KERRVILLE, May 17, 2010 – Nearly 200 people representing 70 private parks and 40 vendors are meeting in Kerrville, Texas this week for the Texas Association of Campground Owners’ annual spring meeting and tradeshow. The May 16th to 18th event, held at Guadalupe River RV Resort, included a legislative update on Sunday, during which time TACO Executive
Director and CEO Brian Schaeffer and legislative consultant Ron Hinkle told park owners that the association is working with several cities across the Lone Star State to pass RV friendly codes to ensure the continued prosperity and growth of private parks in Texas. TACO launched the effort several weeks ago after Brian Schaeffer: TACO Executive Director
Continued page 2
Continued from Page 1 the Baytown City Council proposed an ordinance that would have prohibited people from staying in campgrounds or RV parks for more than 30 consecutive days in a sixmonth period. “This ordinance, if it had been approved, would have killed the Winter Texan business in Baytown,” Schaeffer said. Fortunately, we were able to have that item pulled from the city council agenda.” TACO is working with Baytown to develop “a friendly RV and park model code” and is extending the effort to several other cities in Texas where the association believes such ordinances are needed. TACO is also working with independent water boards and the Texas Commission
on Environmental Quality to standardize RV park water rates so that parks are charged only for the water they use rather than be assessed separate fees for each campsite.
Evening activities featured a Mexican fiesta dinner with a live band and a casino, with Rachel Rowley
of Pecan Park Campground raking in $70,000 worth of casino chips.
Sunday’s activities also included a roundtable discussion with Jim Rowley of Pecan Park Campground in San Marcos; Bob Kennedy of Lubbock RV Park; Doug Shearer of Parkview Riverside RV Park in Rio Frio; Terry Munoz of Thousand TrailsLake Conroe; and Bryan Kastleman of Hill County RV Resort in New Braunfels. The panelists provided their insights on “the good, the bad and the ugly” of private park management, and covered topics involving everything from park layout and design to marketing strategies and their advice on how to prioritize park improvements.
At the casino night (from L to R) Beverly Johnson of Horizons RV Resorts, Beth Kenyon of Austin Gateway and Jean Strickland of TACO.
From L to R: TACO Legislative Consultant Ron Hinkle, Texas State Representative Harvey Hilderbran (RKerrville), TACO CEO Brian Schaeffer
The National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC) is considering changing some of the duties of association President and CEO after Linda Profaizer retires at the end of this year. “Our current President and CEO has vast responsibilities and we may consider some realignment of duties going forward,” said ARVC Chairman David L. Berg, adding, “We are looking at all staff positions and responsibilities within the organization and may restructure some positions.” Berg talked about staffing and other initiatives underway at ARVC in an address to members of the Texas Association of Campground Owners (TACO), who had gathered at Guadalupe River RV Resort in Kerrville for
TACO’s annual spring meeting and convention. In a subsequent interview, Berg cautioned that no final decisions have been made about the approach ARVC will take to replace Profaizer, who retires Dec. 31st. “We want to make sure that our selection process enables us to recruit the best possible candidate for this position,” he said. In his address to TACO members, Berg also said that ARVC is heavily promoting the GoCampingAmerica website with both print and online advertising initiatives. He also said ARVC is continuing to take steps to improve communication with its state affiliates and that the national association hasn’t given up on the idea of having TACO become an
Bob MacKinnon of Guest Reviews presenting an 'A' rating to Joe Moore of the Vineyards Campground. by Bob MacKinnon of Murrieta, Calif.-based GuestReviews. “Texas has strong participation in the (GuestReviews) program,” he said, adding that Texas parks had an average score of A- in overall guest satisfaction. David L. Berg: ARVC affiliate of ARVC once again. “We’d like to have you back in the family,” he said, adding, “We (ARVC) need to improve our communication and treat the states as equal partners.” Berg also lauded former ARVC Chairman Jeff Sims, also in attendance at the meeting, for his volunteer work reaching out to nonARVC member parks to educate them about the merits of ARVC membership. As of midMay, Sims had personally visited more than 400 parks at his own expense. Monday’s TACO meeting also included a presentation
Monday’s activities included a tradeshow with roughly 40 vendors, including Topeka, Ind.based CrossRoads RV, Phoenix, Ariz.-based Cavco Industries Inc. and Athens Park Homes of Athens, Texas, each of which had park models on display. The day’s activities also included a seminar on WiFi marketing by Frank Drew of Austin, Texas-based TengoInternet and a seminar on “Expanding Your Park” by Kathy and Tony Palmeri of Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Estes Park, Colo. and Leisure Systems Inc.
