Issue 70 Campground

McLean, VA (October 27, 2009) – Best Parks in America™ (BPA), a six year old network of 23 premium level RV resorts in 11 states, recently announced a program overhaul that will put the Best Parks in America brand within reach of hundreds of top rated RV parks across the country.

The new Best Parks in America direction will expand on offering camping consumer’s the best in RVing and camping, helping them quickly locate the best RV

park and campground locations in the areas they most want to visit via the park industry’s only “niche” national internet and print directories.

To be included in the directories and participate in the Best Parks in America marketing programs a park must hold a total minimum score of ‘9’ in Woodall’s Campground Directory OR a ‘25.5’ total Trailer Life rating OR an ‘A’ or ‘A-’ Guest Reviews rating as scored by RVers and campers. Membership,

condominium, timeshare or public parks not rated by any of the established national rating services may qualify based on an inspection by Best Parks in America management.

Special limited-time park enrollment in the new BPA program will be available immediately at www.BestParks.net.

The introductory enrollment will run through January 31, 2010 and will offer exclusive inaugural participation fees and exceptional incentives for qualifying parks to Continued Page 2

become a Best Parks in America™ affiliate.

Benefits of Best Parks in America affiliation include: • A full page listing on www.BestParksinAmerica.com

and www.BestParks.com The listing includes the park’s logo, up to nine

photos, live links to email and the park’s website, online reservation links, a park description, amenities listing, special promotions and park news, and directions to the park. The online directory can be viewed at either of the above web addresses.

• A listing in RVing & Camping at the Best Parks

in America™ print directory debuting in late 2010.

Each listing will include a park description, a price symbol (one to five dollar signs ($) depending on pricing), contact information, directions, amenities, and special events. The directory will

be distributed at all BPA affiliated parks and at RV and camping shows throughout the country.

• In-park distribution of Best Guests in America™ RVing & Camping News, a complimentary newsletter with articles of interest to RVers and campers who fall into the

demographic of those visiting the nation’s best RV parks and campgrounds. An electronic version of the newsletter will be distributed to our growing list of Best Guest members.

• Affiliated parks will have access to the Best Guests in America complimentary camping club for marketing programs and promotions.

• Affiliated parks may use the Best Parks in America logo in their own advertising and marketing during the life of their participation in BPA. Many additional special marketing and promotional opportunities will be introduced in the coming months including

a special “Featured Park” website home page presence, participation in a unique marketing program with Best Parks and Coast to Coast and a variety of internet and print advertising opportunities to bring additional recognition and attention to BPA resorts and campgrounds.

Introductory affiliation fees for enrollments through January 31, 2010 start at just $300 a year.

Multiple year enrollments are also offered during this special introductory period. Parks that enroll in Best Parks in America

by November 15, 2009 will receive a one month complimentary online button ad during their peak season in 2010.

I read with interest the article last week about Thor and ARVC who are now going to offer Park Models and I wish to seek clarification.

When will this be available and are any floor plans available yet?

I presume you have to be a member of ARVC to purchase these units. We are interested but need further information if you can point me in the right direction please.

As I understand it you have to be a member of ARVC. I believe there will be more definitive information available on the models this time next week. We will keep you informed.

Oregon Campground

Editor

The Carrolls; Larry and Kim Jones-owners of Canyon Lake, TX Jellystone Park; Yogi; Michele Wisher, Leisure Systems David and Deidre Carroll from Keller, Texas, are the $10,000 grand prize winners of the Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park 40th Anniversary Video Contest.

The Carrolls and their daughters Ashton (age 7) and Jordan (age 5), received their $10,000 prize, a basket of Jellystone Park gift basket full of Yogi Bear souvenirs on a return visit to Jellystone Park in Canyon Lake, Texas – the site where the winning video was filmed during the family’s stay over the Fourth of July holiday.

“We’re very happy for the Carroll family. They reflect our mission to foster a fun family experience that creates lasting memories,”

said Michele Wisher, Director of Marketing for Leisure Systems Inc., the franchisor of Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts. “It was great to see so many entertaining and enthusiastic videos that show how our campers enjoy our parks.”

