Issue 87 Campground

Wisconsin Association of Campgrounds (WACO) had the largest show yet where 179 happy suppliers were able to meet 106 campground owners who were ready to purchase goods and services for 2010.

The show, which finished Sunday had campground owners from Wisconsin, Ill, MN, IA, TX, & WY who all joined in the fun.

Lori Severson, WACO Executive Director said, "It was hard to identify the most popular seminar this year. Everything was offered from the nuts and bolts of certifications and State regulations to relationship development.

Our seminars averaged a 4.3 out of 5 on the attendee satisfaction scale and we are thrilled that we had a recoed number of vendors this year."

WACO’s new president is Judy Buchta from Duck Creek Campground.

Secretary, Dawn Button, Evergreen Campground, Wild Rose and Treasurer Dave Schneider, Indian Trails Campground, Pardeeville.

Seminars included: Legislative Issues with Kathy Kilgore; Learn How to Maximize MicroSoft products; Activities, Crafts, Continued page 2

Ideas, Oh My!; CPR; NR115 Update; Aquatic Facility Risk Management; Personality Styles Training; First Aid; IT Information; Train the Trainer for Campground Inspections; Team Building; Things to Do that Cost Almost Nothing; Blow Them Away Guest Services; Creating a Profit Center in Your Store; Propane Safety from Wisconsin Propane Gas Association; Uniform Building Code; Employee Handbooks; Best Idea and Facebook 101.

The speaker was retired Green Bay Packer, Jerry Kramer, along with other Packers, Gilbert Brown, Santana Dotson, William Henderson, and Fuzzy Thurston.

Judy Buchta

“The overall mood was very positive,” said Lori Severson from WACO. “There was lots of energy and excitement. Many of our vendors stated it was

the best convention they have ever been too.”

Next year’s WACO Convention will be March 17-20, 2011.

Last Wednesday, some leaders of the industry met in Chicago to discuss the new online magazine GetawayUSA. Linda Profaizer (ARVC), Rob Schutter and Vic Nolting (Leisure Systems), David Gorin (Best Parks of America), Shane Ott (Thor Industries), Pat Zamora and Dave Kozy (Equity Lifestyle Properties) along with publishers Dennis Macready and Gary Wakerley evaluated the proposed content, the distribution list and the

possible impact on the industry.

The concensus of opinion was one of optimism along with some reservations.

The main concern raised was sustainability of the 66 million data base and the use of the shotgun approach going to the unknown demographic of the data base.

A quick answer to the shotgun approach is that it is really no different to marketing to an unknown

demographic when advertising on television, radio or the newspaper mediums.

The objective is to make more public aware of the camping, RV and campground lifestyle.

Overall, some excellent ideas were put forward and these will be acted upon in the coming weeks.

Dennis Macready Editor/Publisher

The proposed front cover selling the lifestyle and the great outdoors.

The Missouri Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (MOARC) held their 42nd Annual Convention and Trade Show at the Truman Hotel, Jefferson City, MO, where thirty parks from around the state were represented during the two day conference. The Convention and Trade Show is an annual event that brings park owners and managers together to learn from leading national speakers and to view the latest products and technologies available to RV parks and campgrounds. This year’s event was designed to assist the park owners in applying new levels of hospitality, professional skills, and educational heights that support the needs of the camping public.

The weather was great bringing out a near record crowd of park owners. “The convention attendee’s enthusiasm was evident by their interest in our statewide membership drive Each One Reach One and attendance at the many cracker-barrels and seminars presented during the two day convention”. ”Our annual convention was a resounding success”, stated Mr. Larry Helms MOARC President.

Highlights of the 42nd Annual Convention and Trade Show included introduction and roll out of the MOARC Members Web

Site being developed by Texas Advertising. A seminar presented by Anita Agers-Brooks on “Marketing for 2010 and Beyond” where she demonstrated using emerging internet social media being used by RV parks and campgrounds.

A seminar on Identity theft “Are you Smarter than a Scam Artist” presented by Mr. Travis Ford, Missouri Department of Insurance. An update on Credit Card Processing was conducted by Mr. Kevin Callaway and Jeremiah Turner, Central Bank.

This year’s event also included relevant seminars by guest speakers from the Missouri Division of Wage and Labor; Missouri Worker’s Compensation; Government Affairs Specialist from ILS Consulting, LLC; and updates on the Missouri and Federal Fair Tax initiatives.

