Issue 159 Campground & RV Park E News

It’s happened once again.

Last year we had the disaster of the BP oil spill and while it was a major disaster for Louisiana and Mississippi, it wasn’t a disaster for all of the Florida panhandle and south Texas. That didn’t keep the media from scaring everyone away

from RVing in south Texas or in the Florida panhandle as they had planned.

Now we have Irene to contend with and once again while some areas are in disaster recovery mode, other areas are just trying to recoup from the disaster of people believing they are in a disaster. Here are

some ideas that I have put together on handling the bad press that comes from this kind of media.

Be Proactive Instead of Reactive When the news begins about a disaster that could be heading your way, this continued Page 2

Continued is your call to action. Hit your Social Media sites with information about what you are hearing locally, what your plans are and how often you will keep everyone up to date on what is actually going on.

If you publish a newsletter now would be the perfect time to send interim newsletters regarding what the current conditions are.

Let people know that you will be sending a newsletter out more frequently than normal until after the “Disaster” is over.

When people call in with questions about their reservations, be sure your front office has the most recent information and is able to calm the jittery nerves of your future guests. You might want to consider offering a refund on reservation deposits if you have to shut the park down due to the “Disaster.”

Take the opportunity to put out as much information as you can to prevent the mistaken idea that you are already closed for business.

During The Disaster Work with other RV parks/resorts/campgrounds that are close enough to you for a quick drive but that are out of the disaster area to set them up as recommendations of where the guests can go for their vacation without interruption.

Stay with your Social Media program and send out as many updates as you can telling people what is going on where you are located.

If the disaster is headed away from you, let everyone know that you are no longer in the eye of the “Disaster.”

If you are in the eye of the “Disaster,” this would be a great time to let all of your guests with reservations know that you have taken the liberty of cancelling their reservation. .

Particularly in the summer, many guests have scheduled vacation around the trip to your park. You made the effort to find other places for your guests to stay and now is the time to give them options of where they can go to enjoy their vacation. You aren’t going to lose the guest, you are

going to make your guest more loyal because you took the time to think of them.

If you were evacuated because of the impending disaster, continue to use your Social Media program to report how you are being affected. Remember the base of Social Media is “Social.” That means that the people who are reading your Facebook updates, your tweets, your newsletters or your blogs feel that they have a relationship with you and are concerned about what is going on.

After The Disaster If you were hit with the

disaster, you already have your hands full. However, now is a good time to consider letting everyone know how bad the damage was. You might even give people a chance to help you with the cleanup by giving them a free site for a weekend. Above all else, you need to let everyone know what your schedule for cleanup and reopening is.

If you weren’t hit with the disaster, you still want to let everyone know that you are open for business and that things are looking great. You may even want to go the extra mile and schedule a “Let’s help our neighbors day” where everyone goes to a park that had been Continued

Continued affected and helps them clean up. This would be a great opportunity for a press release to talk about surviving the disaster and what you are doing for your friends in the business.

Disaster Planning Hopefully, everyone has a disaster plan already in place for how they would shut down the office, backup computer systems and notify employees and guests. If you don’t, this off season would be a good time to get started.

Having lived through a direct hit by a hurricane, there were a number of lessons learned for me. To give you a small chuckle, before the hurricane made landfall, we filled up our 250 gallon tank with gas so that we would have it available after the hurricane. The problem? We needed diesel to run the equipment we wanted to use for clean up.

Check to make sure the simple equipment is available. Chain saws have replacement chains, there is oil on hand to mix with gas for mowers, chain saws, etc. and that your computers are backed up. One major advantage to the software that runs on the web is that your data is safe from a local disaster. That isn’t to say that it is safe from other problems.

Make sure that shut off valves are clearly marked and that there is documentation so that it

isn’t dependent on one person who knows where everything is.

I hope that you never have to execute your Disaster Plan but that if you do need to, the plan will be in place and current. Don’t let the media convince your guests to cancel their reservations without a real reason. Get out in front of the problem and control it instead of it controlling you.

Are you ready for a “Disaster?” *** Pamela and her company, FocusedWords, are dedicated to helping you promote and market your RV Park/Resort/ Campground to RVer’s everywhere. Be sure to follow her on Twitter: @RVStops and @FocusedWords. Check out her blog at www.FocusedWords.com/blog.