The contest, which ran May 23 to Sept. 8, 2009, required the videos to be taken at any of the 71 Jellystone Park CampResort locations and be 30 to 90 seconds in length (maximum length is 3 minutes.) Participants submitted 77 videos from 16 states and two provinces in Canada.

The general public was asked to vote for their

favorite videos which accounted for 50 percent of the overall score.

A panel of judges from Leisure Systems Inc., the franchiser of Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park CampResorts, also judged each video and contributed to the other 50 percent of the contestant’s score.

More than 21,000 votes were cast online with the Carroll’s video garnering the highest overall score from the public and Leisure Systems.

All of the videos can be seen at www.jellystonefun.com Because of fond memories David has from visits to

Jellystone Parks as a child, the Carroll family frequently visits Jellystone Park CampResorts to spend quality time as a family.

The Carrolls heard about the contest online and decided to film the video, which stars young Jordan Carroll asleep with her stuffed Yogi bear. In a dream sequence Yogi magically comes to life and Jordan relives all of the fun from her visit.

“We are thrilled to win the $10,000 grand prize,” said Deidre Carroll. “The girls are very excited because they are allowed to decide how to spend a small portion.”

FORT WAYNE – CrossRoads RV has decided to lighten up. The result, the Topeka-based company announced Friday, is 125 new jobs.

The LaGrange County manufacturer is reopening a closed plant as it ramps up production on redesigned SlingShot and Sunset Trail Ultra Light travel trailers.

The company is making the trailers from lighter materials, allowing SUVs and trucks to pull longer units, up to 29 feet each, President Mark Lucas said.

The environmentally friendly material, which

replaces much of the wood used in the traditional design, doesn’t mold or mildew, he said.

CrossRoads, which has already noticed stronger demand for its products, expects consumers will embrace the revamped models, which are priced from $21,000 to $27,000.

The new production line should be up to full speed in January. The company plans to hire 30 workers immediately and add 25 to 30 more each month for the next few months, he said.

Full Article: www.journalgazette.net

It would seem that David Gorin and the Virginia Campground Owners Association are in league with Mother Nature.

After a horrible weekend of several northeasters on the east coast of the US, the Annual Fall Meeting & Expo of the VA Association was held in supremely beautiful weather conditions starting on Monday, October 19th.

It also didn’t hurt attendees that the meeting was held at the beautiful and

David Gorin

expansive Yogi Bear Jellystone Camp Resort in Luray. Many of the attendees and exhibitors stayed at the park in the log cabins, which were extremely comfortable.

After the VCA board of directors meeting on Monday morning, several seminars in the afternoon, the Rust Family the camp’s owners and the hosts took attendees on a tour of their park.

Upon returning, David Gorin introduced the exhibitors to members and a buffet dinner was served to all.

As with so many of the state campgrounds shows, the “usual suspects” were present. Evergreen Insurance, Leisure Systems and, of course, National ARVC represented by Cheryl Smith, were all in the

The tradeshow officially opened on Tuesday after a continental breakfast and continued until lunch was served.

Several more seminars were followed by a tour of Luray Caverns and dinner.

Carol Baker: Ohiopyle Prints exhibit exhibits. Other familiar faces represented Anderson’s Brochure Distribution Service, Best Parks in America, Smart Parcs Entry Systems, Golf Associates, Recreational Marketing Associates, Wilcor, Silver Top Manufacturing and MCPS for Campgrounds.

But first-timer Ohiopyle Prints, Inc. of PA, an imprinted sportswear company, ably represented

by Carol Baker, was one of the hits in the exhibit area.

In the evening a crackerbarrel was held over a campfire.

On Wednesday morning, after a continental breakfast, the VCA Annual Meeting and another seminar were conducted before the convention ended.

By Art Lieberman

By Russell White In talking with a group of managers about the Next Generation I was trying to explain the differences between the generations and this guy from my audience says, "I don't know what's up with my younger employees but someone was handing out stupid and they were grabbing all they could get!" Sure everyone laughed, but he failed to see the joke - because he didn't have a mirror in front of him.

