New park owners want input, New park owners want input Options

[rockerpeople]

We are in the process of building an overnight park in Marshfield, MO, which is on I-44. Construction has not started yet as we are awaiting the approving wave of the city fathers. We will have only 17 sites due to land limitations. Since we are close to Springfield and Branson, we thought the overnight aspect might just work. We plan to make the park as user friendly as possible and would appreciate info from RV veterans on what they want and need. We did hire a consutling firm that done a great job on layout. This helped a lot since they knew all the turning radius of the big rigs, the pad widths, and lots of other things we hadn't thought of. So far, we plan on 20, 30, & 50 amp service, free wireless and plug-in internet at each site, cable hookups, phone at each site, handicap accessible shower in each restroom, pool, restaurant (Mexican and very good), concete pads and roads, pull throughs and back-ins, laundromat, and pet area. Any input you folks out there might have would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Terry Evans, Evans' RVExpress

[MBageant]

Rockerpeople - we've probably scared you off of the idea of even trying to start a CG!

We have a pop-up. Just because it's a pop-up does NOT mean we don't want FULL hook-ups. We want water, electric AND sewer. We have a shower and kitchen sink. There is no gray water holding tank in a pop-up, so the only place we can run it to, is the sewer (which CG's generally let us do). (No, don't need/want any ideas as to how to make our own gray water holding tank, guys. ) The portable tanks you can put underneath, they fill up too quickly and you have to always be worried about emptying them. Our potty is one of those self-contained. We don't have to empty it until we leave, so we stop by the dumping station on the way out (a little gift for the CG. )

Don't "bump" people. If someone has reserved a specific site and is paying for it, it's THEIRS!!!!! Don't tell PU people they can't have a full hook-up site because you think they don't need it.

Having a pop-up means if we are out in the hot sun, with no shade, it gets REALLY hot inside. We do have A/C, but it only helps to a point.

Don't put people right on top of each other (that seems to be the biggest pet peeve with campers).

Have an area geared more towards adults only. I don't mind people's dogs/pets being around me as long as they aren't barking constantly, or at every little noise all night long. So far we've only run into very nice, friendly, well mannered pooches. But I can see why some people would want an area with no pets.

Even with a pop-up, a pull-thru site is nice. Haven't been on one with a concrete pad yet. Have to admit, that may not "feel" like camping, but once we try it, we may like it. Have to have gravel if not concrete, obviously. Grass, trees, bushes are nice.

O.K. - cable hook-up. Hubby would love that. Only had it at one CG so far. Otherwise, he brings his SATELLITE DISH. Funny, but since I'm an internet "junky", he likes the idea of going camping to get me away from the internet. But HE needs his cable t.v.. At this point, I don't care if there's an internet hook-up, but, I bet if there WAS one, I'd be bringing my laptop (I'd have to sneak it out after hubby has fallen asleep watching his cable t.v. )

We have one of the bigger pop-ups. We also have a big truck with a crew cab. Put the two of them together, and they are a pretty long item.

SHOWERS - when we all say "clean", we mean CLEAN!!! Even a little bit of green/black in the corner grosses me out. Some places have A/C in their bathhouses too.

Laundry room - haven't had to use one yet. We've never been away that long. Just take enough clothes for the whole trip. On a longer trip, I could see needing a laundry room. Once again, nice and clean. I think also the suggestion of having more dryers is probably a good one. I've seen people complain about that too. Oh yeah, I heard someone at the last CG we were at tell the owners a FOLDING TABLE in the laundry room would be nice.

Keep the ROADS up!! Filled in with gravel, etc. (or whatever you use).

Since you say you can only have about 17 sites, I think a lot of these wishes we've all put down won't be practical. Maybe you could open up somewhere else on a much bigger piece of land! With the attitude you seem to have about the whole venture, we would definitely give you a try.

Oh yeah, even when we've had sites in the woods, hubby has always managed to get that satellite dish to pull in a signal. I was embarassed the first time he took that "camping" (it's embarassing enough having a pop-up with A/C, shower, stove, oven, microwave, slide-out, fridge, and saying I'm going "camping".) Well, the first time he took it, several different campers (all guys - but you all knew that, didn't you?) came by to ask what "reading" he was getting (satellite dish lingo). Apparently, none of them had been able to get a signal, and he was. Since then, every time he takes it, we have all these people (guys) coming over to chat about it. I was amazed at how many people have satellite dishes at CG's.. Last time he spend over 2 hours trying to get that signal, so a cable t.v. hook-up would be nice too.