Key Note Speakers for the event was Ms Katie Danner, Director of Missouri Division of Tourism and Ms. Linda Profaizer, President/CEO National Association of RV Parks and Campground (ARVC) who gave reports on the national and local issues impacting Missouri RV Parks and campground owners.

Thor Industries, Inc., announces that it has joined with Midwest Leasing, Inc. to provide the rental lodging industry with leasing and financing solutions.

Added to Thor’s previously announced association with the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC), Midwest Leasing brings Thor’s team of RV Lodging professionals full circle.

Since its inception in 1985, Midwest Leasing, has provided customized and structured finance options for virtually any type of equipment.

Now they will design those options to meet the specific needs of campground owners seeking lodging opportunities.

All financing products can be customized and structured to meet the unique requirements with appropriate term and repayment schedules needed by today’s campground owners.

This threesome – Thor, Midwest Leasing, and ARVC – is a first in our industry.

Thor manufacturers Airstream, Breckenridge, CrossRoads RV, and Keystone provide quality, ruggedized, rental lodging units customized to industry standards.

Midwest Leasing provides the financing to get them on site.

ARVC’s commitment to promoting the campground industry continues. All three successful organizations combine to provide a first-time collected resource for

campground owners.

According to Shane Ott, Thor’s Director of Campground Relations, “Our commitment to meet the needs of our customers continues as we develop efficient and profitable ways of doing business.

This exclusive offer from Thor sets us as the premium brand of choice for lodging accommodations. Right now the biggest need of Campground owners is finding financing.

This Midwest Leasing announcement could not have been timed better, as ARVC owners are looking for the opportunity to add lodging inventory before the upcoming summer season.”

Contact Shane Ott or Fran Wickenhauser for more information on

Shane Ott Thor’s Rental Lodging opportunities.

Shane Ott Thor Director of Campground Relations email: sott@thorindustries.com Phone: (406) 670-7181 Fran Wickenhauser President & Founder of Midwest Leasing, Inc. email: fwick@financingequipment.com Phone: (800) 203-8920

National Commercial Auctioneers, LLC (NCA), who does business as NCA Auctioneers, LLC in Texas, is selling at auction a 20.44 Acre tract with full service RV Park on Friday, April 23, 2010 @ 11:00 AM CST. Emerald Glen RV Park, which was completed in late 2008 is a 150 space full service facility including a complete convenience store, propane filling station, coin operated guest laundry, swimming pool with change rooms, manager’s home, maintenance shop, and high speed wireless internet throughout the park.

Located just 10 miles from Interstate 20 in Longview, Texas, two hours east of the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex, and less than one hour west of Shreveport, LA, the property presents a unique opportunity for an owner-operator or an investor.

"This property is in an ideal location with several sources of tenants in extremely close proximity," comments Alan Y Jones, NCA Regional Vice

President, Broker and Project Manager for the auction. "Located just south of Longview and extremely convenient to 3 major lignite/power plant operations the idyllic rural setting within minutes of restaurants, shopping, and medical facilities.

The Emerald Glen RV Park i can be marketed to appeal to a broad variety of tenants, giving it tremendous upside potential.”

“One of the unusual features of this property, almost unheard of in today’s financial environment, is the availability, subject to prior credit approval of the Seller and Lender, of assumable financing,” reflects Jones.

"Commercial real estate properties with a business related component, such as Emerald Glen RV Park, will provide excellent short-term cash on cash returns and will provide substantial long term returns on investments made today as the economy recovers."

For more information and to receive the Property Information Package, please visit natcomauctions.com or call 877-895-7077.

BILLINGS, MT (March 18, 2010) – More than 16,000 camping families have already made reservations to participate in Kampgrounds of America’s 7th Annual Come Kamp & Care With Us Weekend event Friday, May 14 and Saturday, May 15.

Care Camps for children with cancer.”

“This event has become the official launch of the summer camping season,” said KOA President Pat Hittmeier. “It’s wonderful that we’ve been able to grow camper participation every year.

During the weekend, KOA campground owners hold a variety of fundraising events for campers, all geared to raise funds for KOA Care Camps for children with cancer. KOA Care Camps is a network of 43 specialized summer camps throughout North America that provide a true summer camp experience for children with cancer and their siblings.

That’s great for both our campground owners, who increased business on a traditionally slow May weekend, as well as KOA

Campers who stay as paying guests at participating KOA campgrounds on Friday, May 14 will receive a free night of camping on Saturday, May 15.