This new generation of workers is more intelligent, more technologically savvy, and better able to accomplish a multitude of tasks than generations prior. They are not stupid.

They also will not tolerate boorish managers, incomplete information and lack of proper training. There is where the stupid lies - in how managers are treating this generation that have the potential to make your organization soar!

What the older workers tolerated and grumbled about (still do) are things the younger generation just won't tolerate. The older generation felt that if they made a mistake even though they never received proper training it was somehow their fault and they would accept the dressing down mangers gave out.

The younger generation feels if you don't take the time to properly train them and teach them the job then the mistake is the company's fault and no need to sweat it. If the company doesn't care enough to take the time and make the effort to train, why should I bust my hump to learn it on my own, is an attitude that honestly is hard to argue with.

Stupidity rarely lives in the workforce. If you feel you have stupid employees, check the following areas for where stupid really lurks.

Training Because of the current economic times companies are eliminating training positions, shortening training times and generally hoping employees learn new tasks by speed osmosis. Then they wonder why there is no buy in and mistake happen? An old computer term was "Garbage in and garbage out" It still applies to training. Saving money in training is like saving car expenses by not changing your oil or rotating your tires.

You have to invest in the important areas of your business. Skill, talent and knowledge are the most important areas of business that bring growth.

Technology is worthless of you don't have the right people to use it and know what they are doing.

Hiring process Are you attracting the right people? Do you know the makeup of what the right person is? Do you know how to get in front of the right person? Does your company deserve the talent you desire? What do you offer that keeps the right talent excited about what they are doing for you?

Most organizations are begging for help, expecting disappointment and failing to hire exactly what they need as well as preparing the workplace to maintain the interest of the talent you want. If you are simply filling positions and hoping the new hire lasts 90 days then look in the mirror and you will see stupid. Any manager that sets that low of expectations is never going to get the right employees to fill the right jobs and it has nothing to do with the Next generation of employees.

Managers In the food service industry the greatest problem is keeping good employees.

The average annual turnover in this industry is 300%. That means for every 50 jobs you have to fill you have to hire 150 people just to keep the jobs full, and that's the average!

In light of this I've been asking every good waitstaff I encounter if anyone thanked them for coming to work today. It has been five years and hundreds of waitstaff asked and I have yet to find one, just one tell me their manager thanked them for coming to work today.

Do you thank your customers? What about your regulars who do business with you over and over, do you show appreciation to them? Your employees expect a daily appreciation of some sort for working. Not because they are needy, not because they are insecure and want to be loved, but because they are giving you their time talents and efforts and they could be giving it to anyone they want to. Calling them stupid is NOT how you earn their loyalty, respect and best efforts.

Last year, Leavitt Recreation and Hospitality Insurance and Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company launched a competition among campgrounds around the country.

One campground, Cordele KOA, was selected the winner and allowed to direct a $10,000 grant to a local fire department of its choice. Norma Perkins, the general manager of

Norma Perkins, general manager of Cordele KOA and Fire Chief Ray Lunsford celebrate.

New automated external defibrillator (one of six new AEDs)

Cordele KOA, chose Crisp County.

Now, thanks to the contest, the fire department will be receiving six new automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and various medical supplies to strengthen rescue operations in the community.

Fire Chief Lunsford, and Fireman's Fund representatives Don Culpepper and Michael Kennedy, Norma Perkins with Cordele KOA and Jimmy Tumblin with Leavitt Recreation & Hospitality Insurance present a $10,000 Heritage grant to Crisp County Fire Rescue.

the wooded area of the property for campers only, it was decided to open it up to the general public.

That was a huge success with attendance increasing each year.

Campers wanting to be at the Wicked Woods for Halloween weekend start making reservations in June to get their favorite site.

On Halloween weekend there is a costume contest for adults and children and breaking a piñata. The children enjoy trick or treating around the campground to fill their candy bag.

The activities end with a chicken stew at 5pm and the Wicked Woods open at 7:30pm.

