Downsize for RV Life +Campgrounds Good News/Bad News

 

Blog copyright Janet Groene 2024. To support this free weekly blog with a voluntary subscription please send $10 a year (52 issues)  via Paypal to janetgroene at yahoo.com/ 

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SellOut
 

    Would you love to downsize, move into an RV and chase your personal rainbow? It’s one of the most difficult choices one can make.
    Here are some ways to unload those possessions that are holding you back.  

 

    AMAZON is a worldwide marketplace where you ca find buyers for almost anything, no matter how rare or oddball.
    Pro: Listing is free and fairly easy.
    Con: You pay fees, commissions and it takes a while to learn how to use it effectively. You are competing in a very tough international marketplace.

    AUCTION. In a few, bittersweet hours, everything you want to get rid of is gone. 

    Pro: It’s quick, final and all the work is done for you by the auction house. You don’t even have to be there. The auctioneer may conduct the sale out of your house and yard, or haul everything away to sell at their own place.
    Con: Commissions are high and returns could by iffy if the auction isn’t well promoted  or well attended.  

    CRAIGS LIST is local and brings in local buyers. It’s a good place to advertise large items that can’t be shipped.
    Pro: It’s free and you keep all the money. You ad reaches local folks.
    Con: You’re exposed on the Internet, so scammers and thieves know about your sale. The listing process can be tricky until you get the hang of it.
Note: Dozens more local websites now populate the scene. Some are free. Some charge an upfront fee or take a commission. Many come and go. Take precautions. 

 

    DONATE TO CHARITY and take a tax write-off.
    Pro: Many charities will pick up donations, so this is a good way to get shed of large, heavy items. It can be anonymous. Your neighbors and kids don’t have to  know what you are giving away.
    Con: They may be picky. If it’s heavy and there is no market for it, the charity may refuse to haul it away. Also, unless you take advantage of the tax benefits, you get nothing out of it except the satisfaction.

    EBAY and similar sites provide a worldwide audience of buyers. It’s a person-to-person deal, so you have to pack and ship items, deal with questions, face returns and all the problems of a retailer. 

    Pro: Showcases your goods to a large audience. Bidding could lift prices beyond your wildest dreams.
    Con: You pay to list,  whether it sells or not, then pay a commission on sales. You may get paid only through PayPal or other single service. Listing procedures and account management require time and attention. You can list items as non-returnable but angry customers could bad-mouth you for future sales.

    FAMILY AND FRIENDS GIVEAWAY. If you believe that this downsizing is  permanent,  now is the time to give heirlooms to the people you would be giving them to eventually anyway.

    Pro: Your keepsakes go now to people you want to have them. Provide records and provenence. Explain why they are valuable or have sentimental value. You don’t have to insure or store them or worry that they’ll go into the wrong hands in the future.
    Con: Hard feelings and even lifelong family bitterness can result if loved ones think you were uneven in your distribution. 

    YARD SALES You don’t have to have just one. Have a series of sales for the best return. When people haggle and you tell them they can come back on the last day for mark-downs, they usually buy on the spot.  There’s no need to lower prices until the last hours of the last day. 

 

    Pro: You keep all the money starting with day one.
    Con: You do all the work , from placing ads and signs to hauling stuff back into the house if it didn’t sell. Get help to help control crowds, reduce theft.

 

 

 

 

 Mother's Day is May 12

Does SOMEONE YOU KNOW

LONG TO GO RV ROVING?

   Living Aboard Your RV, 4th Ed. This book is the perfect gift for retirement, get well, Mother's Day, Father's Day or birthday. It covers the full-time RV life from making the decision to taking the exit ramp when and if that time comes. Order at any book store or have Amazon gift wrap and ship it for you. Paperback or Kindle, http://amzn.to/29XFEkq
 

 

      CAMPGROUNDS; GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS

This news from our local sources may be incomplete or premature. It's presented here to give you an earlybird peek at where to find safe, affordable sites now and in the future. 

 * Majestic is the word for views at Roan Mountain State Park, Tennessee, especially during the historic  Rhododendron Festival. This year’s dates for the 77-year-old festival are June 22-23. Come see the splendor of  bawdy rhododendrons in bloom plus food, crafts, music, live entertainments,  hikes, trout fishing in the Doe River, tennis courts, a swimming pool and a children’s play area. The park has 86 campsites with picnic table, grill, water and electric.  A dump station is located near the check-in. Go to (www.) ReserveTNstateparks.com/

* Plans are moving ahead for a proposed RV park near Defuniak Springs, Florida.  Next Adventure RV Park in Walton County will have 27 RV pads, a clubhouse, office and bathhouse. This area is known as the Emerald Coast for its dazzling emerald waters. Jump on board as soon as reservations go live.