In the past two years alone, nearly $500,000 has been raised from all sources during Come Kamp & Care With Us Weekend to benefit KOA Care Camps, the official charity of the KOA Owners Association.

This year, nearly 400 KOA campgrounds across North America are participating in the May event, up from 377 campgrounds in 2009. A complete list of participating KOAs in available at www.KOA.com.

“We are just getting underway with our marketing for this event, and we already have nearly 30 percent more reservations than we had at this time last year,” said Mike Gast, Vice President of Communications for KOA, and the coordinator of the Come Kamp & Care With Us Weekend event.

“We’ve got guests that now make this special event the official start of their camping season every year.

It’s become a tradition for thousands of camping families, and we expect it to continue to grow.”

money in shipping costs, Gage pointed out.

The first "Kamping Lodge" manufactured for Kampgrounds of America (KOA) has rolled off the production line at Fleetwood Homes in Rocky Mount.

Cavco Industries, the Arizona-based company that purchased Fleetwood in August 2009, is supplying KOA Inc., and its franchises with park model Kamping Lodges.

The lodges also are being manufactured in Litchfield, Az., and in its Texas operation.

Tom Satterwhite, production manager of Fleetwood, said production in the Rocky Mount plant began the first of March.

He noted KOA has more than 500 campgrounds throughout the United States , including franchises.

Employees in front of the Cavco Kamping Lodge "We sent our production people to Phoenix for training in February. Each group stayed a week. Tim Gage, vice president of speciality sales, and Dave Blank, general manager of the Litchfield plant, came here to help get us started," Satterwhite said.

The plant's approximately 85 employees took a break Thursday morning to pose for a picture with the first lodge to roll off the production lines.

When Cavco Industries announced the purchase of

the Fleetwood plant in Rocky Mount the company said that acquisition of the facility will enable Cavco to serve "hundreds of KOA franchises in the eastern section of the United States."

"The first unit is being sent to Allentown, Pa., but we will be shipping the lodges as far north as Herkimer, N.Y., as far south as Naples, Fla., and as far west as Townsend, Tenn.," the general manager said.

The Rocky Mount plant will save East Coast franchises

The first lodge produced is 28 feet long and 139 inches, or more than 11 feet, wide. The lodges are shipped complete with furniture and bedding. It is set up to sleep four to six people.

Tongue-and-groove wood is used on the interior.

Satterwhite and Luis Figueroa, production manager, explained that lodges come with an option of a 5-foot long front porch.

The different models are constructed using the same floor plan. There are two bunk beds and a bathroom at one end of the lodge and a larger bedroom at the other end.

There also are several other options including a loft with a ceiling fan.

Article and photo: www..thefranklinnewspost.com

Camp Hill, PA--- RV season will soon be in full swing and the Pennsylvania RV and Camping Show, America’s Largest RV Show, is preparing for another record-breaking show in Hershey, PA. “The 2009 PA RV & Camping Show had a record year with over 34,000 people in attendance,” Rebecca Lenington, PA RV & Camping Association (PRVCA) Executive Vice President says. “We are determined to exceed expectations once again in

2010 with increased marketing and a new Industry Days format that better benefits exhibitors.

The PA RV & Camping Show is the first show in the nation with 2011 products and has the largest display of Park Trailers in the country.

There’s no better place for companies to promote their latest products, talk to their current customers and network with new contacts.

The Show is also unique because it incorporates both trade and retail days creating a successful

hybrid show that benefits the RV industry and consumers alike.

The deposit deadline to participate in the Show Drawing is April 8th and the drawing will be held May 4th.

For more information on how reserve your space at America’s Largest RV Show or to register for the event, visit www.largestRVshow.com or call 888.303.2887.

This article is a personal prospective, rather than an article based on fact. I mention this because opinions may vary on the success of the recent Northeast Conference on Camping and Trade Show held this past weekend in Springfield, MA.

the event under one roof would avoid having weather difficulties that were experienced two years earlier. Whatever their reason, the event has been in that hotel for the past two years and – it’s been better and better each year.

We have been exhibitors at this conference for the past four years and enjoyed three of the four.

The reason, I believe, is the thoroughness in planning and executing every phase of the event.

Our first year there, the weather unfortunately didn’t cooperate and the conference, then held at the Mass Mutual Center, wasn’t successful for us.

