Building a small RV park.

[Jim]

Yeah, but they will sure remember their first visit to your beautiful park! Just looking at the pictures makes us want to move to North Carolina.

TJ

Thank you, @TJ&LadyDi. I really do hope you and Lady Di will be able to come by sometime. I know it's a long ways, but who knows, maybe you'll find yourselves out this way someday.

I'll buy the wine. (The best box of wine I can find at Ingles. lol... )

 

[MapNerd]

As for the Poplar, I never knew it could look so good

Poplar is wonderful when stained. I built an expanding, hexagon to octagon dining room table our last year in the S&B before we sold. It was beautiful and I miss it. We sold it to the new home owners with the house they loved it so much. I’ll have to
build another when we settle down.

@Jim will the first announcement for when the reservations website is open be here? I think we should all get dibs.

 

[Jim]

@Jim will the first announcement for when the reservations website is open be here? I think we should all get dibs.

Yes, of course!

 

[Jim]

With time running out, we worked on site 5 today. Site 5 is one of my favorites because:

• It's an end lot with lots of privacy and a ton of space.
• There is a walkway that goes from the front of your RV (assuming a Class A) and up a mellow incline until you get to an area about 20'x30'. There is a large White Pine at the top with a picnic table and/or chairs to enjoy the shade when the Summer brings us some warm days.
• It's designed is such a manner that whoever is sitting under the White Oak can easily communicate with whoever is in the Gazebo.
• And as is the case with all of the sites at Deer Springs RV Park, you can easily see the TV on the side of your coach from inside the gazebo.

This is a killer nice site. In the second picture I've circles the area but you really can't get the beauty of it in a picture. But believe me, it's a nice site!

Also worked on the gazebo, installing the bar and counter area's. The sink is not in yet but will be shortly. The large, unstained area is where the refrigerator will go. Still have to build steps and the bench that will allow you to sit at the bar area from the outside of the gazebo. All in all, it's coming along.

Roofs are scheduled for next week, but it all depends on the weather. Also, the water lines, power and sewer lines will start next week. Lord, it's going to be a busy week and we're turning into walking wrecks.

 

[Scooterfan]

Beautiful...did you use Polyurethane on the (Poplar) bar? I did a BBQ table with one of our redwood slabs and put six coats of Poly on it...seems to weather good so far. Your pride in your work is evident...you should be proud of your creation.

 

[Jim]

Beautiful...did you use Polyurethane on the (Poplar) bar? I did a BBQ table with one of our redwood slabs and put six coats of Poly on it...seems to weather good so far. Your pride in your work is evident...you should be proud of your creation.

Yes I did! I have 3 coats on it now but I'm sure it's going to want several more. I just wish the weather had been more accommodating over the last month or so. As it is, we're starting to feel the stress, which takes the fun out of it.

We went to the building department yesterday to pull some permits but the parking lot is being used for Covid shots, and it was impossible to get in. So back we went this AM, and this time we got in. But that's been the story throughout the last several months. 3 steps forward, 2 steps back. Making progress, but man is it slow.

 

[RKins]

Sure looks nice Jim!

 

[AuntieDodo]

Wow! I am so impressed with what you have done. You and Trish should be very proud. I’m sure you will be booked solid and steady when you open up. I wish we were closer but when life becomes almost normal and we can cross the border I hope to head down.

It’s looking beautiful.

 

[Jabber Jaw]

Jim;

Just reading your description tells that this is a true "Labor of Love"! And even with its' frustrations, you seem to enjoy it!
Add to that, your "RV" experiences have given you insight into all the details that folks with a "Class A" would want or need!
You've done great job thus far, & I'm sure the finished product is going to be nothing less than fantastic!

I'm not sure about others, but your sharing the thought process, the creation, the efforts, the fun, the frustration; and sharing the results through your pictures, give one the sense of a "an RV Forum Family Project"; even though we haven't been there cutting & nailing boards, etc! At least I feel that way!

Thank you for allowing us to all be a part of your fantastic project, through words & pictures!

I look forward to being able to enjoy the finished product one day, & truly appreciate being able to see what you created!

Keep up the great work, & God Bless!

 

[Jim]

Jim;

Just reading your description tells that this is a true "Labor of Love"!

Well Thank You @Jabber Jaw ! That was very nice of you to say. I'm not sure that Trish was "feeling the love" yesterday as she braved the 29* weather to paint the never ending number of supports on hip roof #1 and #2. But after she read your post she smiled a bit. That's a good sign cuz she's got several more to do today!

You and Trish should be very proud.

I think we will be, but I think that part will come when we're done with the work and hanging out on the pad with the visitors. The way I've got this calculated, we have 8 sites. If 80% of the visitors invite us over for a beer (or wine, etc.), that's a several brews each night. So after an evening of "visiting with the visitors" I'll be right "proud" if I can drive the cart home. lol

 

[Neal]

@Jim - how do you get listed with Camp finder apps like AllStays, RV Trip Wizard, etc.? Is there some registry campgrounds submit their listing to?