Hardy is among year's headliners

 A stellar lineup of country  music stars is slated for appearances nonstop at the gala Faster Horses Festival at the Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan July 19-21. A major RV camping event as well as a country music extravaganza, it has nothing to do with horses. The yearly blow-out reportedly gets its name from something Henry Ford said back in the early days of auto making. buggy days. Campsites are available to festival ticket holders, but must be bought separately. A map shows the camping areas at (www.) FasterHorsesFestival.com. 

    * New this spring are a long list of upgrades to Devil’s Fork Campground in Dungannon, Virginia. Improvements include a new  camp store and hookups for six RV’s. A dump station is expected to be finished by now. See (www.) Devilsforkcampground.com/

     * “Substantial” improvements are coming to the campground at  Selkirk Shores State Park, New York starting in September. Each of the 130 campsites will get crushed stove surfaces and the entire infrastructure will be upgraded. The park will be open for day use during the project but check ahead for opening and closing dates of the campground, which will be affected by the project. Completion is expected by 2026.  (315) 298-5737

* Danforth Bay Camping & RV Resort in Freedom, New Hampshire  opens the 2024 season fully loaded with new features that  it began adding last year. See the new, zero entry salt water swimming pool, water fountains and slides,  the expanded Depot Store, gathering spots for guests, planned activities.and a grandstand for entertainers.  One of the state’s year-round campgrounds, the lakefront park covers 185 acres. For extended stays, the resort’s The Bluffs has 300 big-rig-friendly sites spread over our 150 acres. Sites have full hookups including cable and WiFi.  Although most sites in this area are seasonal, shorter terms are available. See (www.) DanforthBay.com/

 

* The RV park across the street from the former Turquoise Valley Golf Course in Naco, Arizona is now reborn as Camp Riff. Sink or swim in this new and growing  camping and recreation complex, where you can sink a putt, then swim in the new pool. The 184-acre resort will have RV campsites, a playground, amphitheater, walking paths and more as time goes on. Get details at CampRiff.com/

* In Horseshoe Bend, Idaho, the Konnexion Music Festival is a celebration of music, arts and camping. It’s scheduled for June 28-30. RV passes are available for car campers and RV’s up to 26 feet. The state’s largest electronic music fest presents dozens of artists providing nonstop music and entertainment plus vendors, food trucks, workshops, dance and community against a background of Idaho mountain scenery. Get tickets and camping packages online at (www.)konnexionmusicfestival.com/

 

    * Learn about raptors of the Southwest at Sugarite Canyon State Park in Raton, New Mexico on Sunday, June 23. The hour-long program features live Southwestern birds of prey. It's open to all ages and is free with park admission. The park has two campgrounds with water and electric and a few with full hookups. Sugarite offers a full vacation with 20 miles of trails, fishing, boating, equestrian trails, mountain biking, picnic areas, paddle sports, a visitor center with exhibits and gift shop and an historic coal camp.  Call the Visitor Center at (575) 445-5607. Camping reservations, (www.) ReserveAmerica.com/

* By late spring, 2025, the new luxury Magnolia Trace RV Resort should be open just south of Natchez, Mississippi. Work has already begun to transform the 275-acre site into a resort with premium RV sites, a lazy river, clubhouse and more for a family vacation. Learn more at https://unwindresorts.co/magnolia-trace/overview

 
 

Your RV Dog: Tips from a Trainer + Good/Bad News of Campgrounds

 

Blog copyright Janet Groene 2024. If you want a quick email reminder each tine new posts go up here, email janetgroene@yahoo.com and put RV Yes in the topic line. Your information will never be shared, sold nor used for any other purpose

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CAMPGROUNDS; GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS

 

THE RV 

WOMAN'S DOG

copyright Janet Groene

 

 

 

 

   

 A few years ago I was privileged to get these tips from Steffi Trott, a professional dog trainer at spiritdogtraining.com in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Steffi loves the outdoors so she’s well acquainted with ways to keep a pet safe not just at home but on the go inside and outside the RV. 

 

 

Steffi Trott

 
    My Gypsy, a Belgian sheep dog mix, loved the RV, but my previous dog, Big Red, had  escaped from a from a “slob” hunter and was afraid of our Class C camper. He showed every sign of having been abused, so we assumed that the former owner had an RV. And Big Red wanted nothing more to do with RV's.  

Then we took Steffi’s advice and accustomed him to it slowly with lots of love, praise and reassurance. He became an avid RV traveler.

    Here are Steffi’s tips. I especially like her use of voice commands. To my surprise I found that Gypsy had a far larger vocabulary than I'd realized before. 