From move in for the exhibitors, to the ease of registration, to the wonderful meals, to the seminars (one of which I was privileged to conduct) to booth set-up and eventual tear-down, to the scheduling and awareness of the events. This, tied to the comfort and ease of moving about in the Monarch Place, made the experience a pleasure as far as conferences go.

Of course, only God can be blamed for that one.

The following year, we noticed that the exhibitor attendance was down.

Some exhibitors, I guess, felt that the previous year’s attendance was exemplary of the NCA’s draw. They were wrong of course. The show was exciting, extremely well attended and, most importantly, well planned.

But David & Pat Tetrault and their daughter Cyndy, the people responsible for the show, decided to move the event to the host hotel: The Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place. I’m not sure, but I believe that they thought that keeping

The venue wasn’t without its small annoyances, one of which was the parking.

We have handicapped plates and there were limited spaces for that and the hotel had abandoned the valet parking last year.

But that basically was our only difficulty.

Again, I can’t speak of other’s business at the show, but we did exceptionally well. The reason, I believe is consistency. The exhibitor

badges listed how many years exhibitors had appeared at the NCA event. Some exhibitors realize that if they become familiar to campground attendees, they have a better chance of doing business with them.

It was a pleasure to see David, Pat and Cyndy at the show. David recently had a knee replacement and was considerably hobbled but nothing was going to keep this champion of the campground industry away from his event. Cyndy seemed to be everywhere and Pat was charming as usual.

Peter Pelland from Pelland Advertising reminded us that the NCA, at one time WAS the campground

The Executive Director of the Northeast Campground Association (NCA), David Tetrault, and his wife Pat Tetrault were awarded the highest award NCA offers The Curtis Fuller Award.

At the NCA awards luncheon on March 19th the couple was surprised by their nomination and winning of this award.

The award was presented

by David Berg who is the

Art Lieberman industry’s association. It just goes to show how much experience counts when it comes to producing these kinds of events!

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 is also the producer of the International Virtual Outdoor Hospitality Expo scheduled for Nov. 1-3, 2010. www.campgroundexpo.com .

Past President of NCA, President of National ARVC and owner of Red Apple Campground in Maine.

David and Pat, along with their daughter Cyndy, run NCA which serves the member states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.

BILLINGS, MT (March 18, 2010) – Campers throughout North America can now pick up their free 2010 KOA Directory at any of the 475 KOA locations in the U.S. and Canada.

“This is one of the largest and best KOA Directories we’ve ever produced,” said Mike Gast, Vice President of Communications for Kampgrounds of America, and coordinator of the KOA Directory. “Our camping guests have made the KOA Directory the number one marketing tool for our system. When our new and vastly improved KOA.com website is launched in May, we’ll have two incredibly powerful avenues to interact with our campers.”

The growth of the KOA Directory reflects the increase in size of the KOA system to 475 parks in 2010 – the most since the year 2000.

“We’ve seen a huge amount of interest on the part of independent campground owners in converting their parks to the KOA system in the past two years,” said Gast. “This year’s KOA Directory will have 30 new KOAs listed throughout North America.

We’re growing, and we’ve got a lot of beautiful new locations to show to our campers.”

While the KOA Directory is free to campers at every KOA location, it is also available by ordering online at www.koa.com/orderadirectory .

The 2010 KOA Directory includes detailed listings of each campground, including the park’s special features, activities and amenities as well as locator maps and specific directions.

For the first time, the 2010 Directory also includes a detachable brochure detailing KOA’s lodging opportunities.

“We added more than 250 deluxe lodges with full baths and kitchens to our KOA system in 2009, and we’ll add another 400 in 2010,” Gast said. “We’ve also got more than 4,000 of our simple, affordable Kamping Kabins available, so we truly have KOA camping any way you want it.”

HEBER SPRINGS, Ark. -Steve Anderson, editor of Workamper News, announced today the release of the company’s first free e-book geared for education, titled: “Explore America One Job at a Time as a Workamper.”

Available now as a file download to be viewed through the Internet, this ebook contains six different articles on six different Workamping opportunities to provide dreamers with a glimpse of what they could discover on the path to exploring America, one job at a time. This is another step of providing optimum tools for the dreamer.

“This collection of articles is taken from our bimonthly magazines recapping real jobs in real

places, worked by real Workampers,” Anderson explained. “Whether workamping at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida or tourist shops in Skagway, Alaska; volunteering in National Parks or U.S. Corps of Engineer Parks; or workamping on the edge of the Atlantic or in the skies from coast-to-coast, these articles will show the dreamer the vast array of jobs that are available when becoming a workamper.