Pamela has redesigned her website, FocusedWords.com, to provide a place for you to tell Rally groups what your park has to offer for their next rally. Be sure to fill out your park form with your facilities information by going to http://focusedwords.com/pa rks-groups/.

November 6-9, 2011 (Expo on Nov. 9) South Point Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV Contact: (406) 248-7444

November 10-11, 2011 On the Internet Contact: (877) 901-3976

November 14-17, 2011 Embassy Suites, Covington, KY Contact: (513) 831-2100

November 28 – December 2, 2011 Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort Spa & Savannah International Trade & Convention Center, Savannah, GA

BECKET, Mass. (WWLP) The flooding from Tropical Storm Irene left behind a lot of damage in Franklin County. In Chester, a beloved summer camp was destroyed. But, its campers aren't letting it stay broken for long.

Elizabeth Myrick told 22News summers at Walker Island Camp in Chester were like paradise.

"It was much worse than I could have ever imagined.

It makes the biggest difference in the world, its the difference of us rebuilding and us giving up" Just 6 days after the storm, more than 50 former campers came back to Chester to rebuild their camp. Some came from as far away as New York.

Still, they say it's the least they can do for a camp that gave them so much. Laurie Deyette says she's

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Continued shocked by the destruction. "Its a 10 foot wide creek how can something that small grow to something so enormous and cause so much devestation?"

The campgrounds were swept away by raging waters.

Even the road leading into Walker Island was washed away with ease.

But, these campers told 22News it will be fixed eventually, one volunteer at a time.

"I'm really liking the fact that everybodys coming

OTTAWA — One man was killed and three other people were injured when lightning struck a campsite just outside of Ottawa Sunday morning, Ontario Provincial Police said.

up to help," said Zachary Fielder.

Although most of these people are not related they consider themselves the Walker Island Family.

Article and photos: www.wwlp.com

Police said lightning struck a tree and then hit nearby tents at Whispering Pines Campground in AlfredPlantagenet, Ont., shortly before 9 a.m.

The man’s wife and 18month-old son were hurt by the lightning strike and taken to hospital in nearby

Hawkesbury, Ont., but later released.

The victim was the 26-yearold son-in-law of campsite owner Rolf Garde, who has run the site for 20 years.

He was taken to Hawkesbury General Hospital after the strike, where he died.

Garde said it’s a miracle that his grandson, who was also sleeping in the tent, survived. www.vancouversun.com

The online magazine, now in its seventh issue is on its way to the inboxes of millions of people across the country.

The magazine promotes Camping and RVing and is published by Industry E

News LLC, publishers of Campground & RV Park E News.

This issue features four states- Pennsylvania, Illinois, Maryland and Nebraska via a six page spread on each state which

includes both private and state park lodging options.

Along with the four states there are various articles on Finding the Right Campground, Camping with Kids, Being Sun Smart, Oldest and Tallest trees, Pop Up Campers and a report on Jayco’s Pinnacle Fifth Wheel.

Free editorial space is being made available to both Private and State Park organizations to promote the various aspects of camping and the campground lifestyle.

National Parks currently provide interesting and informative articles each issue. The magazine also promotes campgrounds via various advertising options.

This issue promotes Jellystone Mill Run and Shawnee State Park in Pennsylvania, Springfield KOA and Cave In Rock Lodge in Illinois, Cherry Hill Park and Mill Pond Cottage in Maryland and Pine Grove RV Park and Ponca State Park in Nebraska.

Continued

National State Parks Director Joe Elton provides interesting articles espousing the use of Public Parks

Evanne Schmarder's RV Cooking Show page is always very popular with GetawayUSA readers.

Each issue features a Recipe pertaining to one of the featured States.

Issue 7 features an article on Finding The Right Campground The next issue will promote the states of Ohio, New Jersey, Indiana and New York.

Private Campgrounds or State Parks interested in featuring in this issue please contact the Publisher, Dennis Macready at 865 387 5667 or by email dennis@industryenews.com.

Editorial enquiry is also welcomed pertaining to the four states featured or promoting the camping or RVing lifestyle.

Dennis Macready

Organizers of the America’s Summit on National Parks – the National Park Hospitality Association (NPHA), National Park Foundation (NPF) and National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) – have found so much enthusiasm for the first-ever Summit that the reserved space was simply inadequate, and other Washington events on the original dates in early November have alternative space booked.