“The camper nights for the month of October have increased by holding Midway Wicked Woods at the campground, several thousand people from the

surrounding area come every year to walk through and that is great, additional exposure for our campground.” Owner, Randy Jenkins said.

“Midway Wicked Woods is designed for teens and adults, we have so much fun watching people scream and run in fear, what started as an activity for our campers on Halloween weekend has turned into 14 nights of scares for the campers and the general public during October.” he said.

Randy and his staff start in August building the Wicked Woods, and work on it up to opening night.

Midway Wicked Woods is located at Statesville East/I-40/Winston-Salem KOA, 114 Midway Drive, Statesville, NC.

The first Trail of Horror was a hay ride, with the campers as actors on Friday and Saturday night.

The wicked woods concept started 15 years ago, and was then called Midway Trail of Horror, starting as a Halloween activity for their campers on Halloween weekend.

Halloween weekend became very popular and with more campers wanting to attend, it was increased to two weekends in October.

After holding the Trail Of Horror for several years in

Wicked Woods has 2500’of enclosed scares held in 9 buildings, a 600’dark maze and the very popular vortex tunnel which makes you feel like you are falling while you walk. “Our woods, and are alive at night in October,” Randy said.

The Wicked Woods walk usually takes 30 minutes. www.midwaywickedwoods.com

Rex Maughan Chairman, President, and Director of Forever Living Products International, Inc. and its affiliate, Forever Resorts, was the recipient of The 21st Sheldon Coleman Great Outdoors Award at a featured event held at the 2009 Park Partners Forum October 20 in Yosemite National Park.

Maughan is one of the recreation community’s most dynamic and influential leaders, and he has long played an active role in building public / private partnerships, fostering environmentally responsible development, connecting children to the outdoors and encouraging

between the private sector and public officials to reverse declining park and public recreation site attendance by enticing a younger generation of visitors.

healthy outdoor activity.

“Rex Maughan is a visionary leader for the recreation and concessions industries.

His companies lead the way for others, showing how business should be done to enhance recreation experiences for generations to come,” said Derrick Crandall,

American Recreation Coalition (ARC) President.

In 2008, Maughan led efforts to produce the Outdoor Recreation Village at Super Bowl XLII in Glendale, Ariz., an activity that helped define ARC’s National Get Outdoors Day initiative.

The event accelerated ongoing collaborative efforts

The Sheldon Coleman Great Outdoors Award is presented annually to an individual whose personal efforts have contributed substantially to enhancing outdoor experiences across America. The award was established in 1989 in honor of Sheldon Coleman (1901-1988), longtime Chairman of The Coleman Company and a visionary champion of outdoor recreation and conservation.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will receive a parks award from the National Parks Trust this coming Thursday in Washington, D. C. "for his leadership and innovation in the protection of public lands in California".

parks money on top of cuts he had already proposed, his administration started the process to close one hundred state parks.

The reaction in California has been one of universal disbelief.

After a two-month campaign by parks advocates, he backed off any outright closures.

Earlier this year the Governor made a budget proposal to close 220 of the 279 California state parks. This summer, after the Governor vetoed

This is something no California Governor has ever done, or ever attempted.

But even now, the same dollar cuts are forcing closures of some state parks for days, weeks and months at a time, along with

closure of campgrounds, restrooms, and other parks facilities across the state.

California's state parks system has grown by hundreds of thousands of acres in recent years. In part because of that growth, but also due to a growth in public use - state park visitation has increased 48% in the past thirty years, while funding for park staffing has risen by only 13%.

At many California state parks the lights are on, but nobody's home.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

address verification service (AVS): A fraud deterrent used in “cardnot-present” transactions.

By entering customers address and zip code risks are lowered to processors and costs to merchants.

By Art Lieberman I was on the phone the other day, perhaps feeling a bit tired, and I was babbling to a prospective customer. “Look I said, my company is an acquirer, rather than an ISA. We can set you up with interchange rates, or even as a MOTO, and if you’ll use AVS you should save yourself lots of money!” To which the customer replied “What”?