"Plus, it will prove that most of our workampers are working for the experience, not the job.” Anderson adds, “We invite those who are dreaming of becoming a workamper to come be a part of something real that will help them in achieving their endeavors.”

JACKSON, Miss. -- U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder was asked Thursday to block the distribution of tens of thousands of FEMA trailers sold through government auctions.

Thompson said "dumping" more than 100,000 more used units in the stream of commerce would create a "substantial and negative effect on the price and supply of trailers."

U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said in a letter to Holder on Thursday that flooding the market with more than 100,000 units produced for the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the wake of the deadly 2005 hurricane season could cripple the market. He wants the Justice Department to reevaluate its decision to allow the trailers to be sold.

Bill Gapow, executive director of Recreational Park Trailer Industry Association, Inc., said he's more concerned about unsuspecting buyers.

Thompson said there's also a safety issue. Many of the trailers, already contaminated with formaldehyde, now have mold and mildew after being exposed to weather conditions for nearly five years, he said.

The Justice Department approved the sales after determining they didn't violate antitrust laws, according to the letter. But Thompson said the federal agency's method was flawed.

"An analysis that examines each individual sale does not consider the 'big picture' and thus cannot purport to scrutinize the effect on the market," Thompson wrote.

Bill Garpow: RPTIA

"There's concern that they could end up in the general marketplace. They could be traded in on a brand-new unit.

The dealer may or may not realize that the unit was a FEMA trailer," Gapow said.

Full Article: www.sunherald.com

Justice Department spokesman Charles Miller said Holder's office would respond to the letter.

Not all of the sold trailers have reached the buyers yet.

FEMA bought 145,699 travel trailers and mobile homes at a cost of about $2.7 billion to provide shelter to survivors of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

More than 130,000 had been offered for auction, said FEMA spokesman Brad Carroll.

The U.S. General Services Administration auctioned large lots of trailers that had been staged in Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and Arkansas earlier this year.

Thompson said those sales totaled 103,000 units.

He said he's concerned because the industry estimated a total of 159,500 travel trailers were sold in 2009, and 203,500 are expected to be sold this year.

Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park™ at Paradise Pines is offering its Adirondack campsites and cabin rentals at roll-back pricing for the 2010 season.

Plan an affordable and fun family vacation in North Hudson NY, in the heart of the Adirondack Park. No hidden rates, addtional charges or resort fees just memories in the making at this family campground.

North Hudson, NY (PRWEB) March 23, 2010 - Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park™ at Paradise Pines in North Hudson NY has announced stimulus pricing for the 2010 vacation season.

With more and more families feeling the economic pinch in their vacation wallets, affordable

and fun family vacations are more important than ever before. Yogi Bear’s Paradise Pines in North Hudson NY has committed to rolling back their prices for Adirondack campsites and cabin rentals below last years rates.

“There are no hidden fees in our rates!” says owner Gina Lenhard. “Other campgrounds charge additional rates for kids, extra resort fees for each day of your stay, and other fees you can find in the small print.

Here at Paradise Pines, what you see is what you get with our rates. As a smaller, family oriented campground, we go the extra mile for all of our guests.”

business model to grow their businesses,” said Rob Schutter, Leisure Systems’ COO.

The Milford, Ohio-based franchisor of Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park CampResorts has added five new parks in time for this year’s camping season MILFORD, Ohio, March 17, 2010 – Leisure Systems Inc., the franchisor of Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Parks, has temporarily waived its franchise initiation fees as part of a strategic move to expand the company’s presence in the family campground business.

The promotion, which is being offered as the 75location Jellystone Park chain celebrates its 41st anniversary, is being promoted as Peter Yesawich and other travel industry experts forecast continued growth in demand for family friendly vacations.

“Travel industry research shows continuing strong interest in family travel, and we believe that modifying our franchise offer will be an effective way to encourage highquality, family-oriented campgrounds to leverage our brand name and

Schutter said the franchise promotion is available to private campgrounds and RV parks that meet Leisure Systems’ facility requirements, which include a swimming pool, pavilion and playground.

About Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park™ CampResorts

Five independent campgrounds have already signed agreements to join the Jellystone Park chain in time for this year’s spring and summer travel season, and more are expected to sign on later this year, Schutter said.

Rob Schutter The newest Jellystone Parks are located in the following cities: Bloomington, Ind.: Cedar Ridge Camping Resort, a five-year-old former private membership resort, will reopen April 16th as Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park at Lake Monroe. The park, which features 92 RV sites, 12 cabins and forested areas for primitive tent camping, is currently undergoing $200,000 worth of cosmetic improvements.

