Building a small RV park.

[NGC 613]

Can I book a site now? ? Also as a tip try and make sure the back in sites are not blind side back ins.
Really though can I book now.

 

[MapNerd]

The article quotes a September 2021 opening while we are actively shooting for a Spring 2021 opening. Also, and not a fault of Campground Chatter but due to changes in the way grading was required, we now only have one pull-through site. The others are 3 pull-in sites, and 4 back-in sites.

Maybe we can get the kids some fake ID's?

But in all seriousness, everything is subject to change, and limiting children is/was an effort to subtly maintain certain clientele. The obvious problem is kids like to camp too! And being young does not guarantee misbehavior anymore than being older insures good social manners around the park. So we're working on a solution and suggestions are certainly welcome.

Totally understand. Some people’s kids...
Your park. Your business. Your rules and I have no grief with that. You should run it in whatever manner you are comfortable with that yields the level of success that makes you happy.

fwiw, I would be totally fine with a “Kids Deposit” if that made any difference. I know my kids won’t do anything disruptive so it’s not money I expect to lose, and if I do well then I’m happy to pay whatever the price to resolve whatever issue they cause.

I know a CG that excluded certain amenities such as a pool and playground. The effect was to severely limit the number of guests with children, without overtly excluding them.

We actually enjoy the occasional campground that gives them nothing to do. Kids these days have no imagination. They have so much stimulation instantly at their fingertips that they have no idea what it’s like to just sit and play in the dirt, stare at the stars, wonder in the woods.

There’s no Xbox, ps-whatever, Nintendo or any of that in our house. The only reason we have TVs is because the rig came with em. We never had a TV in the S&B.

They have their iPads which we control with screen time. They have their bikes. They have legos and barbies and some other things so it’s not like they’re living in a commie convent. But It’s good for them (in our opinion) to sit with nothing from time to time, so they can learn how to use their time when they have nothing to do.

Most of all though, we like a quiet campground every few weeks because it gives us quality time with them. No friends or few to distract them. Just us.

 

[Neemer]

Totally understand. Some people’s kids...
Your park. Your business. Your rules and I have no grief with that. You should run it in whatever manner you are comfortable with that yields the level of success that makes you happy.

fwiw, I would be totally fine with a “Kids Deposit” if that made any difference. I know my kids won’t do anything disruptive so it’s not money I expect to lose, and if I do well then I’m happy to pay whatever the price to resolve whatever issue they cause.


We actually enjoy the occasional campground that gives them nothing to do. Kids these days have no imagination. They have so much stimulation instantly at their fingertips that they have no idea what it’s like to just sit and play in the dirt, stare at the stars, wonder in the woods.

There’s no Xbox, ps-whatever, Nintendo or any of that in our house. The only reason we have TVs is because the rig came with em. We never had a TV in the S&B.

They have their iPads which we control with screen time. They have their bikes. They have legos and barbies and some other things so it’s not like they’re living in a commie convent. But It’s good for them (in our opinion) to sit with nothing from time to time, so they can learn how to use their time when they have nothing to do.

Most of all though, we like a quiet campground every few weeks because it gives us quality time with them. No friends or few to distract them. Just us.

I’m with ya, brother. One of my fondest memories is of a state park in WV in which my parents, grandparents, and me and my sister stayed in a cabin. It was fall, and there was an old oak tree under which I played for hours in the dirt with my toy cars and trucks.

 

[Jim]

After a discussion over lunch at Planet Hollywood, we've decided to give the kids a chance to enjoy the great outdoors. @Neemer makes a good observation that lack of the amenities that draw kids will have somewhat the same affect as having an Adults Only park. So we'll give it a try and see what happens. To be honest, I'm more concerned with @MapNerd acting up than his kids. I mean, how am I going to explain a naked man swinging through the trees in the middle of the night?

 

[Jim]

Can I book a site now? ? Also as a tip try and make sure the back in sites are not blind side back ins.
Really though can I book now.

lol, no, not yet @JimT. We are shooting for an opening in early Spring when it gets warmer. But thank you for your interest!

 

[MapNerd]

After a discussion over lunch at Planet Hollywood, we've decided to give the kids a chance to enjoy the great outdoors. @Neemer makes a good observation that lack of the amenities that draw kids will have somewhat the same affect as having an Adults Only park. So we'll give it a try and see what happens. To be honest, I'm more concerned with @MapNerd acting up than his kids. I mean, how am I going to explain a naked man swinging through the trees in the middle of the night?

I’m just running the Ethernet cables from the campground down the road and I sweat a lot so...

Glad to hear I’ll be able to visit. The kids are definitely more mature than I am though.





Poop. Hehehe

 

[Jim]

Glad to hear I’ll be able to visit. The kids are definitely more mature than I am though.