I realized I was speaking in bankese, the language of the processor, instead of English. So I decided that perhaps you’d like a small translation of what the terms that the industry uses. acquirer or acquiring bank: Recognized by Visa or MasterCard as a financial institution that links the merchant to a payment authorization. To sell bankcard services an agent must have an agreement with an acquirer.

agent bank: A bank that offers credit cards services to its customers but uses a processing bank to do so. A middle man. authorization: An electronic exchange between a card issuing bank and an acquiring bank confirming that the cardholder has sufficient funds or credit. batch: A collection of transactions usually sent at the end of the day.

Closing a batch sends the money to the processor. card verification value (CVV): The 3 digit number on the back of a card next to the signature panel. chargeback: When a cardholder tells his issuing bank to void a transaction and that bank contacts the merchant’s bank leaving the merchant liable. A thirdparty usually settles the matter.

encryption: A method to protect data which converts the data to unintelligible text. Used for pin-pads.

settlement: When a card company debits the issuer and credits the acquirer for a transaction and the acquirer credits the merchant (less the fees).

interchange: The basic fees on all cards and card type established by Visa, MasterCard and Discover upon which processing fees are added.

signature debit: A debit card transaction that is performed without a pin-pad. Also called offline debit.

ISO: An independent sales organization registered with VISA & MasterCard and sponsored by an acquirer to sell credit card services. An ISA is an Independent sales agent. mail order/telephone order (MOTO): A category of processing transactions.

Usually keyed-in transactions done at a higher rate.

PIN debit: A debit card transaction which is done by a merchant using the customer’s personal identification number entered into a pin-pad. processor: A company that enters transactions to consumer accounts for settlement by card networks.

transaction fee: A fee deducted from the merchant’s account for each transaction. triple DES encryption: A method of encrypting pin debit devices which is a million times more secure than those previously used.

I sure hope this minidictionary helps the next time you talk to a credit card provider!

Art Lieberman is President of MCPS for Campgrounds, a credit card processor sponsored

by Woodforest Bank NA. Art has been in the Credit Card industry for nearly 12 years.

Art has been conducting webinars online and seminars on credit cards in many State and Regional Association Conventions. He can be contacted at art@mcpsforcampgrounds.com

The latest product to hit the campground industry is receiving major interest by owners who see these bikes as an opportunity for good revenue by renting them to campers.

The bikes are not only "green" environmentally

friendly but are safe and extremely economical with a battery charge range of up to 25 miles.

Campgrounds can purchase the bikes outright for as low as $1195 ensuring an excellent and fast return on investment.

Speed: Up to 16 mph Range: Up to 25 Miles Motor: 350 watt brushless motor Driving Sytem: Powerful 48 volt front hub drive System built into the front wheel!

Charging Time: 4-6 hours for pennies Battery: 48 volt 14 AH sealed lead battery acid

Battery Charger: 110 volt smart charger, UL Listed Tires: Front 16 x 2.5" and rear pneumatic 10 x 3.5" Color: White and Black (Custom Paint Jobs Also) Size: 40" L x 26.8 "Wx 5.7" H Weight: 93 lbs.

Comes With: headlight, taillight, and horn. (Basket Optional)

Campers Cove.

Schooler said McNeely told cabin owners that filing an appeal with LUBA would buy an extra 12 to 14 months before any action could be taken to remove the park models.

"We don't want to lose our cabin," she said. "We don't want to lose the resort."

Millions of dollars invested in the Hyatt Lake Resort are on the line as cabin owners fear the fallout from a recent ruling by a Jackson County hearings officer according to the Mail Tribune, Medford, Oregon.

At the same time, the owner of the resort, Bob McNeely, filed for bankruptcy on Sept. 30 for Nor'wester Industries Inc. of Washington, the company that built the cabins, which McNeely describes as recreational vehicles.

On Oct. 13, McNeely filed an appeal with the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals over the Jackson County hearings officer's decision that finds the county Planning Department erred when it allowed 22 units on the property in the first place.

Owners of the cabins, who have agreements to rent them out for $150 or more a night, now are worried about their $150,000 to $200,000 investment, and the fear has spread to nearby Campers Cove, where another 25 units have been installed. Most of the owners live in Jackson County.