Burleson, Texas: Rustic Creek Ranch, which recently doubled its size to include 248 RV sites and 37 fully furnished luxury cabins, will become the North Texas Jellystone Park.

Donalsonville, Ga.: The park, formerly known as Trail’s End Resort & Marina, will join the Jellystone Park chain on April 1st. The park, which is currently undergoing an

expansion, will feature 39 RV and tent sites, nine cabins and six floating condos on Lake Seminole, which is popular with bass fishing enthusiasts.

Forsyth, Mo.: Shoal’s Bend RV Resort will officially join the Jellystone Park chain on April 1. The park has recently undergone more than $80,000 in improvements, including larger campsites, upgraded campsites with patios and outdoor chimineas, new landscaping, remodeled bathrooms and a new dog walk. A 20- by 60-foot outdoor pavilion is also expected to be completed

by April 1st.

Swansea, S.C.: River Bottom Farms RV Resort & Campground will become the first Jellystone Park in South Carolina. The 43acre park on the North Edisto River has five stocked fishing ponds and 70 campsites.

Launched in 1969, the Jellystone Park system is the second largest chain of campgrounds in the United States, boasting 75 campgrounds with more than 15,000 campsites in 28 states and Canada. Its Camp-Resorts, which focus on the family market, are among the best campgrounds in the industry with a quality reputation for being fun, friendly, clean and serviceoriented parks.

Additionally, each Jellystone Park is themed with Yogi Bear elements providing instant recognition and consumer appeal. It is truly a place “Where You Camp With Friends.”® Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts are franchised through Leisure Systems, Inc. (LSI), a wholly owned subsidiary of The Park River Corporation, Cincinnati, Ohio. For more information, visit www.campjellystone.com

After receiving a very positive reaction to its addition of two deluxe, fullservice cabins in 2009, Hershey Highmeadow Campground is adding three more cabins for its guests this summer. The new cabins will be available in time for the opening of Hersheypark in May. The deluxe cabins accommodate up to seven guests and provide campers with such amenities as heat and air conditioning; a ceiling fan; a dinner table and seating; a kitchenette including a sink, stove top, microwave, refrigerator, coffee pot and toaster; a bathroom with a shower; a pull-out sofa; a flat-screen television and DVD player; and a porch with a grill and picnic table.

Sleeping accommodations include one double bed with a single bunk bed on

top, one standard bunk bed and a queen-size sofa bed.

Guests staying in the new cabins – as well as the log and rustic cabins already available at Highmeadow – need to bring their own camping supplies, including bedding, household items and cookware. However, unique to the deluxe cabins, some cookware items – cups, plates, bowls, eating utensils, and pots and pans – are included with the rental.

The rate at each of the new deluxe log cabins starts at $135 a night. The cabins are fully operational from the beginning of May through November 1. From November 1 until springtime, the cabins will be winterized and will not feature running water, but they'll be available at a reduced rate.

WENATCHEE WA — One man’s good deed can be another’s nuisance. If you’ve never heard that proverb then you probably haven’t talked to Carol Straight.

Carol and her husband Dan Straight live on Horse Lake Road, just across from the Wenatchee Walmart parking lot. They say it’s impossible to get a good night’s sleep there because truckers and travelers use the corner of the parking lot closest

to their home as an overnight campground.

“I can’t stand it anymore. It’s a virtual truckstop out there,” said Carol Straight.

As well-meaning as Walmart’s policy may be to allow travelers and truckers to spend the night, Straight said it’s unfair to her and her neighbors who didn’t choose to live next to a campground or truck stop.

Most Walmart stores across the nation, including the one in Wenatchee, allow

The "Live Better" theme does not quite apply travelers to park overnight in parking lots.

Several campers and motor homes can be found nightly in the northwest corner of the Walmart parking lot.

Cars and station wagons with towels over their windows can also be seen parked next to the wire fence across from the row of homes across Horse Lake Road.

The northwest corner is farthest from the store. A gas station previously was located there but was removed a few years ago.

Since then, the spot has become a haven for travelers, truckers and the homeless, some who return night after night. It’s the best spot because, for them, it’s the darkest and quietest part of the parking lot.

The couple said they’re irritated by campers who shine their headlights and peer through their front windows, relieve themselves along the fence and drink and talk outside their vehicles at

night. Trucks and campers come in at all hours of the night and make noise when they leave early in the morning.