KERRVILLE, Texas, May 18, 2010 – A Monday night auction sponsored by the Texas Association of Campground Owners (TACO) raised more than $35,000 for the association’s government relations fund, the highest in TACO history. “We are very pleased with the level of park operator participation and support for our government relations activities,” said Brian Schaeffer, TACO’s executive director and CEO, adding that park operators say that TACO’s government relations work is the association’s number one benefit. The auction followed TACO’s tradeshow, which attracted roughly 40 vendors from Texas and across the country, including Coba Systems, a McAllen, Texas-based company that provides professional grade Wi-Fi and cable television systems as well as security camera and website design services and Peak Energy Technology, an Arlington, Texas company that markets electricity recycling systems that can help parks reduce their energy consumption. Several vendors said they were pleased with the level of park operator interest they encountered during the tradeshow. “The leads we’ve gotten have been very good, very
firm,” said David Petry, senior VP of sales for West Palm Beach, Fla.based Payment Alliance International, which provides credit and debit card scanners. “It has exceeded our expectations and is well worth the investment in coming here,” said Mark Lucas, president of CrossRoads RV, a Topeka, Ind.-based company that brought a park model and a travel trailer to show, which it hoped to sell to parks seeking rental accommodations. Athens Park Homes of Athens, Texas and Phoenix, Ariz.-based Cavco Industries, which has a plant in Sequin, Texas, also had park models on display at the show.
superintendent and professional baseball player who talked the factors that influence change, perception and growth in business and in people’s personal lives. Ash also led a seminar on providing world class customer service. Other seminar topics included “Working ‘on’ your business versus ‘in’ your business,” by Robert Bouse of KOA; “Improving your park ratings,” by Cindy Halley of Trailer Life; “Using the Internet to fulfill your marketing needs,” by Michael Moore and Matt Taylor of Texas Advertising; and two sessions by Pamela Wright of Focused Words, one on “Selecting new
front office software,” and another on “Attracting group and rally business.” Tuesday’s luncheon meeting also included an awards luncheon, with winners announced in the following categories: Medium Size Park of the Year: Rayford Crossing RV Resort in Spring. Large Park of the Year: Guadalupe River RV Resort in Kerrville. Website of the Year: Hill Country RV Resort in New Braunfels www.hillcountryrvresortnb.com
Brochure of the Year: Mill Creek RV Resort in Canton.
Gerald Barker, a Tyler, Texas-based insurance agent representing HibbsHallmark & Co., said he, too, was impressed with the tradeshow. “This is the first time we’ve exhibited at TACO and the response has been excellent,” he said. Monday’s tradeshow also included a luncheon briefing by Texas House of Representatives Member Harvey Hilderbran, who has been a longtime advocate for Texas park operators. Tuesday’s activities included a keynote address by Bob Ash, a former school
At the Trade Show, Robert Bouse of KOA and Donna Tresko of Marina Beach RV Resort.
From the Publishers of Campground & RV Park E News First issue- June This is by far the best value for your promotional dollars. Campgrounds and RV Parks can offset 1/3 advertising costs with night give aways. Each monthly issue will go to over 66 million opt in email addresses. Each advertiser's ad will be linked from their State page so consumers can find offers in their area PLUS additional ads will appear FREE in the relevant links page (see page 6 of the draftlink at the bottom of the page)
Quarter Page ad- $150 per ad x 12 issues = $1800 OR $1200 plus $600 in equivalent site or accommodation night give aways. Half Page $300 x 12 = $3600 OR $2400 plus $1200 in equivalent site or accommodation night give aways. Full Page $600 x 12 = $7200 OR $4800 plus $2400 in equivalent site or accommodation night give aways.
Minimum Quarter Page advertisement- $150 per issue (minimum 6 issue buy) Half Page $300 per issue (minimum 6 issue buy) Full Page $600 per issue (minimum 6 issue buy) Double Page spread $1200 (minimum 6 issue buy) All ads full color, prices quoted from art supplied to our specifications. Art production cost if required $70. All ads will have links to your website.
Best Parks in America’s affiliate park network has grown significantly during the first five months of 2010 and now numbers over 60 of the highestrated, independent RV resorts and campgrounds throughout America. Each of the Best Parks meet stringent standards and are among the select top nine percent of RV resorts, parks and campgrounds in the US and Canada. “We are thrilled to see so much interest in the Best Parks in America brand as a high-end RV resort and campground marketing group. With this phenomenal growth we are able to offer discriminating camping consumers an exclusive resource to locate the very best RV and camping options in some of the most desired resort locations in the US,” remarked David Gorin, President of Best Parks in America. He added, “We’re also very pleased to announce the first Best Parks affiliate in Canada. Camping Du Village Bromont in Quebec is pioneering the Best Parks concept in Canada and we hope to see further growth of the brand throughout Canada.” Best Parks in America provides a national branding presence and marketing home for independent highly-rated RV parks and
campgrounds. As Best Parks continues to grow, consumers are increasingly recognizing the Best Parks brand and actively seeking out Best Parks as the places they can count on for outstanding RV and camping experiences. In addition to each affiliated park’s comprehensive online listing, Best Parks in America will offer a complimentary Best Parks in America directory available at each Best Park resort location, at major RVing and camping shows and by camper request. The first edition of the new print directory – RVing & Camping @ the Best Parks in America – will be released late May. Best Parks in America and their 61 affiliates in 24 states and Quebec welcome the newest Best Parks: Arizona: Desert Valley RV Resort, Eloy Centrally located between Phoenix and Tucson, Desert Valley RV Resort offers a multitude of resort activities and enjoyment for “young at heart” 55+ guests. Hidden Shores Village, Yuma The ideal vacation home resort community for winter snowbird visitors and summertime family fun right on the Colorado River and surrounding desert, Hidden Shores welcomes you to Yuma.