    1. Get The Pet Used To The RV
    Don’t wait to introduce your pet to the RV until you actually have a big outing planned. It's a  new environment, so it may take your pet a while to get used to the RV and feel comfortable and safe in and even near it.
    Food is a great motivator for making your dog or cat like RV-ing. : Take your pet onto the RV and feed him some of his very favorite treats. Do not stay too long and make it short and sweet. This experience will make your pet want to have more!
    The next time you approach the RV your dog or cat will already remember what happened the last time and look forward to getting on board.


    2. Make Sure Your Pet Is Safe
    The last thing you want is that your pet ends up taking an unplanned spill in a quick stop or fast cornering.  Dogs should wear a seat belt underway and a life jacket when on or near water. Many choices are on the market, make sure to pick the correct size for your dog!


    3. Lock Up Food
    In  crowded environment of an RV make extra sure that you lock up all food that is toxic to your dog out of reach. A bag of grapes put on the counter can quickly lead to an emergency trip to the vet if your dog gets a hold of it! Be sure to know what foods are not safe for your dog (https://www.spiritdogtraining.com/training/basic/can-my-dog-eat/) and be extra vigilant to keep them out of reach.


    4. Have Clear Rules
    Ideally your pet should not run wildly around in the RV for everyone's safety. Of course pets need to have their exercise as well!
    Make it easy for your pet to understand when it is time to rest and when it is time to play by always initiating playtime with a certain phrase, such as eg "Let's play together!" as well as telling him "We're all done" when you finish. That way your pet will know when to expect activity and when to settle.


    5. Potty Breaks
    While cats can use a litterbox in an RV, your dog needs potty breaks outside. You can make this a fast and effective activity by teaching him a phrase, such as "Go Potty". Say it every time you see your dog “use the bathroom”, and soon you will be able to make him go as soon as you tell him his potty command.


    6. Keep Benadryl Handy
    Some pets experience motion-sickness when first getting introduced to RV-in. In a car they usually have a clear view of the road. In an RV they can get disoriented when they have only a side window. Check with your vet. In many cases you can give your dog or cat OTC Benadryl that will instantly make them feel better!
    Signs of motion-sickness are not limited to vomiting. They can also include panting, drooling, shaking and restlessness. Watch out for these signs and help your pet conquer his discomfort.

           
CAMPGROUNDS; GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS

fresh from our local sources in the USA and Canada

* The Mountain State’s inventory of campsites is about to grow by $11 million and 169 RV sites. At Mylan Park in Morgantown, West Virginia a KOA campground with hookups,  clubhouse, and cabins  will be added to a vast sports complex that has more than 60 acres of athletic fields, wellness facilities and 180,000 square feet of indoor sport and event space. Mylan Park has been a major sports destination for more than 20 years. Stay tuned for an opening date for the KOA.

    * The uber-luxury  Gulfport Luxury RV Resort in Gulfport, Mississippi is now open with 14 acres of space, more than 100 RV pads, golf cart rentals, a 24/7 fitness center, free
WiFi, dog park, a splash pad and lazy river, a clubhouse, café and  a heated,  resort-style swimming pool with cabanas.   Be here on May 25 when the group  Nashville South provides live music from 6 to 9 p.m.  (228) 207-9442

* After a four-year closure the city-owned campground in downtown Cranbrook, British Columbia will open again with a limit of seven days for stays. While hookups are spotty for now, most sites do have electric power. The city is considering adding more sewer, water and electric service.

* As soon as sewer problems are solved, there may be six to eight new RV sites at the city-owned Heflen Park in Edinburgh, Indiana. The 35-acre park has 26 RV sites now, a playground, dump station,  electric and water hookups.  (812) 350-1834

* Just a stone’s throw from Nevins, Minnesota,  Nevis Campground & RV Park is about to expand. The 29-site campground has full hookups and will add more RV and primitive sites, volleyball and pickleball. Located just north of the Nevis city limits and  next to  Daisy Lake, the family-owned campground will continue to grow.

* New this season in Red River, New Mexico is the Road Runner RV Resort with 120 RV sites and full hookups. The gated community has state-of-the-art tennis courts, playgrounds, basketball, a putting green andcamp store. Come here to fish and explore the Red River and the surrounding sunlit hills.  Ask about the military discount. (575) 754-2286

    *Save the dates. The 2025 Gem and Jam Festival is scheduled for January 31-February 2 at the Pima County Fairgrounds in Tucson, Arizona. This is a walk-in  camping venue, so check ahead for RV camping at and around the fairgrounds. The music is EDM with arts and gem displays and entertainments provided by performers and artists from around the world. See (www.) Gemandjamfestival.com/

    *In  Manchester, Vermont on July 12-14, the Dead of Summer Music Festival headlines Pink Talking Fish, Neighbor, Max Creek, Annie in the Water, Misty Blues and many more.
Stay busy in the tie dye tent, yoga sessions, food trucks and family activities for kids. Children under 17 are free.  RV and tent camping is allowed if you have a three-day concert ticket. Car camping is not permitted.  For details, tickets and camping packages see DeadOfSummerFestoval.com/

* A new management company has taken charge at Wading Pines Camping Resort in Chatsworth, New Jersey but no changes have been announced at this time.  Located on the Wading River in the New Jersey Pinelands, the resort offers kayaking, free cable TV and spacious, wooded,  pull-through RV sites with 50-amp power. Almost every weekend, something special is going on here.  Try the Survival Weekend on June 29 with Iive music and endurance contests, or the July 13 Poker run to benefit the Vincentown Fire Department. (888) 726-1313.