"I think everybody is pretty stressed out and concerned," said Robin

Schooler, who owns one of the small cabins at the Hyatt Lake Resort.

The Bonanza resident said her dismay about the situation is directed more at surrounding Greensprings property owners who appealed Jackson County's approval of a limited expansion of the resort.

Hearings officer Donald Rubenstein concluded that small cabins referred to by the resort owner as recreational vehicles are, in fact, dwellings that potentially pose a fire danger for the resort and the surrounding forest.

He said the resort 20 miles east of Ashland resembles a high-density residential development with some units only 7 feet apart.

Rubenstein concluded county planners erred in allowing 22 of the cabins at the resort. He rejected a

request to add an additional 13 spaces.

Schooler said her husband, Michael, helped Bob McNeely's brother, Don, log some of the trees on the property.

"The whole situation for us is kind of sad," she said.

"My husband and Don McNeely are best friends.

We're not letting any of this come between us."

Still, Schooler is worried about receiving a percentage of the rent from her cottages that goes back to August, particularly with property taxes now owed. "That's pretty upsetting," she said.

Despite the lack of rent collected from tenants who have stayed in her cabin, Schooler said she and her husband continue to make the payments for the park model and lease of the property from

McNeely said he's ready to fight any attempts to shut him down.

"I will go to my grave resolving it," he said.

He said millions of dollars now are tied up in the project, his line of credit has been canceled and his company, Nor'wester, has been shut down and its 105 employees have been laid off. He said he's also laid off more than 30 employees at the resort. So far, he said he has spent almost $150,000 in legal fees.

As a result of the publicity, McNeely said he has received 57 cancellations at his resort, but disputed claims he is behind in payments to cabin owners.

He blames both the Greensprings neighbors and the county, which gave him the permits, for the situation that threatens his livelihood.

Full Article: www.mailtribune.com

By Larry

Seasonal transitions present opportunity and challenge for the basics of environmental responsibility (translated “work”). Given the fact that RV parks and Campgrounds extend from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, not everything on the list of things to do will apply at any given time.

But sooner or later most of them need tending to.

Leaves: DON’T BURN THEM and don’t ignore them. They make excellent mulch and soil enrichment material. Oak leaves are rich in nitrogen and make an excellent nutrient for next year’s vegetable and flower beds.

Erosion: correct erosion when it starts. Get double benefit from disposing of downed tree limbs and unwanted rocks by burying them in any cuts in the hillsides, embankments or slopes that rain has produced during the past season.

Anticipation: if you are in a climate where it snows,

watch and mark the places where the snow drifts occur. That is where the most snow melt will be and, therefore, the most water that may need to be managed. Keep in mind the golden rule for water flow: always divert it away from roads and into areas where the ground has the most chance of absorbing it. Watch for opportunities to use runoff as a means of restoring or creating wetland areas, however small. Wetland areas serve to catch what could be runaway water flow, soil that has eroded, and contaminants that otherwise would go directly into streams or underground water supply. Remember, it is a violation of the Clean Water Act to allow soil erosion and contaminants to flow into federal waterways and into secondary streams or rivers that flow into federal waterways.

Trees: fallen tree limbs, dying branches, dead or infected trees need to be cut and disposed of properly. Limbs overhanging wires and rooftops need to be trimmed away. The idea is to do it before a danger or hazard becomes an accident.

This is truly a case of the ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure.

Improvement: use the seasonal transition towards winter as a time to plan improvements. A very good place for ponds would be where there is runoff from snows and rain. Get mileage out of the ponds by making them fishing accessible and, where feasible, using them as a source of irrigation.

Lay out an area for a community flower and vegetable garden and integrate it with leaf and compost disposal. Create a place where worms and night crawlers can thrive, providing a convenient source of live bait for those patrons who fish.

Carve steps into those steep places on your pathways and secure them with rocks and cut wood and mulch. Over the years creating and enhancing pathways and steps can create convenience, safety and beauty.