Most bothersome are truckers and motor home owners who leave engines or generators running through the night.

Dan said he’s gone over to the parking area more than once to ask a trucker to turn off his or her engine only to be cursed at and ignored.

“It’s especially frustrating because it was my grandfather who sold the property to them,” said Carol about the old Harlan Honeysett orchard where the store was built.

Straight said she’s talked to local Walmart managers, the Wenatchee Police Department and city officials numerous times over the years. But nothing has changed.

Full Article: www.wenatcheeworld.com

is designed to accomplish.”

BILLINGS, MT (March 18, 2010) – The number of parks in the Kampgrounds of America system isn’t the only thing growing at North America’s oldest and largest system of open-tothe-public family campgrounds.

The 475-campground KOA system recently announced that membership in its twoyear-old Value Kard Rewards camper loyalty program had surpassed 400,000 active accounts.

“We’ve seen strong growth in our Value Kard Rewards Program, especially in the past year,” said Chris Mink, Marketing Program Manager for the Value Kard Rewards Program.

“Campers are very saavy consumers. No program will grow at the rate we’ve experienced unless campers recognize real value and savings.”

In 2009, members of the KOA Value Kard Program saved nearly $1 million by redeeming Value Kard Rewards “points” at KOA campgrounds.

“KOA Value Kard Rewards is the only program in camping that offers guests both an immediate discount on their camping fees (10 percent off), and rewards points that accumulate for savings on their future camping stays,” Mink said.

“The purpose of this program is to get more campers camping within the KOA system. We want campers to spend these points on KOA camping every chance they get.”

“We know our program works, because we’ve seen a marked increase in loyalty camping among the members of the Value Kard Rewards Program,” he said.

In 2009, the average number of nights stayed at KOA campgrounds by Value Kard Rewards members increased 5 percent.

“We’ve also seen a 9 percent increase in the average number of camping trips taken by KOA Value Kard Rewards members,” Mink said. “That is exactly what our program

Of the 400,000 members, nearly 16,000 have reached the elite VIP level by accumulating 20,000 points in a 12-month period. The VIP level allows those campers to accumulate Value Kard Rewards points at a rate 25 percent faster than regular Value Kard Rewards members.

“These are our very best KOA campers, and we wanted to reward them accordingly,” Mink said.

Each of KOA’s campground owners and franchisees use the Value

Kard Rewards database to actively market additional benefits and special Hot Deals to their campers throughout the year.

“We’ve been able to deepen our relationship with our guests,” Mink said. “That’s the true value of a program like ours. It certainly bolsters our claim that KOA offers a camping experience – including our rewards program – that you just can’t get anywhere else.

That’s why we use the slogan “It’s not camping.

It’s Kamping.’”

The U.S. Forest Service has dropped a proposal to cut campground discounts for seniors and the disabled, a move welcomed by Idaho’s congressional delegation.

The agency had considered cutting a 50 percent discount for holders of various discount passes down to just 10 percent at campgrounds run by private concessionaires.

Its officials argued in a public notice that the change was necessary to keep concessionaires from raising fees for other campground users as more of the nation ages, and ensure access stays fair for all Americans.

But Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell announced Wednesday that the reduced discounts aren’t the best way to address the

challenges concessionaires face.

“Particularly in these difficult economic times, it is very important to maintain affordable access to our national forests and grasslands, giving people easy ways to recreate and find respite in the great outdoors,” Tidwell stated in a press release.

All four of Idaho’s delegates to Congress wrote Tidwell in February opposing the change, and last week they issued their own statements applauding his decision.

“This proposal to force senior citizens and permanently disabled Americans to pay more for access to lands that they already pay for was unnecessary and inappropriate, and it is great that the Forest Service reversed its course,” Republican Sen. Mike Crapo stated.

FOREST CITY, Iowa-(BUSINESS WIRE)-Winnebago Industries, Inc. (NYSE:WGO), the leading United States motor home manufacturer, has reported improved financial results for the Company’s second quarter of fiscal year 2010.

Revenues for the second quarter of fiscal 2010 ended February 27, 2010 were $110.5 million, an increase of 247 percent, versus $31.8 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2009. The second quarter of fiscal 2010 was positively impacted by a significant increase in motor home unit deliveries, particularly in the Class A category, which resulted in an increase in production volumes and greater efficiencies and higher utilization of the manufacturing facilities.