The Summit will now take place on Jan. 24-26, 2012, and a National Park Partners Strategic Planning Session has been added on the original November date.

The Summit will draw 300plus leaders from across the nation to Washington to review the Five-Year Action Plan of the National Park

Service (NPS) and unite park partners around supplemental actions designed to make national parks relevant and valued to all Americans for generations to come.

The National Park Partners Strategic Planning Session will play a key role in planning for the Summit and other partnership efforts, including a possible parks promotional campaign. NPS Director Jon Jarvis and key NPS leaders will participate actively in both the Summit and the November Strategic Planning Session.

NPHA board members, as well as key members, will be joined by volunteer leaders and key staffers of NPCA and NPF.

GRANVILLE OH -- Let's be frank: Unless you choose to ignore the zipline, candy bar bingo games, organized craft sessions and occasional appearance by a live disc jockey, spending a weekend camping at Lazy River at Granville isn't exactly "roughing it."

But the place has been proven to be a favorite among campers from near and far, and the Kasper family works hard to ensure it stays that way.

The husband-wife duo of Mark and Kathy Kasper came into ownership of Lazy River more than 10 years ago amid a search for a family business they and their five children could participate in together.

Having both grown up in "camping" families, the Springfield couple deemed Lazy River a perfect fit for their lifestyle and business aspirations.

Of course, the 55-acre property about five miles north of Granville didn't always look the way it does now, with its neatly manicured lawns, landscaped walkways and creek complete with sculpted bank.

"When we came here, it was kind of a diamond in the rough -- and it was really rough," Mark said. "It needed a lot of attention."

So the Kaspers began

working. Throughout the years, a miniature golf course has been added, and the camp store has evolved from a pop-andcandy joint to a miniature grocery store that also serves pizza and other hot meals.

The facility boasts a game room with pinball games and a pool table; a fitness room; wireless Internet; a playground, horseshoe area and sand volleyball court. More than half of the campground's property is set aside for hiking trails and a BMX track.

Regularly scheduled activities -- often themed according to a holiday -- fill weekends with family fun, while on rainy days, campers can watch a movie on the projector in the recreation hall or even enjoy cable TV from their campers.

And as alternatives to camping in a tent or camper, guests can choose from a number of cabins and lodges of various sizes -- or the fivebedroom "Family Home" that sleeps 16.

Of course, campground life is not all glamour for the Kaspers.

They have had to learn a lot about basic maintenance, sometimes at odd hours of the night, and hardly put in 40-hour work weeks.

Mark and Kathy Kasper "It's not a job. It's really a way of life," Mark said.

"You couldn't do it as many hours as we do if you didn't think of it as a lifestyle," Kathy added.

The Kaspers live in a house on the adjacent property and spend the offseason -November through March -planning projects and activities for the upcoming season.

It keeps them busy, but they do it because they enjoy the people -- they've had campers from all 50 states as well as England, France, Germany, Canada and South America.

"We get to learn about so many different things, and we get to meet so many different people," Kathy said.

Article: www.newarkadvocate.com

will be voting on a proposal to extend full NASPD membership to the National Association of RV parks and Campgrounds (ARVC).

The National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD) is currently holding its 2011 national conference through Friday at Custer State Park in South Dakota.

NASPD’s event takes on added significance this year because members

LAKE GEORGE NY—The Warren County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a murder-suicide at Adirondack Camping Village on Finkle Road, north of Lake George village.

Reports indicate that a

The NASPD vote comes on the heels of an agreement announced July 8 to extend free membership in ARVC to NASPD members on a trial basis for the remainder of this year.

The NASPD members will discuss ARVC state park memberships on Wednesday between 10 a.m. and noon Mountain Time.

father killed his two children this morning before killing himself.

No details have yet been released. The victims are reportedly from westernNew York.

Last weekend I had the opportunity to spend some time with friends Randy & Jocelyn Jenkins of Statesville East KOA in North Carolina.

With the rainy weather holding off, Saturday was relatively quiet with people coming into the store and claiming their campsite.

Sitting around out of the sun we enjoyed the day watching campers gradually fill up the campground.

Never had this experience before I was left wondering the lifestyle of a campground owner aint that bad after all!