    * To open over Memorial Day weekend is the brand new, 155-acre Haven Hills Campground & Resort near the Quad Cities in Aledo, Illinois. Facilities will include a giant giant disc golf course, two miles of paths for walking and bicycling, three lakes, five ponds, a three-hole golf course, a huge splash pad, fitness and rec center and garden spaces for seasonal campers to plant their own gardens. The 40 paved RV pads offer full hookups. (309)333-1434

* It’s a GO  in Benton County, Arkansas. Approval has been given for a 42-site RV park to be built just outside Siloam Springs. We don’t have a name yet, so stay tuned. You can get updates on the RV scene and other features of this popular destination at  DiscoverSailoam.com/

* The beautiful hills northeast of Chattanooga  are welcoming  a new campground. It’s the Hiwassee Island Luxury RV Resort in Charleston, Tennessee. River lots are currently for sale for your RV or a land-home package with a tiny home. The resort is being built with high speed fiber optic WiFi, a handsome copper-roofed clubhouse and more luxury features yet to be completed. To ask about securing a site early call  (423) 650-2168.

* New in Osoyoos, British Columbia is the 120-site Osoyoos Lake RV Resort. Pre-sales are underway for the resort that is expected to be in full operation by the 2025 season. Lots will be leased for seasonal stays. Get details at pathfinderadventures.ca/

* Country star Cody Johnson is just one of the headliners at the celebrity--packed Country Concert 24. It’s  coming to Hickory Hill Lakes,  Fort Laramie, Ohio July 11-14. Best of all, campers can arrive as early as the previous Tuesday. A special Campers’ Party with live music plays  on July 10.   RV Sites with water  are priced with no power or with 30 or 50 amps. Bring your own cooler to hear nonstop music on four stages with nine giant screens. Catered meals will be available in VIP seating areas. Plenty of food vendors will be on hand. See camping options, rules and  ticket packages at codyjohnsonmusic.com/  

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RV's On the Record + Campground Good News/ Bad News

Blog copyright Janet Groene 2024. To donate ini support of of this free weekly blog, use your PayPal account to janetgroene at yahoo.com

 

In Praise of Print...
Highways for the Heart

    Part of the fun of RV-ing is sharing your travels with loved ones far away. You can snap a picture now and have it on your sister’s desktop or smart phone a minute later. Make up a family newsletter and, with one click of the icon,  you  e-mail it to two dozen people. You might turn your memoirs into a travel diary, a book, blog or  e-book. Better still,  make it a journal, diary or a family newsletter or hard copy book sent via snail mail. 

    How can you use today’s high-tech communications to take friends and family along for the ride? 

    You can post a blog, Facebook page, or website and hope others will flock to it.  However, that’s no help to Uncle Mike or Granny, who don’t use the new electronics.  Although snail mail is more work,  hard copy is taken to heart much more. It can be passed around, read at leisure, scrap-booked,  savored and kept for years.

  Whether you use digital or print, you can create a real  legacy in the form of a newsletter, journal or diary.

 

     ☐ Decide if your site will be public,  private, password protected or interactive. Will you publish  comments? Approve them first?  Will it be a simple letter snail-mailed to the home folks, online news for all friends and family, totally public or a public website with password? 

   ☐ Use color, links, clip art and photos but keep electronic files brief or they clog inboxes.  Liven up hard copy with colored papers. If you don’t make prints of your photos, many gift shops will sell post cards for  50 cents or less. 

    ☐ If others travel with you, get them involved in your weekly or monthly newsletter,  perhaps with a Kids’ Korner or From the Passenger  Seat.  Use quotes and funny stories.

    ☐ Think before you ink. If you’re going through a very tough time, wait until you’re able to keep it brief and in context. Don’t write things you’ll regret later. Sleep on it overnight, then boil it down to a punchy, readable version. 

    ☐ Don’t over-do it with personal news. Your friends, who have never met your children, don’t care that your son-in-law got promoted or your grand-daughter graduated from kindergarten. 

 

      ☐ Put yourself in the picture. Your friends can find photos of the Grand Canyon in a book. Show what you saw and did and experienced there. Convey  enthusiasm with good writing and evocative words, not punctuation fireworks. Keep it light and airy with generous margins and crisp, large type.