Think small and think lazy: it may sound like a contradiction in terms, but

the best strategy for environmental improvement is to think small and do the least amount of work possible.

The secret is to stay with it, season in and season out.

Little by little it adds up.

What was once work becomes a satisfaction and source of pride, a joy rather than a burden. Look at it this way: nothing in nature needs to be treated as trash, a nuisance or useless. Consider what you have as a resource waiting to be utilized. Figure out a strategic and creative approach. Be imaginative.

Finally, observe. Take a good look at what others have done. It’s a great source of ideas. Then go and talk with those who have done it to learn from them what they learned the hard way. Once again, you will often get a two-for- one bargain because imitation and advice seeking are the most sincere forms of flattery! You’ll make friends while at the same time improving your land.

LEWISTON ID - Spooky Halloween creatures are making their yearly appearance a week early to scare those participating in the Hells Gate Haunted Hayrides.

Saturday at 5 pm, Hells Gate State Park will start the event with face and pumpkin painting, apple bobbing and a costume contest. Then at dark, it'll be time to load up on the wagons and head down into the campgrounds, where anything could be hiding.

"Witches, Dracula may be hiding down there, maybe a couple of werewolves, and I heard there's a guy waiting to get somebody with a chainsaw," said Park Ranger Kip Kemak. "Just a number of different ghouls and goblins, it's going to be a good time."

The hayride is a family event, but Kemak said it might be too scary for

anyone under six.

Planning for the event takes about two weeks and Kemak said he's excited to see it all come together.

"This is my favorite part of the year, I'm really looking forward to it," said Kemak.

Kemak said the annual event is made possible my volunteers and sponsors around the community.

"I just want to thank our sponsors, Tumack Outdoor, for donating the tractors, Jim Reiner construction, for the trailer, Jim Nelly and KHits and Big Country Radio, and Coca-Cola," said Kemak.

The fun happens from 5:00-9:00 p.m. Saturday at Hells Gate State Park.

By Anne Harding www.klewtv.com

PALM BEACH GARDENS — The steam shovels demolished more than an old A-frame building last Friday.

Boulevard and Congress Avenue, was once a thriving mobile home community. It's now empty and for sale.

Twenty years ago, the brown building was the center of a 10-acre bustling RV park, where families would play games by day and kibitz around the campfire at night. The owners, Bill and Shirley Hudson, decorated the grounds for St. Patrick's Day and New Year's Eve parties.

Bill, a retired teacher who died in 2007 at 76, opened the park at the northwest corner of Alternate A1A and Hood Road in 1978 as a KOA campground. Shirley kept the park open until June.

Demolishing the A-frame building is the first step in building a 46,000-squarefoot Publix. Construction is expected to start later this year.

"Some may feel nostalgia.

But you have to get used to it," said Palm Beach Gardens Vice-Mayor David Levy.

Mobile home parks, large tracts of land with existing utilities and on main roads, are prime property for developers. Hilltop Gardens, at Northlake

The area was cow pastures, tomato fields and strawberry patches when the Hudsons started. The building's unusual AFrame structure —

"I have such happy memories. We were a little community," said Shirley, speaking from her home on the coast of Maine.

Photo by Bill DiPaolo

designed to resemble a tent — was a KOA requirement, said Shirley, 71.

"There were no homes anywhere. Military Trail was not paved north of PGA," she said.

Bill, a slender man who loved Harley-Davidson motorcycles, loved to show off his campground.

"One of our first dates, he brought me there. He wanted to show me the sewer pump. He was proud that the camp had its own sewer system," Shirley said.

"The campground is a very happy chapter in my life," she said.

Article: www.palmbeachpost.com

As if all that old gear wasn't enough of a draw, the museum is also home to the Family Camping Hall of Fame, which includes such luminaries as Teddy Roosevelt, L.L. Bean, and Roy Heise himself. One wall inside the old log cabin is filled with plaques dedicated to memorializing those that made camping fun and adventurous for families everywhere.

