first law of medicine is Do No Harm. In many ways it’s the same with maintaining your RV. 

 

    If you do some or all of your own RV maintenance, here are things you should NOT do.

    FAIL TO FOLLOW DIRECTIONS. I was about to use a popular cleaner on the built-up residue around my RV faucets when I remembered to  review the directions on the label. I’d almost used it full strength,  but it is supposed to be mixed 50-50 with water!  Some cleaners require long soaks. Others call for a quick and thorough rinse.  

    USE THE WRONG TOOL.  Put the wrong screwdriver in the slot, force it, and you may strip the threads, break the screw, break the tool or ream out the slot until no tool will work any more. The right tool plus gently coaxing, sometimes with a lubricant, is best.
    
    RUSH THE JOB. Just as some recipes require marinating in the fridge overnight, some lubricants and protective coatings need to be left alone to bond, spread or penetrate. Some products need to cure, harden or dry.

    USE ABRASIVES TO SAVE TIME. Woodworkers and jewelers know the value in using different grades of grit. Start with the finest, least abrasive product possible and get tougher only as necessary. Make sure the cleaning rag is clean too. Built-up debris in the rag can also etch a surface. 

 

 

    Yes you CAN live the dream. I did. My book Living Aboard your RV, 4th edition, is based on ten wonderful years of full-time living on the go. Chapters go from choosing the rig to making a living on the go to easing out of the lifestyle when and if the time comes. In paperback or Kindle, http://amzn.to/29XFEkq

      

       CAMPGROUNDS; GOOD NEWS;BAD NEWS

Will you be able to find RV sites in 2025 where YOU want to go?  Has your favorite campground changed owners/policies/rates?   Check here for late-breaking news by state or province. Do you have news (timely news, not reviews)  to share? Email janetgroene@yahoo.com

 

These reports from local sources may be tentative or premature. It’s up to you to follow up.

 

    * Sequest State Park, Castle Rock, Washington, will be closed September 15 through October  for repairs. Then the park, campground and day use areas will be open through the winter. The nearby Mount St. Helens Visitor Center will be closed until next May. Contact  Seaquest@parks.wa.gov, telephone (360) 644-5235

* The new campground in Lake Schafer State Park, Elma, Washington has RV sites  with water and electric, and there’s a dump station for $5 per use. The park is on the Satsop River, where you can fish for steelhead, salmon and cutthroat trout. Wade the shallows and float the river. Washington state parks charge a $10/day or $30/year use fee. Contact Schafer@parks.wa.gov or phone (360) 482-3852. Reservations: https://washington.goingtocamp.com/

*Stay alert for new owners and possible changes at Warrior Creek RV Park in Bonham, Texas in the Texoma Region. Now for sale, the park has RV spots with full hook-ups plus a manager’s home, two rental apartments, laundry, showers and Wi-Fi throughout. Attractions in the area include  the Sam Rayburn House & Library, the Texas & Pacific Depot, and the Fannin County Museum of History. The listing agent is Melissa Fox in Paris, Texas at  (903) 517-3228  

 

* Rock the Locks Music Festival in Umatilla, Oregon is scheduled for October 4-6 but the campground opens at 4 p.m. on October 3 and fun begins. See the long list of ticket and camping packages and camping rules at RockTheLocks.org/ This is dry camping but potable water will be available and showers will be stationed around the campground. Headliners providing nonstop music include Halestorm, Stone Temple Pilots, Sarah Moon and dozens more

    
    * Still on track for a Grand Opening in Spring, 2025 is the  Roundabout Oxford RV and Water Resort in Oxford, Mississippi. Cool, scenic hills set the scene for a luxurious  resort with 150 RV sites, some of them buddy sites. The 2.5-acre water park will include a Lazy River, hot tub, beach and swimming pool. The park will also have five ponds, miniature golf, a fitness center, playgrounds, ball courts, a zipline and a yoga/zen pad.  To stay updated go to https://www.roundaboutoxford.com/ and sign up for the free newsletter.

 
* A former KOA campground just outside Valentine, Nebraska has a new name and a new life along the  Niobrara National Scenic River. Stays for $25 nightly are offered by the River Hideout Campground. For now facilities are on the skimpy side but there are water and electric hookups and a toilet. A new bathhouse is in the plans. Swim in the river, explore the 321-mile Cowboy Trail and pose for photo ops on the old railroad bridge over the river. (402) 389-0069.

The 10-acre  Riverwood Inn and RV Park in  in Delta, Colorado is doubling its RV pads and changing its name to the Riverwood Resort on the Gunnison.  Here’s a chance to camp on the river only a half mile from Confluence Park. Call  (970) 874-5787.

One of the campgrounds and a day use area  in the Charles C. Stanton Park in Canyonville, Oregon will close on September 23 until May 24, 3025. The transformation will include new RV sites and utilities, an upgraded playground, new restrooms and showers, a pavilion, a new road layout and a zipline.  Contact: https://douglascountyor.gov/Parks.

New to the KOA family this year is the Canandaigua/Rochester KOA Holiday in Farmington, New York. The activity-packed campground now  has a Hunt’s Pizza and the popular the AOK Café is still here. New tables and chairs are around the swimming pool, the camp store is expanded and the Wi-Fi has been upgraded. If you camped here before it was a KOA, note that your credit card is no longer on file and should be re-entered. The camp closes October 31 and will reopen next May. For questions call  1-585-398-3582; reservations  1-800-562-0533. 

            SCROLL DOWN TO SEE WHAT YOU MISSED IN PAST POSTS