 

[Jim]

I spent the day trenching. These trenches will hold the power lines, water lines and the sewer lines that go from the coach to the septic tank. They have to be fairly deep as the code requires 12" of dirt separate the power line and the sewer and water lines. So the power goes in first and we cover it with 12' of dirt. Then the sewer/water lines go in. After that is inspected, we can cover them up and move on the the next project.

It was nice to see our Mallard friends come by to visit. Last year was the first year they came by. They raised 9 little ducks and then everyone left. Good to see them back again and I'm hoping for a replay of last year.

 

[Jim]

@Jim - how do you get listed with Camp finder apps like AllStays, RV Trip Wizard, etc.? Is there some registry campgrounds submit their listing to?

Good question, Neal. I'm working on all of that, but between building the website, scheduling work at the park, building inspections, etc., I'm a little behind. I did get listed with "Google My Business" and spent part of last night getting my add/keywords/etc. together for that. Got listed a couple of weeks ago with Campground Views and also with Find RV Parks. I'm submitted my info twice to RvParky but so far, nothing. Trip Advisor is a bit convoluted and my patience wears out before I finish the setup process. But I'm working on it. lol

 

[Jim]

Oh, and on that same subject. I contacted Good Sam to see how their program works. I was clear in the contact form that I was a "RV Park Owner" and I was looking for information on how joining Good Sam would benefit my park. The first message was ignored. A week or so later I sent another message. I heard back (via email) but it was a canned reply that listed all the good things they could do for me as a RV Owner, and gave me a # to call when I was ready to sign up. This of course, was not what I was asking for.

But a few days later I called the number, figured whoever answered could send me to the proper person. The bubbly girl that answered was ready to sign me up! But I told her no, I needed info on what Good Sam could do for my park for the 10% I was going to lose giving my visitors a discount. Longer story shorter, she spent 15 minutes trying to find someone to help me and finally told me someone would return my call.

No one ever did.

So I still have no idea why an RV Park would want to sign up with them. What benefit is there for the park owner except maybe they can fill some empty spaces with the Good Sam discount. But I can do that myself anyway, I don't need to give the credit to GS. At this point, and after watching the total ineptness that I saw at GS, I can't imagine that anyone would give them money to be a member.

Maybe I missed something?

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

Oh, and on that same subject. I contacted Good Sam to see how their program works. I was clear in the contact form that I was a "RV Park Owner" and I was looking for information on how joining Good Sam would benefit my park. The first message was ignored. A week or so later I sent another message. I heard back (via email) but it was a canned reply that listed all the good things they could do for me as a RV Owner, and gave me a # to call when I was ready to sign up. This of course, was not what I was asking for.

But a few days later I called the number, figured whoever answered could send me to the proper person. The bubbly girl that answered was ready to sign me up! But I told her no, I needed info on what Good Sam could do for my park for the 10% I was going to lose giving my visitors a discount. Longer story shorter, she spent 15 minutes trying to find someone to help me and finally told me someone would return my call.

No one ever did.

So I still have no idea why an RV Park would want to sign up with them. What benefit is there for the park owner except maybe they can fill some empty spaces with the Good Sam discount. But I can do that myself anyway, I don't need to give the credit to GS. At this point, and after watching the total ineptness that I saw at GS, I can't imagine that anyone would give them money to be a member.

Maybe I missed something?

You didn’t miss anything. @Jim. This kind of “customer service” is why we are not renewing our GS membership. It is also the reason why we avoid Camping World. Good Sam and CW are examples of what happens when a “venture capitalist” buys a corporation.

With the park you are building, you will need Good Sam far less than they might need you! Don’t go there; you’ll do just fine without GS.

TJ

 

[Neemer]

What TJ said.

Their rating system is a joke and cannot be relied upon to find a quality campground.

 

[FLSteve]

@Jim ... just read this entire thread and we will definitely be on the list to stay there. Just wondering how the RV access is from Highway 64 back into the park as to road surface, grade etc? We stayed in Franklin last year at the Outdoor Resorts park north of town and really like the area. Did a lot of jeeping. You are building a really neat park and your FB page and website are great. We will be reserving a stay as soon as you start taking reservations.

FLSteve

 

[GlampDaddy]

Is this even possible...a confirmed reservation for June!!? Looks like that website is doing its job.

 

[Jim]

@Jim ... just read this entire thread and we will definitely be on the list to stay there. Just wondering how the RV access is from Highway 64 back into the park as to road surface, grade etc? We stayed in Franklin last year at the Outdoor Resorts park north of town and really like the area. Did a lot of jeeping. You are building a really neat park and your FB page and website are great. We will be reserving a stay as soon as you start taking reservations.

FLSteve

Thank you for the nice comments, @FLSteve. Yes, there are some great trails out here, some are stock friendly, some are not. But fun for all levels. The worst grades coming up Hwy 64 are 8%. Once you get to the park, everything is mostly level.

I'll make a map available as there is a RIGHT way to get here and there is a WRONG way to get here. And lord knows, you don't want to take the wrong way or you'll get caught up in a mess of curves and other nonsense.

 

[Jim]

Is this even possible...a confirmed reservation for June!!? Looks like that website is doing its job.

Hey @GlampDaddy, I hope your not saying the booking software gave you a reservation? It's supposed to be inoperative.