California: Anaheim Resort RV Park, Anaheim What is the best way to see the sights in Orange County? Camping in Mickey's Backyard! Anaheim RV Park is located less than a mile from Disneyland's front gates and offers great accommodations, friendly staff, and a very convenient location. Florida: Cross Creek RV Resort, Arcadia Cross Creek RV Resort is a centrally located "Five Star Resort" in the heart of South Central Florida, just north of the old historical Florida town of Arcadia, offers tranquility and peace, numerous resort facilities and amenities, as well as the south Florida sunshine. Belle Parc RV Resorts, Brooksville Experience "belle parc" RV Resort on west central Florida's Nature Coast and you’ll discover more than just another campground…you’ll discover one of the best parks in America. Emerald Beach RV Park, Navarre Located on Santa Rosa Sound on the Florida panhandle – the closest park to the Gulf, Emerald Beach RV Park invites you to enjoy white sandy beaches, beach chairs, tiki umbrellas and deck and spacious sites.
Vacation Inn Resort of the Palm Beaches, West Palm Beach Vacation Inn Resort is a Five-Star luxury ownership park with beautifully landscaped grounds and lots. Rental sites are available and the resort is close to beaches, night life, great restaurants, and more. Kansas: High Plains Camping, Oakley High Plains Camping offers friendly resort-like treatment as you make your way to your vacation destination. While there guests may enjoy a unique U-Pick Organic Garden (seasonal) and complimentary Kansasroasted coffee. Maine: Red Apple Campground, Kennebunkport Visit Red Apple Camping and you’ll understand why their motto is “clean, quiet and relaxing - the way camping should be”. You’ll be treated like family…maybe even better! Massachusetts: Pine Acres Family Camping Resort, Oakham Celebrating 50 years of family camping in 2010, this award winning full service camping resort is centrally located amidst restful New England towns. Pine Acres offers Massachusetts' finest in year round camping. North Carolina: Asheville Bear Creek RV Park, Asheville Asheville's finest invites you Continued
Continued to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the "Land of the Sky" and sensational sunsets. Asheville Bear Creek is close to popular area attractions and easy access from I-40 and I-26, you’ll be glad you came. Ohio: Cross Creek Camping Resort, Delaware Cross Creek Camping offers family oriented camping amidst beautiful surroundings, a wide variety of activities and themed weekends as well as the Alum Creek Marina providing boating discounts to our campers. Lock 30 Woodlands RV Resort Campground, Lisbon Ohio’s best value and the highest-rated family campground in the tri-state area of Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, Lock 30 Woodlands offers scheduled children’s activities, lake and river fishing, biking, and more.
Oregon: Portland-Woodburn RV Park, Woodburn The Portland-Woodburn RV Park offers 150 well kept sites and can accommodate even the largest of recreational vehicles with up to 60-foot pull-thrus. With local activities and events happening yearround visitors will never be at a loss for something to do. Pennsylvania: Mountain Creek Campground, Gardners 100 acres in the heart of Pennsylvania’s South Mountains, Mountain Creek Campground is centrally located for easy access to Carlisle, Pennsylvania and their world famous car shows, Gettysburg, Hershey, York and Lancaster. Keen Lake Camping & Cottage Resort, Waymart Keen Lake Camping and Cottage Resort is situated on a privately owned 90acre spring fed mountain lake, located in the scenic
northern Pocono Mountains of Northeastern Pennsylvania offering everything from tent camping to year-round cottage rentals. Tennessee: Great Smoky Jellystone Park Camp-Resort, Cosby Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park in Gatlinburg, Tennessee offers stream side camping at its finest! Kids of all ages will enjoy numerous planned activities. The park is nestled right next to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and minutes away from downtown Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Dollywood. Misty River Cabins & RV Resort, Walland Misty River Cabins & RV Resort is surrounded by the Smoky Mountains, near the Appalachian Trail and on the Little River which is excellent for swimming, tubing and great trout fishing.
Texas: Mill Creek Ranch RV & Cottage, Canton Mill Creek Ranch in Canton TX is a first-class resort getaway nestled in a peaceful setting on 200 acres of East Texas woodlands offering lodging options from the welldesigned and appointed RV sites to luxury cottages. Wisconsin: Stoney Creek RV Resort, Osseo Conveniently located just off I-94 and Highway 10 Stoney Creek RV Resort has something for everyone – from activities to amenities. Quebec: Camping Du Village Bromont, Bromont Camping Du Village Bromont is surrounded by mountains in a country style village, is clean and quiet and offers location, amenities, and facilities for the most discriminating campers.