    ☐ Flesh out the family newsletter with a cherished  family recipe, a poem, a puzzle, a family trivia quiz. Bring the reader/viewer into the story with comments such as “When you come here next year, Mary, don’t miss the little bistro on Oak Street” or “Mom, I think of you and Pop when you came here on your honeymoon. ” 

    ☐ One way to personalize a family newsletter is with a monthly calendar. upcoming family birthdays, anniversaries and significant dates such as “Granny would have been 90 today.”

    ☐ Start the next issue right after sending the last.  Add to the file until you’ve reached a goal of so-many words or pages, then send it. 

    ☐ Come up with a catchy name for your blog or newsletter, such as Jenny’s Journeys or Robbin on the Road. 

    ☐ Include your contact information in each issue. Stay-at-homes need constant reminders that your only address is a forwarding service in  Cincinnati even though they know you are actually in Southeast Alaska. Be careful about giving out temporary phone numbers or addresses. Sure as shootin', your addled aunt will write them down and use them forever. 

Just in time for Mother's Day....

 

COOKING ABOARD YOUR RV

    For yourself or a gift,  Janet Groene's timeless RV cookbook is packed with shortcuts, tips and 270 easy, delicious recipes to cook inside the camper or outside on the campfire or grill. https://amzn.to/3nNndWY

 

          CAMPGROUNDS GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS

 This is late breaking news gathered from local sources. It may be premature or incomplete. Check it out for yourself. No endorsement of any campground is implied.

   * Newly opened last fall in Fort Smith Arkansas, the 27-acre  Riverfront RV Resort has 100 RV sites with full hookups. The park has a swimming pool, dog park, pickleball court, walking trail, playground, WiFi, gated entry and private boat ramp on the Arkansas River. See FortSmithRiverfrontRVResort.com/

* Camping at Martha Creek Provincial Park, British Columbia  has been added to the reservations system at BCParks. In a  new loop the park has added 32 campsites. Facilities include gray water disposal, pit toilets, potable water and a recycling center. The park now has 108 campsites, of which 83 can be reserved. See https://camping.bcparks.ca

* Bigwind Lake Park in Bracebridge, Ontario is still a day use park but watch for the news as it develops into a fabulous provincial park with 250 RV campsites. For updates go to https://www.ontario.ca/page/new-operating-provincial-park-bigwind-lake-provincial-park.

*2024 is the 50th year for Rocky Gap State Park in Flintstone, Maryland. Celebrations will pop up through most of July. Day trippers will get in free July 15-19 and RV campers will have a front row seat at the special celebrations that continue later. On July 20, take a ranger-led hike to the Mountaintop. Also that day, Primitive Technologist Roy Brown will lead demonstrations of Native American activities, and storytelling.  On July 24, a one-hour paddleboarding program goes on at park's Boathouse.  For reservations in the 243-site campground call (888)-432-(2267. For park information and schedules for programs call (301) 722-1480.

* Camp the Adirondacks under a new flag when the North Pole Campground & Resort in Wilmington,, New York opens as a KOA. The resort also has a separate motel, which will open as usual. The destination has a camp store, liquor store, cabins, RV and tent campsites. Under the KOA banner the campground will have 5 RV sites plus a swimming pool, pickleball, playground and more features typical of KOA parks. Get updates on the changes at the KOA website.

    * The annual Ribstock Festival will be held June 28, 2024 - June 29, 2024 at the Caseville, Michigan County Park. In addition to the best ribs in town, the fun will include a sand castle building contest on the beach, classic cars, softball tournaments, dances, live music,  entertainments and a kids’ section. Campsite reservations are already sold out, but you can get on the wait list at https://huroncountyparks.com/ribstock-festival/        

* Through May 7, bring your little ones for Toddler Tuesdays at Crowder State Park, Trenton, Missouri.  Meet at the Camp Grand River Recreation Hall at 9 a.m. for hour-long sessions with themes such as nature, crafts, reading and nature walks. For more information, call the park office at 660-359-6473. These events are free and open to the public, and there is no need to register.

    * With the 100th anniversary of Route 66 coming in 2026, tourism sites along the entire route are spiffing up for a big influx of tourists. One of the new campgrounds will be a $300,000 park in Livings, Illinois, 40 miles northeast of St. Louis. The little town is known for its huge Pink Elephant statue and antique mall. The new campground will adjoin the mall.

*  Pucker up for the annual Rhubarb Festival at Sylvan Park and Riverview Campgrounds, Lanesboro, Minnesota on June 1. Feast on rhubarb pies, muffins, tarts, jam and much more. The festival will have live music, children’s activities, foot races, brews, vendors, food   and plenty of hometown hospitality.  The park has two campgrounds, some with full hookups,   two scenic ponds for trout fishing,, picnic areas, a playground, golf and a swimming pool.  Call the campground at  (507) 467-3722.