The activities were planned with a fishing competition,

corn hole tournament and later that night bingo was on the agenda.

Sounds easy- right?

Not to mention the never ending watching out for pool activities that may upset guests and making sure kids don’t destroy the jumping pillow. Only one small repair during the dayreplacing one of the pool ladders where an over exuberant customer must have loosened the fixture.

Did I mention the free time taken up with running the Concession stand and feeding those wonderful children ice cream, pizzas and anything else that the lil darling hearts wanted?

Oh, and then there is the store- ice cream at half price, the never ending visits of children and adults alike reaping the benefits of a half price extravaganza.

All going well we followed Randy and Jocelyn around along with daughter Jocelyn Michelle and husband Tim wondering when do they actually take a break. Not so- each time we reached for a cold one something else required attention.

I am by now reconsidering owning a campground.

Randy & Jocelyn Jenkins

That night 80 or so guests gathered under the pavilion

for the nonprofit making game of bingo and guess what- Randy had us call a game, not too embarrassing for us two Australians. Somehow we managed to get through it and a very enjoyable night was had by all.

Day one down. Sunday morning and it all starts again! More activities, more ice cream and the ball rolls along.

That night we just had enough time for KFC before Randy was called away to discuss the new variations he is planning for the Midway Wicked Woods, a very successful addition to the campground.

Monday comes at last and people are busy packing up and now Randy.

Jocelyn, Jocelyn Michelle and Tim start to smile,

Jocelyn Michelle and Tim that’s not to say they don’t smile at their guests, they always did. But Monday is more of a relief smile.

Another holiday weekend comes and goes.

The easy life of a campground owner- I think not!

Dennis Macready Editor

Even though business increased for many local tourist attractions this summer, owners still have problems with the state government.

From filing paperwork to receiving certification to paying too much in taxes, owners want relief from the state.

Becky Querreveld, Hidden Valley Campground owner, said there is no end, it seems, to how difficult the state government makes it to run a small business.

file the forms, both federal and state. You have to hire someone just to fiddle with the red tape for a small business like ours.''

Anita Perry, Chautauqua Lake KOA owner, agreed that filing paperwork with the state government is a full-time job. She said it took her several years to get a permit to add more sites to the campground.

Then once the business was ready to expand again, they had to wait again.

''They're a thorn in my side.

When it comes to state requirements for doing business, how difficult can they make it?'' she said.

''We followed everything to the letter. We had to jump through hoops that we probably shouldn't have had to,'' she said. ''They make it difficult for smallbusiness people.''

''The amount of state taxes doesn't help. It is difficult to

Ben Webb, Webb's Captain Table manager and

banquet coordinator, said state taxes are the biggest hindrance on his business. ''I would really say the tax burden on businesses is the No. 1 issue,'' he said. ''Taxes just need to be decreased. As far as a tax burden, we are the worst.

That is not conducive to business.''

Andrew Carlson, Village Casino in Bemus Point and Wing City Grille owner, said, on a whole,

New York state is the biggest problem with running a business in the county. ''They're just a little difficult to deal with,'' he said. ''We employ more than 300 people and we're just looking for more New York state support when it comes to running the business.''

Article; http://post-journal.com

Mel Weaver, owner of the Lake Greenwood Motorcoach Resort in Cross Hill, S.C. announced that he has established a joint venture agreement with RV resort development pioneer Randall Henderson, founder of Outdoor Resorts of America Inc. and Signature Resorts.

Henderson will work in partnership with Weaver to manage and promote the Lake Greenwood Motorcoach Resort — formerly CaneCreek RV Resort and Marina.

Located on Lake Greenwood, the resort features an attractive clubhouse and pool overlooking the lake and private docks and pontoon boats for guests.

Henderson served as chairman, CEO and president of Outdoor Resorts of America for more than 30 years. He subsequently joined Monaco Corp. and served as president of its wholly owned subsidiary, Signature Resorts, for six years.

During his career, Henderson has developed 29 RV or motorcoach resorts in prime locations across the country. Two of the resorts are on Hilton Head Island, including the first exclusive motorcoach resort built in the U.S. He was the first to introduce

the concept of condominium ownership of RV lots. He was chosen to serve on the National Recreation Roundtable and served on the Family Motor Coach Association Commercial Council for many years.