Father’s Day weekend is fast approaching, and that’s when the Jellystone Park CampResort in Mill Run will have a series of special events, including a paintball challenge and a “Ms. Jellystone Contest,” in which the contestants are the dads! “It’s a lot of fun,” said park manager Tracy Czambel, adding that the western Pennsylvania campground will have activities and special events throughout the summer and fall, which complement the park’s growing list of attractions, which include water slides, swimming pools, a miniature golf course, a mining sluice, a paintball area, plus two, 250-footlong snowless snow tubing tracks, which were just installed a few weeks ago. “We have no shortage of activities and attractions to keep families and their children entertained,” Czambel said. One of the park’s most popular weekends, in fact, is its Olympic Weekend, which takes place the last weekend in June. Individuals and teams sign up for several competitions, which take place in the swimming pool and slides as well as
unusual events, including a peanut butter and jelly relay. “The first person runs to a station and pulls out the bread, then the next person has to take the bread and run to the next station, open a jar of peanut butter and spread it on the bread,” she said. “The next person then runs with the bread to the jelly station to add the jelly, and then gives it to the last person on the team, who has to eat it.” But there’s one catch. “The last person on the team has to eat the sandwich without any iced tea or water. I have some pretty funny pictures of it.” Other challenging events include a watermelon toss and an obstacle course. The park has a full lineup of different activities and themed weekends taking place every weekend right on through October, including a “Sweetheart and Battle of the Sexes Weekend,” which takes place July 23rd to 25th, and a Hawaiian Luau Weekend, which will be held Aug. 27th to 29th, as well as several Halloween themed events.
Vintage trailer owners offered visitors a step back in time during an open house Saturday as part of the “Trail Along to Pismo” Vintage Trailer Rally. More than 250 vintage travel trailers — the five oldest from the 1930s — rolled into Pismo Coast Village RV Resort for the third annual event. The rally included 40 Airstreams built from 1948 to 1968, and many of the trailers were pulled by such vintage vehicles as 1946 and 1950 Hudson pickups and a Willys wagon. For the free public open house, trailer owners
dressed in periodappropriate clothing and adorned their campsites with the amenities and accessories you’d expect to find in and around their trailers back in the day. During their four days in Pismo Beach, the trailerites participated in a variety of events, from bowling and kite flying to group meals and an evening at the Great American Melodrama in Oceano. To find out more about vintage trailer travel, visit www.vintagetrailercamp.com.
Article and Photo: www..santamariatimes.com
Affinity Group has released its first quarter financial statement showing the company posted a $10.4 million loss, according to information submitted to the Securities Exchange Commission. The company posted revenues of $108.4 million during the quarter compared to $105.1 million for the same period last year. Despite the increase in revenue, the company posted a loss of $10.4 million compared to a loss of $4.6 million in the first three months of 2009. Affinity Group generated $39.6 million in membership services revenues, $14.7 million from publications, and $54.2 million from its retail operation (Camping World). Last year, they posted revenues of $35.2 million in membership services, $17.4 million from its
publications and $52.4 million from retail. Debt continues to be one of the company's largest expenses, accounting for $12.3 million or 11.33 percent of gross revenues in the first quarter. At the end of the quarter, Affinity Group reported cash of $5.55 million compared to $22.44 million during the same period last year. Revenues of $108.4 million for the first quarter of 2010 increased by $3.4 million, or 3.2 percent, from the comparable period in 2009, according to the report. Go here to view Affinity Group's complete filing with the Securities Exchange Commission; http://www.sec.gov/Archives /edgar/data/1322646/00011 0465910028230/a106172_110q.htm
Convinced that their businesses are relatively recession proof, campgrounds are investing in capital improvement projects and, in some cases, expansions this year, according to park operators and industry officials. “Private campgrounds, RV parks and resorts know they are the most affordable vacation option. They also know they can retain their competitive edge against other travel and tourism options by investing in improvements and, in some cases, expansions,” said Beverly Gruber, executive director of the Pennsylvania Campground Owners Association in New Tripoli. Here’s a sampling of several parks across Pennsylvania that are making improvements this year: Buttonwood Campground, Mexico, Penn.: This park, located in central Pennsylvania’s scenic Juniata River Valley, is investing in solar panels,
which are being used to produce both hot water and electricity. “We think we can reduce our propane costs by 80 percent by using solar panels to heat hot water for the rest room sinks, showers and washers in our main bath house,” said park co-owner Dennis McFarland. The park has also installed an 18-kilowatt solar electric system, which will supply about 10 percent of its annual electricity needs. The system, installed by Greenspring Energy of Timonium, Md., includes 90 photovoltaic panels, which are 10 feet wide and 150 feet in length. Hershey Highmeadow Campground: This park, a division of Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company, is adding two park model rental cabins to its campground to accommodate people who don’t have an RV. This means the park will now have five rental cabins. Kalyumet Camping & Cabins in Lucinda: This park is putting the
finishing touches on a twoyear, $500,000 improvement project that includes construction of an 18-hole miniature golf course with a waterfall, fountain pond, landscaping and unique hole designs. The park is also completing a family entertainment center, which is expected to open in June. The new complex will include an area with redemption games and prizes for children along with hand-dipped ice cream, a snack bar and facilities for hosting birthday parties. The facility is not only available to campers, but to the general public as well. The park is also completing installation of a Wi-Fi network. Little Mexico Campground in Winfield: This park’s improvements include upgrading 15 of its campsites to 50 amp electrical service. The park has also installed a new entrance for golf carts. Pennsylvania Dutch Campground in Shartlesville: This Appalachian Mountain campground has spent close to $750,000 in improvements and new amenities during the past 18 months. Improvements include upgrading electrical and sewer service throughout the campground, renovating the restrooms and showers, installing a new satellite
restroom, remodeling and expanding the recreation hall and kitchen areas. New amenities include a custom-built 9-hole mini golf course and a 36channel TV network, including a campground channel that lists general announcements, activities, and important messages involving camper birthdays, anniversaries and other camper requests. Western Village RV Park in Carlisle: This park recently upgraded 21 of its campsites to 30 amp electrical service. It is also planning to install cable TV service to some of its campsites before summer along with new playground equipment and shuffleboard courts. Last year, the park upgraded another 24 campsites to 50 amp electrical service and installed a salt water filtration swimming pool. Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Mill Run: This park, whose amenities include water slides, a miniature golf course, a mining sleuce and a paintball area, just added two, 250-foot-long snowless snow tubing tracks, said park manager Tracy Czambel.