 

    * Adventureland in Altoona, Iowa is the new location of the iconic Ruckus country music festival, to be held this year on June 6.  Headliners are Chris Young, Jake Owen and Russell Dickerson. Be there for nonstop music, vendors, theme park thrill rides, a water park, dining, shopping and more. The campground has full hookups, a dog run, playground and swimming pool. Go to adventurelandresort,com/ For Ruckus information go to gurthriesriverruckus.com/


 
 

 

RV Real Estate:Own It! + Campground Good News/Bad News

 Blog copyright Janet Groene 2024. To support this free service with your voluntary  subscription,  send $10 once a year (52 issues)  to janetgroene via Paypal.   

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           CAMPGROUND GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS

        Wheel Estate Isn't Real Estate.Should You Buy Your Own Lot?
 

RV Life: A LOT to Learn

    Recently a scandal broke when RV lot “owners”  in a commercial campground were left holding the bag when the campground was sold.  They thought they had  paid the original owner for lifetime rights to their campsites. They were wrong. The new owner of the land did not honor that deal.

    As real estate becomes more valuable, you’ll see sticker shock everywhere. A Florida developer is advertising modular homes (not mobiles homes, RV’s or park models) for sale on leased land. Apartment houses are going condo. Nightly, weekly and seasonal rents  are soaring for everything from storage units and garages to lakefront campsites.

        Eviction notices are coming as a shock.  Squatters are moving in. "No Vacancy" and "Campground Full"  signs bloom everywhere. Reservations are hard to get.

 

 
    If high campground rates are getting you down and you’re thinking of investing in RV real estate, how can you make a wise buy in today’s crazy economy?

    When you own your own RV lot you come and go as you please. No reservations, no time limits. Owning an RV lot can be a safe harbor or an albatross, so let’s sort it out.  This isn’t about campground memberships or time shares. We are talking a deeded  purchase of your own patch of ground.

    At its simplest the tract might be country acreage where you can install septic, electric and water. Then you can come “home” and plug in as you please (zoning permitting.) Raw land is likely to grow in value and meanwhile you are free to sell the property,  or continue to use it as an RV lot, or build something else there.
    
            If luxury is your aim you can easily spend $100,000 or more for a small slab  in a five-start RV resort with swimming pools, tennis and golf.  Monthly maintenance fees are additional (and are going up.)  If the RV is your full-time home, you might even invest in lots in two camping resorts noth and south, and  move with the seasons. Another choice is to buy an RV lot at today’s prices as a future RV retirement spot but lease it out until you’re ready to use it.

  

What do zoning laws, HOA and other rules say about additional structures or facilities on your lot? 

 

 

 

     Today’s real estate market is a casino. There’s always risk but also the possibility to profit. As the old saying goes,  “They can print more money but they can’t print more land.” In many popular vacation areas, RV lots are sold out and there’s a waiting list. Worse still, some campgrounds campers and the valuable land is used for high-rise condos. 

 

     Why buy a deeded RV lot in a campground?  (1) Financing is probably available. (2) As a member of the owners’ association you’ll have a vote about costs and management. (3) Unless special circumstances arise, the property can’t be sold out from under you. (4)  If  management has a rental program for your site when you’re out roving, the lot earns money for you.

    Before signing, have a real estate attorney look over the contract in case there are hidden snares. Know exactly what is in deed convenants, ongoing costs, assessment fees,  park rules. Know how rules will affect you now and in the future when, say, you want to install a more permanent structure on the site or whether you must get a new RV after so-many years. Look at the land use plans presently in place to see what might be in store for property adjoining yours.

    Your own due diligence should also include topo maps (does the land flood?). Cost of clearing? Is the plot will be accessible? In all seasons? What about access for your oversize RV?  

     An RV lot purchase can take many forms. Just as in other real estate deals, you’ll see condo lots, co-op parks, long-term leases, rent or lease with option to buy, owner financing, perhaps even short sales and other exotic wrinkles. Know before you buy. 

 

Janet Groene’s Survival Food Handbook is  written for campers and sailors who have limited storage space, yet may face a sudden emergency such as a mechanical breakdown or evacuation. It's a guide to buying, stowing and preparing supermarket staples for boondocking and unexpected glitches. http://amzn.to/1WdYqbe

 

 

 

     CAMPGROUNDS; GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS


    We troll local real estate news for early clues to where new campsites can be found.  Those listed here are for you to investigate and evaluate. The new may be premature or incomplete.

 * Celebrating a name change with a ribbon cutting ceremony on April 24 will be the former Camp Tamarack RV Park in Grand Prairie, Alberta. Now a KOA Journey,  the campground has  easy set up services including good lighting after dark, an upgraded playground, Kamp K9,, horseshoe pits and basketball courts. Nearby are dunes for ATV riders.