“With his 30 years’ experience in developing, operating, marketing and selling RV resorts, Randall is the perfect partner to help make Lake Greenwood Motorcoach Resort a prime destination for Class A motorcoach owners,” said Weaver.

Through the joint venture, Weaver also secured the services of Henderson’s former Outdoor Resorts associate David McMillin, with 25 years of experience in marketing and industry relations, as well as Dan Bailey, an experienced sales professional who has sold more than 100 RV lots.

“When you take into account the impact that the recession has had on the Class A motorhome sector, Lake Greenwood is ideal,” said Henderson. “The resort is unique, small at only 84 lots and it has a nine-month season.” The resort is within an easy drive from Columbia, Greenville, Spartanburg, and Charleston, S.C.; Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Greensboro and Asheville, N.C.; and Atlanta, Ga.

Lake Greenwood appeals to those looking for an extended stay or simply a weekend visit.

“This resort should make any motorhome experience more enjoyable,” said Henderson.

Henderson will work closely with RV manufacturers, dealers and customers to ensure that the resort meets

the needs of the marketplace. For dealers within a 250-mile radius of the resort, he plans to offer free one-week getaway certificates that they can pass along to their customers.

“Along with manufacturers and dealers, we will do our utmost to serve the needs of the motorhome owner,” Henderson said.

Caravanners on a popular Queensland tourist route could be forgiven for thinking they had strayed onto America's legendary Route 66.

For there alongside Steve Irwin Way in the Sunshine Coast hinterland – ironically designated Route 6 – were two American 24ft Airstream caravans glistening in all their glory in the afternoon sunshine.

"They really took us by surprise," NSW grey nomad Harry Reid told Caravanning News. "I know they are all the go in the States, but I didn't think I'd see one, let alone two, here in the shadow of the Glasshouse Mountains."

The aluminium vintage bullet-shaped 1963 Tradewind Airstreams are being sold by Noosa businessman Gabriel Cerasani, who owns a coffee company.

One is fitted out as a mobile coffee shop and is up for sale at $77,000 while

the other boasts its original interior and is being offered at $33,000.

And they have created so much interest that sometimes Steve Irwin Way, just a few kilometres from Australia Zoo, is lined with parked caravans and cars as passing tourists stop to get a better look at the classic slice of America.

The Airstreams are on display at All About Trailers, where spokeswoman Adrienne Heppel said: "People queue up along the road. In one day alone about 30 of them dropped by for a closer look."

Mr Cerasani, who owns a third Airstream operating as the Bullet Cafe in Noosaville, said: "They have generated a lot of interest but haven't sold yet. If they don't, I will rent them out as mobile coffee shops."

The shiny "silver bullet", as the Airstream became known, is making a big comeback in the US and

Adrienne gives a wave from the door of an Airstream has become a must-have for many showbiz stars.

Tom Hanks, Pamela Anderson, Denzel Washington and Saun Penn have all owned one.

Production was increased by 25 percent two years ago to meet the growing demand.

Article by Caravanning News

For the third consecutive year, Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park™ Campground of Sioux Falls is welcoming families to get lost in seven acres of twists, turns and dead ends in the world’s only Yogi Bear Corn Maze.

“Whether you solve the maze under blue skies, with flashlights, or the light of the moon on a starry night, the maze is fun for all ages,” said Bruce Aljets, owner of Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Campground. “Once again, we are excited to offer folks from the tri-state region a unique, budget-conscious option for the whole family to enjoy.”

Opening Friday September 2, the corn maze is located at Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Campground at the I90 Exit 402. Admission is open to the general public and includes the corn maze with two levels of difficulty, jumping pillow, wagon rides and visits by Yogi Bear. Discounts are given to camping guests or groups of 20 or more

Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Campground of Sioux Falls was named Campground of the Year in 2009 by the Jellystone Park franchise system.

Continued

has become a must-have for many showbiz stars.

Tom Hanks, Pamela Anderson, Denzel Washington and Saun Penn have all owned one.

Production was increased by 25 percent two years ago to meet the growing demand.

Article by Carravanning News

Midway Wicked Woods in North Carolina

With Jeff Sims all off on weekends. Many are off on Monday & Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday and will provide you an opportunity to fill in low occupancy times.