Deb Carter, executive Continued
Continued director of the Maryland Association of Campgrounds in Earleville provides a sampling of several parks across Maryland that are making improvements this year: Castaways RV Resort and Campground in Berlin: This park has made about $75,000 worth of improvements this year, including retiling all of its bathhouses, adding a tiki bar/refreshment stand to its bayfront beach and adding new landscaping. Cherry Hill Park in College Park: This park is investing over $100,000 this year in solar panels and associated water heating equipment. “We are installing a solar water heating system in our conference center this year,” said park owner Mike Gurevich. “It involves 10 solar panels, four storage tanks and two high-efficiency backup heaters. It will heat our domestic hot water for the laundry, showers, and café as well as our hot water heating system in the winter. It will also heat the hot tub.” Gurevich concedes that the system, which just came online, hasn’t yet proven its worth. But he’s optimistic. “On sunny days,” he said, “the solar part of the system has heated up the four, 120-gallon storage tanks to over 150 degrees.” Gurevich is also installing another solar heating system for his park’s swimming pools, which will require another 20 solar panels to be placed on the
roof of the park’s conference center. Hagerstown KOA in Williamsport: This park has added 50 amp electrical connections and sewer service to some of its pull through sites. The park also plans to add a “bark park” for its four-legged friends. Last year, the campground remodeled its restaurant into a 50s-style diner. Holiday Park Campground in Greensboro: This park has made electrical upgrades to one section of the campground and added new fencing. The park has also installed a free Wi-Fi hotspot.
back to the basics with tent camping,” Feldhouse said. The Feldhouses have also resurfaced the park’s roads and added a shower and dishwashing area to the bathroom near the tent section of the campground. They’ve also added rental units. They started with one camper rental, then another. Then three years ago they bought two park model cabins with all the comforts of home, including a full-size stove, refrigerator, TV, electric fireplace and gas grill.
When Jim and Pam Feldhouse bought Cedar Pond Campground in Milan seven years ago, they knew they had their work cut out for them.
“We have had everybody from young families with babies and New Yorkers wanting to experience nature to fishermen and hunters in their quest for the big prize,” she said. “ATVers, boaters and whitewater rafters also frequent the campground.”
“We purchased it in 2003 and at that time it was approximately 40 years old and very run down,” Pam Feldhouse said. “But every year since then we have upgraded a portion of the campground to modernize it and bring it into the 21st century.”
And last year, Feldhouse said, they added a pavilion for outdoor pancake breakfasts and potluck suppers. “We think of the campground as a work in progress,” Feldhouse said. “Luckily, we have made good progress in our efforts.”
As a result of their efforts, all of the park’s RV sites now have 20-, 30- and 50amp electrical power. “Although we are very small, we can accommodate a full range of campers, from the new large Class A rigs that require 50 amps all the way to families that want to get
Here’s a sampling of improvements underway at other privately owned and operated campgrounds in New Hampshire in preparation for the upcoming camping season: Chocorua Camping Village KOA in Chocorua: This
park has made close to $85,000 worth of improvements during the past two years, including converting some of its waterfront sites to “supersites” with decks, patio furniture, gas grills and additional landscaping. The campground has also expanded its dog park; remodeled the showers in the main bathhouse; added a new log-sided cabin rental and planted new landscaping throughout the park. The campground has also purchased two acres of adjacent land for future expansion. Woodstock KOA in Woodstock: This park is expanding its main office and store and making its game room and laundry facility handicap accessible.
Campers may see a few new amenities and other improvements as they visit Iowa campgrounds this summer. Here’s a sampling of some of the improvements at Iowa campgrounds that will be in place in time for the summer camping season: Crossroads RV Park in Mt. Pleasant: Park operator Jeff Krug built this threeyear-old park with green initiatives in mind, including compact fluorescent light bulbs, motion detector light Continued
Continued
switches and a tankless water heater. “We also don’t use any paper products in our bath and shower rooms,” Krug said. “Instead, it’s electric hand dryers.” He also installed geomat under the park’s gravel roadways. “This strengthens, firms and holds a solid sub-base so the rock will not be lost in the mud,” he said. This year, Krug plans to invest in separate bins so that his guests can sort their glass, plastic, and paper waste for recycling. On-Ur-Wa RV Park in Onawa: This park’s latest addition is a group meeting room, which is proving to be popular with rally groups, according to
park owners Ken and Becky Tanner. Sleepy Hollow Campground & RV Park in Oxford: This park is making improvements to its swimming pool, deck area and shower house. Last year, the park installed a new metal roof on its 30 by 90-foot store and registration building. Spook Cave and Campground in McGregor: This park’s latest improvements include removing a mobile home and replacing it with two, fully-furnished Amish-built log cabins. The park also plans to build a 40-by-70foot maintenance shed this year. More State Campground improvement articles to follow in the coming weeks.