The Company reported an operating loss of $1.9 million for the quarter, versus an operating loss of $18.6 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2009. Net income for the second quarter was $706,000 versus a net loss of $10.4 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2009. On a diluted per share basis, the Company had net income of $.02 for the second quarter of fiscal 2010 versus a net loss of $.36 for the second quarter of fiscal 2009. The net income for the second quarter reflected the

positive impact of $2.2 million in tax benefits associated with various tax planning initiatives and tax settlements; however, no tax benefits have been recorded on second quarter fiscal 2010 pre-tax losses which are not immediately subject to refund.

“We are pleased to see a continued trend of sequential growth in revenues and gross profit,” said Winnebago Industries’ Chairman, CEO and President Bob Olson. "After hitting our lowest shipment levels in decades during the second quarter last year, we have seen improvement in revenues and gross profit each quarter since that time. We also saw a sequential increase in dealer inventory this past quarter for the first time in two years as we increased our production levels to satisfy our sales order backlog.

While we are encouraged with these improvements, the economic outlook remains uncertain and we believe retail sales will be the key driver to sustain our recovery and for continued growth going forward."

For full report go here: http://www.businesswire.co m/portal/site/home/permalin k/?ndmViewId=news_view& newsId=20100318005212& newsLang=en

By Larry

“Red in the morning, sailor’s warning. Red at night, sailor’s delight”.

Why? This is because sun rays coming through moisture in the sky create color. Red means heavy moisture and thus the potential for clouds to form. When clouds heat there is a higher potential for thunderheads to form and create storms.

Thunderheads are white and silver. They look like mountains of snow in the sky. This is because thunderheads are made up of moisture that has lifted so far up that it reaches into cold air and freezes into ice crystals.

The bright color is from sun rays reflecting off the ice. The fluffiness is actually turbulence. There is ice falling down and warm moisture going up as well as heavier amounts of moisture at the base of the cloud turning darker and darker.

When the ice becomes thick enough the cloud will tilt or tip and begin to rotate, creating yet another circular wind current. The static

electricity created by the turbulence leads to lighting. The cloud will grow in size as long as there is sunlight. Most thunderstorms begin with the afternoon heating and grow strongest by evening. If a front or dry line moves in the thunderheads will become more turbulent as they are pushed up and over the drier or colder air moving in underneath them.

On days when storms are in the forecast it is important to read the sky and understand what you see. ALWAYS take shelter and sound warnings when you see a storm with wind and lighting coming your way.

Lightning can strike from a distance of five miles or even more. Rotating storms, often indicated by wall clouds, green colors in the clouds or lowering of the clouds, can drop tornadoes at any time.

Reading the signs is a good habit that is interesting. It can also save your life!

A property once occupied by the working poor could soon become home to the mega-wealthy on wheels.

In September, Margate is expected to become the first city on Florida's east coast with an upscale RV park. Until it closed in 2007, Aztec Estates mobile home community filled the 104-acre site on the east side of State Road 7 and south of Southgate Boulevard.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Broward County Commission unanimously approved a needed rezoning. If state and city officials also sign off on the deal as expected, developers hope to fill the new Aztec RV Resort with rich snowbirds enjoying a nine-hole golf course, a

forested backdrop, and a scenic canal. They will live aboard luxurious motorcoaches that cost more than $200,000, on lots starting at $108,000.

About a quarter of the park's RVs are expected to cost more than $1 million.

"These are the ones rock stars use when they tour," Margate Vice Mayor Frank Talerico said. "It's not a camping park -– it's pretty high-end. People with a lot of discretionary income have these things."

About 20 percent of the park's 646 lots have been sold--all to buyers, mainly Canadians, who paid with cash, said sales manager Jean-Francois Leblanc.

After the Aztec mobile home park closed, the

property was rezoned to accommodate a development with 707 single-family homes, townhouses and condos.

After the housing market bust, that plan never materialized.

In March 2009 a group of nine Canadian investors bought the land for $17 million and dropped another $23 million on improvements including new sewers and water lines, more than 27,000 trees and other landscaping.

They used Pelican Lake Motorcoach Resort in Naples as a model.

Frank Cannatelli, a Quebec businessman, bought five lots-–one for him and his wife to use in winter, the others to either rent for income, or flip once the park is sold out.

There's nothing else like it," he said. "The airport is close, the casino is close, the beach is close. There's lots of things to do."

Full Article and photo: www.sun-sentinel.com