I told the park owner that is just one example of things you can pick up by networking with members of an association. He replied, "Maybe I do need your association after all!"

In my park visits last year a ran across a park owner who said,"I don't need your association, I'm full every weekend." Having been involved in ARVC for most of my professional career I well know the importance of networking. Attending the ARVC convention is the perfect place and I always got a return on my investment of the cost of attending. Yes, attendance is an investment in your park.

I told the gentleman, "What you are really telling me is that you are not full on weekdays." I decided to give him an idea I had years ago at my park. I worked with the Human Resources Departments of three major hospitals and set up an employee discount at my park. Think about it. Hospitals are usually major employers in an area, have three shifts of people and they are not

WILMINGTON, N.C. -- The “dog” days of summer might be over, but the fun continues as Wilmington KOA Campground on Market Street hosts the legendary 27-foot-long Oscar Mayer Wienermobile on site Sept. 9 and 10.

For 75 years, the iconic Wienermobile has been on a mission to spread miles of smiles across America.

Wilmington KOA and Oscar Mayer welcome the community to join them in a fun-food cookout bringing campers together in support of the KOA Kids’ Care Camps.

The Wienermobile will be at Wilmington KOA on Friday, Sept. 9 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., and on Saturday, Sept. 10 from 4 p.m. to 7

A man died and a woman barely escaped with her life last Wednesday in an early morning blaze in a Star Valley RV park Arizona.

Ruth Butcher, 88, was sleeping in the forward area of a fifth wheel in the Lamplighter RV Park when she smelled smoke and heard popping noises coming from the rear of the trailer at about 3:20 a.m., said Lt. Tim Scott with the Gila County Sheriff’s Office.

When Butcher opened a bedroom door, smoke and flames were everywhere, including where her son, Stanley Slaughter, 64, was sleeping on the couch.

p.m., also making an appearance at Ogden Car Wash on Market Street on Sept. 10 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

provides children with cancer a care-free time at sleep-away camp focusing on fun, friends, and activities instead of on their illness. Free hot dogs and soda will be served at the cookout on Saturday, and families will have the opportunity for photos, games, contests, and prizes on both days.

Oscar Mayer Hotdoggers – the official Wienermobile spokespersons – will be teaming up with KOA to support the KOA Kids’ Care Camps, which

Unable to reach Slaughter and barely able to make it to the trailer’s door, Butcher fled the trailer and raced to a neighbor’s home where she told them to call for help

The city that never sleeps now offers a place to spend the night under the stars.

This past Fourth of July weekend, Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, a division of the Gateway National Recreation Area, opened 40 campsites to the public.

In the less than two months, the new campground has welcomed over 1,200 visitors with even more interested tourists inquiring from as far away as Germany and Russia.

Floyd Bennett Field, a former airport, is one of very few campgrounds within the city limits of a major city.

At $20 per night for one campsite and only 15 miles away from Times Square, Floyd Bennett Field allows New Yorkers and toruists alike to see New York City's more natural side.

"The campground itself is definitely on soil, but it’s surrounded by trees. You

can’t see the historic buildings or the rest of Brooklyn from the campsite,” said John Warren, the public affairs specialist at Gateway National Recreation Area.

tourists who have always wanted to visit New York City but couldn't afford New York City hotel rates. At the same time, Warren says Floyd Bennett Field offers a great opportunity for locals.

Although Brooklyn campers don't have to worry about bears or wolves, over 500 different species of animals live at Floyd Bennett Field.

Gateway National Recreation Area is stationed along the Atlantic Flyway -- a historic migration pattern for numerous bird species -allowing hundreds of different bird species to come through the park.

Warren stated that the campsite is perfect for

"We also want to have the camping experience available for New Yorkers who maybe haven't had that experience before," Warren said. "They might want to get their feet wet before camping in Yellowstone or Yosemite."

In the future, Gateway National Recreation Area hopes to open 90 or more campsites at Floyd Bennett Field.

You may have to look harder to see those convoys of motor homes headed for vacation spots this summer. The RVs are getting smaller.

While sales of traditional motor homes have grown at a respectable 6.2% rate for the first six months of the year, two smaller classes encompassing large van conversions have grown nearly twice as fast, the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association reports.

"The era of bigger-is-better and more ostentatious" is over, declares RVIA President Richard Coon.