CA World WiFi, a leading provider of wireless internet equipment and antennas, has a record setting 1st quarter 2010 with more than 1 new RV Park and Campground installation per week. CA World WiFi's reputation in the hospitality and marine industry has spread quickly. Property owners know that their needs for tech support is always available with a phone call to the tech support team. In the first 16 weeks of 2010, 26 new RV Parks and Campgrounds clients are providing their guests with wireless internet using high power wireless access points and
antennas from CA World WiFi. Many of these new clients were referred to CA World WiFi from existing customers that have purchased their equipment and recommend them as a valuable asset to their park operations. CA World WiFi offers all our clients free and unlimited tech support for as long as they own our wifi devices. This support combined with the company's knowledge of the unique properties of RV Park wifi allows park owners to rely on our ability to recognize potential issues and resolve them with remote access to each property.
Ivan Hancock and his son, Bob Hancock, outside the reopened Golf Course RV Park & Sales. Bob is co-owner and manager of the property. Photo by Jon Johnson. Like the mythological manage mobile home parks phoenix, the Golf Course with his father, Ivan RV Park in Arizona has Hancock. Bob said Ivan risen from its ashes to be started mobile reborn anew. home/manufactured home parks and sales in the Gila The office is no longer Valley in 1963, and he is vacant; the utilities are back proud to carry on the family on; the pool is to be refilled, tradition. and the first paying customer has parked at the In addition to a daily rate newly christened Golf rental of $25, Hancock Course RV Park & Sales. plans to sell RV-rated park model units for seasonal The RV park, which first and year-round use. The opened for business during units will start at about the construction boom in $39,900 and come with a 2007, was closed in October year's free rent. Hancock 2009 after its former owners said he will also offer rent could not come to terms discounts in a variety of with the city in regard to its ways, including those who utility bill. The park owed rent for six months or a year about $26,000 in at a time and discounts for outstanding charges that ARP and AAA users, among was ultimately paid to the others. city when it was recently sold New co-owner and manager "We really want to help the Bob Hancock said the area and make it an reopening of the park is enjoyable place to live," positive for both himself and Hancock said. the community. He said he has spent most of his life Article and photo: working in or helping www.eacourier.com
There’s nothing like a summer weekend camping with the kids. But things can get pretty wild at Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park CampResort in Tabor City NC, particularly during the first weekend in August, when the park hosts its annual “Redneck Weekend.”
backwards, while following his wife’s directions. So it’s not his driving skills so much as his listening skills that get tested,” she said, adding, “It’s amazing how many husbands really don’t want to do it.”
The weekend features a series of hysterical, family events, including a blind golf car-driving contest.
Other activities include a watermelon spittin’ contest, a burping contest, a pork and bean eating contest and a hubcap hurl. The biggest event, however, is the redneck beauty contest.
“It is absolutely hilarious,” said Diane Naylor, the park’s front desk manager. “We have husband and wife teams, and the husband is blindfolded and has to drive the car
“The queen is a Handsome woman,” Naylor said. “That contest is very, very popular. I’ve been here four years and every year we book solid.”
Of course, Redneck Weekend isn’t the only weekend with fun and games at Tabor City Jellystone Park. In fact, the park has close to 20 themed weekends throughout summer and fall, including everything from a “Wet ‘n Wild and Slimefest Weekend,” June 11th to 13th, which includes a slimy hairdo contest for kids and adults; a “Battle of the Sexes Weekend” on Aug. 13th to 15th, with numerous competitive events; and a “BBQ and Chili Contest Weekend,” Sept. 17th to 19th, plus a series of five consecutive Halloween themed weekends with special activities every weekend in October.
Redneck somewhere in the U.S.A
North Hollywood, CA, May 18, 2010 – RV Buddies "Feature Video Review" of the Winnebago Journey 34Y is now LIVE on RVBuddiesOnline.com. The Winnebago Journey 34Y was introduced in 2009 with subtle, but welcomed, improvements for 2010. RV Buddies got a chance to put the 34Y through its paces on a four-day road test from Ventura to Bakersfield, California. The trip took the coach through a wide variety of
road conditions, starting from sea level, traveling along Southern California freeways to up and over the California “Grapevine” in the Tehachapi Mountains, which reaches its peak at the 4,160-foot Tejon Pass. We tested the steering, brakes, handling, heating and cooling systems, the color side and rear cameras and everything else we could sit on, sleep on, turn on and open and close. The Winnebago 34Y passed all our tests with
flying colors. It was a real treat - we loved it so much that turning it back in after our trip was a very difficult thing to do! To read the complete review with all the photos, details and specifications on this model, along with a
ten-minute "Feature Video Review", go to RVBuddiesOnline.com. Videos stream easily on any internet connection and are available 24/7 – always for free.
studying for his degree at the University of Colorado at Boulder, one of the most bike friendly cities in the world. And before embarking on his crosscountry trip, he was biking to work every day, in his case, from an apartment in Manhattan’s Upper East Side to Rockefeller Center, where he works as a freelance video editor for a local television station.