    * The National Park Service announces the reopening of  Havasupai Gardens Campground and the Bright Angel and Tonto Trails in Grand Canyon NP on April 15. Closed since late 2023, the areas have new rest houses, water services and many other improvements. More improvements continue and w ill open as they are completed. The water filling stations at Mile-and-a-Half and Three-Mile Resthouses are projected to be available by mid-May. Check the NP websites for news of ongoing openings that will continue through 2025.

*Just around the corner from  the Music City RV Show at the Wilson County Fair Grounds in Lebanon, Tennessee , the city of Nashville spreads all of its tourist attractions. Dates are June 4-7. You’ll see seas of 2025  RV’s in all sizes and layouts including the latest in luxury diesel pushers.

    * Calaveras County, California  is about to have another of its famous frog jumping contests. The  historic event that has grown from a mere contest to a busy weekend of wine, camping, historic sites and outdoor fun. Dates for the Jumping Frog Jubilee are May 16-19. RV camping is s at the Angels Camp RV Resort,  (209) 736-0404. It’s south of downtown Angels Camp with its boutiques, restaurants, museums, zip lines and more. The RV resort's amenities include a seasonal pool, fire pits, dog park, playground, sand volleyball, horseshoes, kitchen pavilion, meeting room, laundry, propane, dump station, and WiFi..

 * In Strawn, Texas, halfway between Abilene and Fort Worth, the new Palo Pinto Mountains  State Park is taking shape in phases. An opening date hasn’t yet been announced. Centerpiece of the park will be 90-acre Tucker Lake. Features of the 4,800 acre park will include more than 12 miles of bike trails (to grow later to 20 miles),  spacious campsites, a dock, playground and equestrian campsites. RV sites will have water and electric but full hookups will be provided for camp hosts. A dump station will also be provided.

* Save the dates August 29-September 2 be in Mount Pleasant, Iowa for the Midwest Old Threshers Festival. Reserve your RV site early in the 72-acre campground with electric, dump stations and four restrooms/shower houses. The campground store has groceries and ice; a shuttle runs to the main festival area. Bring the kids to see old steam engines, antique cars and tractors, bygone engines and live horses. See live  performers and plenty of old-time music. Learn to square dance. See the parade, cheer at the Horse Pull and feast at food vendors. Go to OldThreshers.org/ Get multi-day earlybird tickets online at a discount.

* Progress is being made in Port Richey, Florida towards a new campground to be built on 16 heavily wooded acres. The land has a natural spring and will be developed with 120 RV sites with an “old Florida” look.  Stay tuned.

    * Faithful regulars at Barnacles Resort & Campground in Aitkin, Minnesota will find a new restaurant there late this month. Now known as the Mudflats Bar & Grill, the restaurant under new owners is a centerpiece of the 97-site campground. All sites have full hookups and about half are lakefront.

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RV Fitness on the Go + This Week's Campsite News

Blog copyright Janet Groene 2024. To support this free service with your voluntary, anonymous  subscription, send $10 every April to janetgroene via Paypal. 

A Perfect Fit

copyright Janet Groene 2024

Is your fitness program giving you fits as an RV traveler? Are you constantly looking for a full-service gym with trainers and state-of-the-art equipment? 

    Listen up! National chains such as Gold's Gym, 24 Hour Fitness, Anytime Fitness and LA Fitness allow travelers to find consistent service, equipment, coaching and programs in hundreds of locations nationwide.  

Here are just a few options for RV women on the go:

BlueCross/BlueShield members get discounts on a choice of more than 9.000 fitness centers through a program known as Blue365. Ask. 

Most upscale camping resorts offer fitness centers but they are all different. If you are committed to one regimen or one brand of fitness machines, it may pay to join a national gym chain that has the same standards at every facility.

Motels and hotels usually have a fitness center, day spa and swimming pool. Many offer a day pass or monthly membership to outsiders. Call ahead to ask about rules and day rates.  

YMCA/YWCA centers throughout North America may offer a guest visit for free or fee. 

Facilities and staffing vary according to location but most offer swimming. Many gyns don’t have a pool.  

Before joining a national chain, make sure you can use your membership card at any member facility. There may be a guest charge or a limit on how often you may be a guest. 

What to look for:

* According to one state’s attorney general, complaints against fitness club contracts are second only to complaints about robot calls. Shop carefully, read the fine print and know what you’re getting into.

* Understand each gym's philosophy. Is your goal overall wellness, strength training, weight loss, mental calm or training for a specific sport? What protocols are available and what certifications do staff have?

* Senior discounts and family memberships can be found. Shop around.  Know not just the cost of membership but what you get, and do not get, for the price. Is the use of some facilities at extra cost?