Poop. Hehehe

Yep, we've got you booked as the entertainment Friday night . . .

 

[Jim]

After our trip to Key West, where we had a hut with preparation counter and refrigerator, we have decided to do the same at our park. So now, each site will still have a 10’ X 10’ gazebo, but we will add a countertop, sink with running water and a refrigerator with ice maker.

The beauty of this became apparent as soon as we got back from the store with our groceries. Everything went in the refrigerator and was easily accessible when it came time to cook, which was done on the BBQ. And the drinks were nice and cold without having to be put in an ice chest. It’s really nice not having to haul food/drinks in/out of the coach all the time.

Also, given the refrigerator had an ice maker, I didn’t have to buy ice the entire time I was there.

I think it will be a nice perk.

Here is what we have in mind. Not my picture, I snagged it off of the Internet. But it's almost exactly what we had planned on building. Also, the refrigerator isn't shown in this picture but we will add it beside the countertop.

 

[Jim]

For comparison, here is the hut we had in Key West.

 

[Tip&Tina]

Wow! I have read the whole thread and I’m so impressed by your starting this and following up on how to make it even better than it started out as.

We pick up our new DSDP in March. Hopefully your park might by up and running? We’d love to try it on our virgin trip from Nappanee to Florida to load our stuff. We might also try it as we head back north from Florida to head west.

Your park looks awesome and we’d love to try it. You have put so much love and attention into it and it shows. It will be successful and you will never have an empty spot!

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

You're not "building a small RV park, @Jim; you are building a compact luxury RV resort! That's going to be superb!!! This is what happens when a dedicated RVer with good taste, an imagination and some common sense turns a good idea into a great reality. Well done!

TJ

 

[RKins]

Nice! How's the water taste in your area? As far out as you are, I presume it is coming from a well?

 

[Neemer]

Jim, you are building something pretty danged special there friend. That place is going to be a real gem.

 

[Jim]

Wow! I have read the whole thread and I’m so impressed by your starting this and following up on how to make it even better than it started out as.

We pick up our new DSDP in March. Hopefully your park might by up and running? We’d love to try it on our virgin trip from Nappanee to Florida to load our stuff. We might also try it as we head back north from Florida to head west.

Your park looks awesome and we’d love to try it. You have put so much love and attention into it and it shows. It will be successful and you will never have an empty spot!

Thank you so much for the kind words. We really are working hard on it. Living out here, finding people to work is next to impossible. And when you do find someone, they're so busy that you just have to take a number and get in line. As such, a small project turns into a much larger one and a large project really becomes a test. But we're getting there!

 

[Jim]

You're not "building a small RV park, @Jim; you are building a compact luxury RV resort! That's going to be superb!!! This is what happens when a dedicated RVer with good taste, an imagination and some common sense turns a good idea into a great reality. Well done!

TJ

Thank you @TJ&LadyDi, this months PR check is in the mail. . .

 

[Jim]

Nice! How's the water taste in your area? As far out as you are, I presume it is coming from a well?

Yes, 550' deep! Up at the house the water is complements of a wonderful spring. But it's not big enough for the park, not by any stretch of the imagination. So we had to drill a well. Got 20 gpm, and that's not bad! More than enough for the park, and the water is really good too!

 

[Jim]

Jim, you are building something pretty danged special there friend. That place is going to be a real gem.

I sure hope so Ed. lol, but days like today, while it's raining cats and dogs and I'm knee deep in mud, I have to wonder though.

 

[NGC 613]

After our trip to Key West, where we had a hut with preparation counter and refrigerator, we have decided to do the same at our park. So now, each site will still have a 10’ X 10’ gazebo, but we will add a countertop, sink with running water and a refrigerator with ice maker.

The beauty of this became apparent as soon as we got back from the store with our groceries. Everything went in the refrigerator and was easily accessible when it came time to cook, which was done on the BBQ. And the drinks were nice and cold without having to be put in an ice chest. It’s really nice not having to haul food/drinks in/out of the coach all the time.

Also, given the refrigerator had an ice maker, I didn’t have to buy ice the entire time I was there.

I think it will be a nice perk.

Here is what we have in mind. Not my picture, I snagged it off of the Internet. But it's almost exactly what we had planned on building. Also, the refrigerator isn't shown in this picture but we will add it beside the countertop.

View attachment 4362

Well I know what the name of the park should be now. " Glampers RV Park " LOL Should be a really nice touch.

 

[MapNerd]

This is almost getting to a level that is almost too good to be true. Good thing I know it’s true, it’d be hard to believe otherwise. What’s the nightly rate?

 

[sheridany]

I have a feeling reservations will be required a year in advance. The secret is out. East Coast or West Coast everyone knows now. ??