Now, "The trend is toned down quite a bit."

Blame the economy and gas prices, but also retirees who have decided they

Richard Coon

don't need rolling McMansions for status in otherwise hard times.

"Fuel prices are driving it, but this is a cultural shift," says Bob Wheeler, CEO of Airstream, which converts delivery-vanstyle Mercedes-Benz Sprinters into low-key motor homes. "There's a shift away from conspicuous consumption."

Though these units are priced upwards of $125,000, Wheeler says they typically don't have the fancy paint and graphics of larger units.

"No flashy paint job," he says. Rather, it's "understated elegance" — and up to 18 miles a gallon from the modest diesel engine, triple the gas mileage of some big gasoline-powered motor homes.

Even in the bigger vehicle classes, some RVers are downsizing. RV-maker Fleetwood says many buyers of more traditional motor homes, who formerly would have opted for 36-footers or bigger, today are buying downsizing to its 28- to 32foot Storm line, which

starts at about $92,000, says Lenny Razo, eastern regional sales director.

Those RVs are being fitted with more spacemaximizing features, such as bunks that drop from the ceiling. Many buyers "are getting older, and they don't need as much" space, Razo says.

Winnebago, too, has introduced more lowerpriced motor homes and

fuel-saving diesels. "In the last couple of years, people are wanting value products, not necessarily all the bells and whistles like in 2004," says spokeswoman Sheila Davis.

Smaller motor homes also can be more versatile, such as serving as a base camp for little leaguers at games, as well as a home away from home on vacation, she says.

VA Fall Convention & Trade Show 10/25/2011 - 10/26/2011 Virginia Campground Association is holding its Fall Convention and Trade Show, October 25-26th at Bethpage Family Camp Resort in Urbanna, VA. For more information please contact David Gorin at 703.448.6863 or by email at tovca@aol.com or David@DavidGorinAssociates.com.

Contact: David Gorin Phone: 703.448.6863

Here in eastern Oklahoma a combination of 79 days of drought and heat set in from late May until early August. There were 35 days over 100 degrees and 33 days in the 90s.

Heavy spring rains on the east side of the state had made for robust growth of grasses, weeds, underbrush, bushes and trees. These dried to a crisp.

On August 8 disaster struck: a huge wildfire burned 15,000 acres and destroyed 35 homes just west of Tulsa. Flames were 100 feet in the air, fireballs travelling at speeds of over 25 miles per hour. 35 fire departments, the National Guard and helicopters dropping flame retardants were no match for the inferno.

We rarely picture the outdoors as droughtstricken tinderboxes fueling mountains of deadly flames. This tragic event provides a somber

reminder for anyone living in wooded areas. It should rivet the attention of those who own or manage campgrounds with underbrush, grass, bushes and trees, especially because the Oklahoma fires were only one event among the dozens of other similar fires happening in many other states with similar conditions. Take bans on outdoor burning seriously, stay tuned to local news about any and all fires in your region, and assume that a fire could happen where you live.

A special word about volunteer fire departments: fighting wildfires is a headache: heat, difficult terrain, and big problems getting sufficient water.

Support these heroes, your local firefighters, and be sure to contribute when there is a call to purchase upgraded equipment.

When water rationing is called for in order to keep the water pressure high, be sure to comply.

Bleess says guests will be charged a nominal fee on a nightly basis to stay at the facility.

The city of Winnebago plans on turning a messy mobile home park into a sparkling campground.

“Currently, we do not have an option for guests to stay in Winnebago,” City Administrator Austin Bleess says.

The city official feels the newly proposed campground on Fifth Avenue between Third and Fourth Streets provides a perfect solution for the lodging dilemma.

“We see a lot of traffic from travelers on Highway 169,” Bleess says. “If someone is staying for Moto Fest or is passing through on a cross-country road trip, we can now provide a place to stay at a reasonable price.”

At last month’s meeting, council members agreed in closed session to buy the lot for $12,500.

The city hopes to host 1520 camp sites on the 1.6acre lot once the project is completed.

At the moment, two dilapidated trailers occupy the grounds with debris from buildings strewn over the lot. Insulation, a recliner and stray 2x4’s are just some of the items scattering the property.

Clean up is scheduled to begin in mid to late September once the city takes possession of the lot.