The museum is a perfect walk down memory lane for

www.ucampnh.com/museum/Welcome.html There once was a time Scouts and extending to when family vacations his later life, when in 1955 meant loading up the car he opened the first public and hitting the road for a campgrounds in New camping trip that involved Hampshire. Heise's setting up a big canvas tent collection became the or parking a silver launching point of the Airstream camper in a museum when it finally vaguely wooded area, and opened its doors back in enjoying some time in the 1993, and since that time, great outdoors. It was a the number of items on simpler time, when mom display has risen to more packed sandwiches in a than 1500. wicker picnic basket, or dad helped cook dinner by This slice of camping sliding a hot dog on to a Americana begins with the stick that would be hovered building itself. The museum over the fire for an is housed in a wooden indeterminate time. bunkhouse that dates back Fortunately, that era isn't to the 1930's, with several completely lost to us thanks 50's era campers flanking it to the Museum of Family on either side. Moving Camping located in Bear inside, you'll find all Brook State Park in manner of vintage gear, Allentown, New Hampshire. including old lanterns, The museum was the coolers, tents and sleeping brainchild of one Roy bags. There is even a full Heise, who first proposed campsite set up in a such a site back in 1990. manner of the time period, Heise spent years that gives us an indication collecting all manner of of just what "roughing it" camping gear starting with meant in bygone years. his years with the Boy

those who have fond memories of camping with the entire family, but modern campers will get a kick out of it too, as they realize how much their gear has evolved and changed over the years. If you're ever in Allentown, stop by to see how camping in the U.S. has changed over the years and be glad that our tents now weigh a third of what they once did and our campfire dinners have improved immeasurably.

A new RV specific franchise law, negotiated by the Michigan RV and Campgrounds Association (MARVAC) and RVIA, governing how RV manufacturers, suppliers and dealers conduct business in Michigan, is scheduled to take effect on Dec. 1, 2009.

The legislation removes the RV industry from the state’s automotive franchise law and establishes an RV-specific law that addresses key issues critical to the RV industry in a way that takes into account the significant differences between the business

models of the RV and automotive industries.

Issues included in the law include the requirement for a written manufacturer/dealer agreement and a designated territory; terms for the termination, cancellation, and nonrenewal of the manufacturer/dealer agreement; terms for the repurchase of inventory; terms for the transfer or family succession of a dealership; and, requirements for warranty obligations.

Full Article: www.rvia.org

MOUNT PLEASANT MI — The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe will build a 120room hotel with a water park that would open in 2011 near the Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort in Mount Pleasant.

Crews will tear down the Soaring Eagle Inn and Conference Center, a former Holiday Inn about a mile away at 5665 E. Pickard, in March to clear the way for the new attraction. Construction would take about a year, officials said.

The 45,000-square-foot water park with rides and slides will have a retractable roof or wall to

let the sun in during the summer.

Tribe officials also say they expect to open a 67-space recreational vehicle park next to a 40-acre lake.

Construction on that phase will start in the spring.

“This is going to give people that want to visit the mid-Michigan, Mount Pleasant area another entertainment option,” said Mary E. Kilmer, a spokeswoman for Migizi Economic Development Co., the tribe’s economic development arm.

The water theme follows an ongoing trend of familyoriented attractions like the

$14 million Zehnder’s Splash Village Hotel & Waterpark in Frankenmuth that draws visitors from the region and beyond.

“We really wanted to become a four-season destination,” Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Al Zehnder at the time.

“Making sure we remain relevant for our customers was our goal.”

“There’s a lot of water parks throughout the state,” said Jamie Furbush, president and chief executive officer of the Frankenmuth Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau. “They’ve become very popular attractions not only here in Frankenmuth but throughout Michigan and throughout the

Midwest. If it brings more travelers to mid-Michigan, certainly that’s a good thing.”

The tribe explored remodeling the hotel but decided it was better to build new because of its age. It opened in 1964, Kilmer said.

“When you really start getting into it, it’s really reached it’s life cycle,” she said.

Customers who had planned events at the conference center may relocate to the casino or another tribal facility, the tribe said in a statement. A 44-room Green Suites lodging center on the golf course will remain open during the construction of the new hotel.

Article: www.mlive.com

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