* How convenient are the gym’s hours and are they the same at every member of the chain?  Some are open 24/7. 

* Beware of automatic renewal clauses on your credit card. Some travelers find they have unwittingly signed up for another year. 

* Is the gym registered with the state consumerism department? Have any complaints been filed with any agency or the BBB? If so, how were they resolved?

* Does the gym require a long-term commitment? 

* Does the gym charge an up-front fee? Service fees, such as registration fees, membership fees, processing or start-up fees, may be required. However, says the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, it must be considered a "reasonable and fair service fee," meaning no more than 10 percent of the contract price.

    * What's the best way to pay?  Setting up an automatic withdrawal from your checking account may result in problems if there is ever a dispute.   Is there a cancellation fee?  Does your state law allow penalty-free cancellation in writing within X days? 

* What state laws are in place to protect customers in case the gym closes, moves or merges with another chain? They vary state to state.

One choice is to create your own fitness regimen,, one you can follow inside the RV,  outdoors,  on the beach or grass, home and away, rain or shine

CAMPGROUNDS; GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS

Are new campsites coming to your state or province? Check back here weekly for news in the US and Canada 

 

• * Save the dates August 29-September 2 be in Mount Pleasant,  Iowa for the Midwest Old Threshers Festival. Reserve your RV site early for a spot in the 72-acre campground with electric, dump stations and four restrooms/shower houses. The campground store has groceries and ice; a shuttle runs to the main festival area. Bring the kids to see old steam engines, antique cars and tractors, bygone engines and live horses. See live  performers and plenty of old-time music. Learn to square dance. See the parade, cheer at the Horse Pull and feast at food vendors. Go to OldThreshers.org/ Get multi-day earlybird tickets online at a discount. 
•  
• * In Ottumwa, Iowa, the Ottumwa Park Campground is now open for the season and with a new shower house.  Rates are $20 night, tent or RV. The campground doesn’t accept reservations but you can ask questions by calling (641) -682-1307.  
  

* In Jefferson County, Iowa summer is a-comin’ in.  Jefferson County Park is open but bathrooms may not be ready yet. Mae Coon Access is open for self-contained campers. No facilities are available at Round Prairie Park, but it’s open with picnic tables, fire rings and a pit toilet. A new, 14-site county RV campground is planned to be built off Key Boulevard in Fairfield by next summer.  

* Hammocks Beach State Park, North Carolina will close its Bear Island campground and shut down  ferry service this summer. No camping reservations will be accepted until an opening date is announced. 

•  
• * Progress is being made in Port Richey, Florida towards a new campground to be built on 16 heavily wooded acres. The land has a natural spring and will be developed with 120 RV sites with an “old Florida” look.  Stay tuned.
•  
•    * Dunnellon, Florida is about to get an RV park named after the 1962  Elvis Presley musical, “Follow That Dream”, which was filmed in this area. The Follow That Dream RV Resort will have 228 sites and luxury amenities.
  

    * Faithful regulars at Barnacles Resort & Campground in Aitkin, Minnesota will fnd a new restaurant opening late this month. Now known as the Mudflats Bar & Grill, the resort's former restaurant, now under new owners,  is a centerpiece of the 97-site campground. All sites have full hookups and about half are lakefront.

                           
*Another Carefree Covered RV Storage just celebrated a grand opening in Surprise, Arizona, the sixth location for this group. In 14 acres, the site offers 632 covered RV parking, 24-hour security, a dog park, Wi-Fi and ice.Visit www.carefreecoveredrvstorage.com/ The brand expects to continue growing in Arizona and Texas. 

 
    * Peach Queen Campground in Jemison, Alabama has new owners. The historic, 82-site campground has full hookups, a dog park, swimming pool and a spring-fed lake. Owned by the same family sine the 1800's and a campground since 1974, the land is now owned by a large real estate group that owns many campgrounds in the Southeast,  Renovations are underway and lakeside cabins are expected to be added in the future.  (334) 514-6659.

 
    * Ririe, Idaho will finally realize its long-anticipated Farmhouse Table restaurant at the 7N Ranch Resort, which has cabins as well as RV sites with full hookups.  An opening is tentatively planned for April 15, but check ahead at (208) 538.5097. As part of the Idaho Falls metro area, the destination restaurant will offer farm-to-table dining. The ranch is known for outdoor sports such as tubing, fishing,  mountain biking,  rock climbing and a driving ranges. 

 
* Mark your calendar for Farmer’s Market days in Opelousas, Louisiana every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday morning and in  Eunice, Louisiana on the first Saturday of the month.

 
    * After closing for renovations, Knob Noster (Missouri)  State Park will reopen on April 15.  Eight RV sites were upgraded to full hookups, new concrete pads were poured and each of the 25 campsites were spiffed up. Go to mostateparks.com.

 

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