Andrew Ratzlaff lost his father to lymphoma when he was a senior in high school. On Mother’s Day, he began a 4,400-mile bike ride with the hope of raising awareness about the disease along with donations for the Lymphoma Research Foundation LARKSPUR, Colo., May 12, 2010 – More than 30 campgrounds, RV parks and resorts affiliated with the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC) are providing free campsites and cabin accommodations to help support Andrew Ratzlaff, a 27-year-old New York City man who is bicycling across the country to raise awareness about lymphoma, a form of cancer. “We think it’s the right thing to do,” said ARVC President and CEO Linda Profaizer, adding that ARVC staffers Kera Tomlin and Jeanette Stensgaard have been contacting parks along Andrew’s route to coordinate his overnight stays. Andrew began his 4,400mile cross-country bikeride on Mother’s Day
Andrew Ratzlaff and expects to reach the San Francisco sometime in mid-July. He spent his first night in a rental unit at Pleasant Acres Farm Campground in Sussex County, N.J. “We always try to help out where we can, and this is an easy thing for us to do,” Pleasant Acres Farm Campground owner Richard Denman told the New Jersey Herald in a story published earlier this week. Barb Wieand, who owns WT Family Camping in Blakeslee, Penn., said she planned to greet with Andrew with a hot meal upon his arrival on May 11th, adding that the area was expecting a late freeze based on local radio reports.
Even parks that are not directly on Andrew’s path have responded to his call for support for the Lymphoma Research Foundation. Two California parks, Novato RV Park in Novato and Vineyard RV Park in Vacaville, are each donating $2 to the Lymphoma Research Foundation for every night’s stay paid by their overnight guests during the month of May. “We feel very strongly about LRF's mission and felt this was the best way for us to support Andrew's ride given that we could not provide him accommodations at either of our parks,” said park owner Meaghan Bertram. Andrew, for his part, is a Fine Arts major who fell in love with bicycling while
In many respects, Andrew has been living his dream, biking to work each day in the biggest television market in the country. But he’s also confident enough to take several weeks off work to raise awareness and support for the Lymphoma Research Foundation. “I just found out the Lymphoma Research Foundation recently,” he said, adding that he lost his father to lymphoma 10 years ago while he was a senior in high school. In addition to funding research to develop better treatment options and ultimately a cure for lymphoma, the foundation provides a helpline and national support network that connects patients and families with volunteers that have experience with the same type of lymphoma as well as the various treatments and Continued
Continued
Yurt Lodging at Happy Acres in Waterville PA challenges associated with discuss,” Andrew said, lymphoma, a form of blood adding that more people cancer that can develop in could benefit from the the lymph nodes, spleen, foundation’s work if it were bone marrow and other better known and had more body organs. funding. “So I’m doing my part to help them,” he said. Andrew said his family would have taken To follow Andrew’s route, advantage of the please visit Lymphoma Research www.GoCampingAmerica.c Foundation’s services 10 om, which has a section years ago if they had devoted to his trip that known they existed. “In highlights some of the nine months, we watched campgrounds he will be my Dad basically fall visiting along his trip as well apart,” he said. “That was as his blog site at the hardest thing for me www.arideagainstlymphoma and my family.” .blogspot.com. For more information about But Andrew said he is the Lymphoma Research impressed with the work Foundation and its work, the foundation has done please visit and the support its www.lymphoma.org and volunteers provide to contact Taylor Zitay using families with loved ones the contact information who are suffering from provided below. lymphoma. Taylor Zitay “After doing some Lymphoma Research research and talking with Foundation them, I found them to be a (646) 465-9103 valuable organization that tzitay@lymphoma.org I am proud to support and
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - South Dakota officials say campground reservations are 20 percent above last year's record numbers, with campers reserving their spots earlier and for longer periods of time.
He says South Dakota also has good parks that attract visitors.
Bob Schneider, assistant director for the state Division of Parks and Recreation, says the country's economic woes might be a reason, with people still wanting to vacation closer to home.
Last year, the state bucked the odds when it came to tourism, posting a 1.2 percent hike in visitor numbers as tourist numbers fell by 7.1 percent nationally.
Schneider says it also was a long, hard winter, and there is a lot of pentup desire among people to get outside.
By Larry Like the sun, water and air, fire is a vital element for human life. Imagine human history if there had been no fire. Could the human race have survived without cooked meat, fish and heat? Even today, how could we have electricity without the fire that powers electrical plants or gas burners and furnaces? But like other elements basic to life, fire can kill. With regard to RV’s and related structures such as recreational cabins and mobile homes it is important to consider this vulnerability. Three factors make RV’s vulnerable to fire: they are compact, they have material that gives off toxic gas when burned, and they have electrical systems and appliances. The more compact the structure, the faster flames spread. With RV’s there are limited exits. Therefore rule number one about fires: get out immediately! Do not stop to take anything with you.