Winnebago plans on hiring an outside company to dispose of the rundown trailers before winter temperatures invade the area.

Once spring camping season arrives, the city

intends to welcome their first guests.

Electric, water and sewer hook ups are already in place, which Bleess says will allow for an easy transition from trailer park to campground.

Once campers filter in, the Public Works Department will be in charge of maintaining the property.

Winnebago bought the park by using left over funds from selling the city’s liquor store 10 years ago.

“It will be great to see the space utilized,” Bleess says. “No tax dollars were used to purchase the property.”

Article: www.faribaultcountyregister.com

“We have been big promoters of Cabins, Park Models and Yurts for the Campground Industry”, says Art Lieberman, Producer of the Virtual Outdoor Hospitality Expo, taking place on the Internet November 10th and 11th of this year.

“Our reasoning has been simple,” explains Lieberman, “since we are also credit and debit card providers and statistics indicate that campgrounds that have such facilities are more financially successful overall than those that do not have them”. Lieberman is President of MCPS for Campgrounds which processes transactions for hundreds of campgrounds.

“Last year we were successful at having several cabin and park model manufacturers as exhibitors at the Virtual Expo, and some are also returning to this year’s event, but we were unable to convince a yurt manufacturer to participate.” This is particularly ironic since both Campground Expositions and MCPS for Campgrounds are operated from a 30-foot yurt in New Berlin, PA. So Lieberman and Coproducer Deanne Bower were gratified that Yurts of America, located in Indianapolis, Indiana agreed to become an Exhibitor at this year’s

Expo. The Company’s founder, Ken Lawrence began operations in 1989 when a fierce storm at a social re-enactment event destroyed every participant’s camping tent but left the only yurt there unharmed. Lawrence was amazed at the durability of the yurt and its ability to repel even the harshest of weather. Lawrence, a woodcrafter, decided to dedicate his skills to the yurt business and in 2007, joined with Jerry Ritchie, a successful local businessman, to expand the operation.

YoA has sold yurts for all type of uses such as bed and breakfasts, permanent homes, temporary homes, workshops and, of course, campground rentals. The yurts range in size from 16feet to 30-feet with colorful names like The Turkey Run, The Monon Trail (named after a rail trail in Indiana), The McCormick Creek and the Spring Hill.

There are dozens of enhancements which may be added to the standard features of YoA yurts to make them even more appealing to campers.

Prices start as low as $7,518 and YoA is the ONLY Company that offers a 15-year limited warrantee.

“It’s unbelievable how our yurt has withstood the harsh Pennsylvania weather,” says Bower “especially this year. We’ve experienced heavy snows,

winds and down pouring rains and, although we’ve heard the weather outside, we’ve remained comfortable inside. Our yurt is heated and airconditioned and has all the amenities of a regular office – replete with a bathroom, refrigerator, microwave and coffee pot.

Six desks with computers and a conference table fit comfortably into the 709 square feet of space in-theround provided by our yurt.

We’re big fans of yurts and owners have informed us that yurts rent first at campgrounds that have yurts, cabins and park models.” *** Campground Management, the daily internet publication dedicated to the

MONTPELIER — A fight over an outdoor water faucet at a Marshfield campground led to assault charges for two residents of the camping area, according to the Vermont State Police.

Steve Pratt and Diane Bickford are both due in criminal court in Barre to face charges after the Sunday afternoon fight.

campground industry has also agreed to once again participate as a media sponsor and exhibitor in the Expo. CM is also published also as a hard copy newspaper.

Ann Emerson, Vice President of Woodall’s Publication Corp, Sherman Goldenberg, Publisher and Steve Bibler. Editor, have been publicizing the Expo since its inception and we’re happy to see them return for this second year’s event.

The Virtual Outdoor Hospitality is produced by Art Lieberman and Deanne Bower of Campground Expositions. They can be reached at 877-901-EXPO (3976) or by e-mail at campvirtualshow@yahoo.com.

The website of the Expo is www.outdoorhospitalityexpo.com.

Bickford, 63, told police Pratt broke her thumb as they fought over an the outdoor faucet at the Onion River Campground on Route 2.

State police arrested Pratt, 52, for assault but also charged Bickford for assault because the investigation showed that Bickford allegedly hit and scratched Pratt, police said.