GET OUT! The interior surfaces of RV’s are potentially toxic. These surfaces include things such as carpet, varnish, lacquer, drapes, curtains, plastics, paint, the finish on furniture, and bedding materials. The structure is small and tightly sealed, so occupants will breathe in toxic fumes within seconds of a fire. As with any other structure, electrical systems and appliances present a fire hazard. Remember also, RV’s have tanks of fuel for the engine and for heating and cooking. Propane and gasoline do not mix with fire. Electrical systems do not mix well with lightning, short circuits or overloads. Propane explosions, lightning strikes, cooking fires, electrical fires and fires from smoking in bed present the most danger. In each case it is important to think and act quickly: get everybody out.
Lewiston, ME., May 17, 2010 Evergreen USA RRG, Inc. is very pleased to announce that A.M. Best Co. has revised the outlook from stable to positive and affirmed the financial strength rating of B+ “Good” of Evergreen USA RRG, Inc. A.M. Best Co. has also affirmed the financial strength rating of A“Excellent” for Evergreen Indemnity, Ltd. The outlook for this rating is stable. A.M. Best Co. states that they “recognize Evergreen USA and Evergreen
Indemnity’s continued strides in their extensive loss control programs and the positive effect on the financial results of the companies.” Lucas Hartford, President of Evergreen MGA, stated that “we are very pleased by A.M. Best Co. changing the outlook of Evergreen USA from stable to positive. Lucas Hartford It has always been Evergreen’s mission to provide long-term stable insurance solutions to the camping industry. This positive change from A.M. Best is just more proof that we are making our
mission our reality. We are very thankful for our many very supportive clients who have stood by us to help make this happen.” The Evergreen program
has been insuring campgrounds for over thirty-five years and is the Preferred Insurance Provider for the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds.
Burglars continue to target camper trailers at area campgrounds.
barbecue grilling tools and food were taken. Loss is $550.
Eight camper trailers parked at the Elizabethtown-Hershey KOA Campground, 1890 Turnpike Road, Elizabethtown PA, were broken into sometime between May 12 and Friday evening, Northwest Regional police reported.
In a separate incident, three camper trailers and a recreational vehicle parked at a storage lot at 1259 Cloverleaf Road, Mount Joy, were broken into between Friday and Saturday morning, Northwest Regional police said. Doors were pried open. About $160 worth of CDs and loose change was taken.
Thieves pried open six doors and forced open two windows to gain access to the camper trailers, police said. Three DVD players, DVDs, a leaf blower, a set of
Police ask anyone with information on the breakins to call 367-8481. http://lancasteronline.com/
WILLIAMSPORT, Md., May 17, 2010 – You’ve heard of mud wrestling. But what about chocolate pudding wrestling? That’s just one of many chocolate themed events taking place at Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Williamsport on the weekend of May 21st to 23rd. “We call it our ‘Death by Chocolate’ weekend,” said Vicki Vitkun, who runs the 180-site campground with her husband, Ron. “We’ve probably done it for 12 years, and it’s one of our most popular weekend events.” And it involves a variety of chocolate-themed activities, including chocolate ice cream socials, chocolate finger painting, chocolate crafts, a chocolate slip and slide, using a mixture of chocolate syrup and water, and a chocolate pitch burst, a carnival-type attraction, kind of a like a dunk tank, but with a twist. “They get dumped on,” Vitkun said. “You have someone sitting in a chair and above them is a basket holding a balloon filled with chocolate syrup.
The idea is to throw a miniature beanbag at the target. And if you hit it, the balloon falls out of the basket and lands on the head of the person sitting beneath it.” The biggest attraction, however, is chocolate pudding wresting, an event that requires at least 20 restaurant sized cans of pudding. “It’s very, very, very messy,” said Vitkun, with a chuckle. So who participates in chocolate wresting? “It’s mainly the kids. But there are always some adults,” she said. And what do they wear? “It depends on the weather,” Vitkun said. “If it’s really warm, you’ll see a lot of bathing suits. If not, they’ll come in old clothes.” Of course, “Death by Chocolate” isn’t the only fun activity taking place at Jellystone Park in Williamsport this summer. The park has a full lineup of different activities and themed weekends taking place every weekend right on through Oct. 31st, including special events for Father’s Day weekend and multiple Halloween
themed events for young and older children. “We do one non-scary Halloween weekend the last weekend of September, then we do five consecutive Halloween weekends for the older kids, which includes a haunted trail.” While every event is designed for family fun, Vitkun said her personal favorites are “Battle of the Sexes Week,” which is slated for July 5th to 11th and “Wet and Wild Week,” which will be Aug. 2nd to 8th. “In Battle of the Sexes Week, everything all week is girls against boys,” Vitkun said. “We have your typical sack races, inner tube races and regular sports games, like baseball, softball and volleyball. We also do a mini-golf tournament. We also have board game contests and trivia contests. And we’re adding one twist
this year. On Saturday evening, we’re adding an additional contest where it’s the kids versus the parents and the kids get to make the rules of the contest.” But there’s a different kind of fun and games that take place during Wet and Wild Week. “Wherever you are in the park and whatever you do that week, there is a very good chance you are going to get wet,” Vitkun said. “We have water balloon fights. We do a water balloon pitch burst. We do wet sponge ball fights, big water gun battles, volleyball in the pool, basketball in the pool. Everything is wet. We even have a guest against staff watergun fight. So even the staff knows to beware that week because they’re going to get wet, too. It’s a week filled with constant laughter, screaming and shouting.”