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

[Beastdriver]

Most of these suggestions and comments are excellent and should be helpful to you. But, of course, you've got to get people to come to your campground first. I want to share with you how we go about selecting campgrounds. We just completed our planning for next year, about a seven or eight month trip, and I thought it might be helpful to you to know what we look for and how we go about finding it. We have a 40' diesel with slides and a toad, so what we look for might not be important to a pop-up camper, or a smaller travel trailer, but should be important to larger fifth wheelers, and larger travel trailers.

The first thing we do is go to the Trailer Life listings on line (yes, that Trailer Life that has the worthless rating system but does fairly accurately list most of the campgrounds in the U. S., Canada and Mexico.) We then call up every single listing anywhere near our intended route (near is defined as being within 50 miles of our route). The first thing we check for is whether or not the sites are paved, and if they are at least 55 or 60 feet long. If a campground does not have a paved site, we don't stop. We'll drive WAY out of the way to find one that has paved parking pads, and will pass by dozens of those that do not.

Next we look for hookups. If a site doesn't offer 50-amp service, we put a question mark beside it on our list. We may or may not stay there, even though it is paved, depending on what else is available.

Next, we look to see if the sites have water and sewer hookup. No water and sewer, no stays for us.

The next thing we check is the site width. If it ain't wide enough for slides and a little comfort room, then we mark it off our list.

Next, we check on side-by-side hookups. Generally, we don't like to stay at a place that has these, but we simply put a question mark on our list and may or may not stay, depending on what else is available.

Our next step is to try to determine if the park has a free wi-fi internet hookup. If it does, we put a plus by this park on our list. If it doesn't we won't mark it off because we have an internet satellite dish which we can use, depending on tree location.

Next, once we have satisfied ourselves on the paved parking pads, hookups, amperage, width, internet hookups, etc., we then go to the website of the park if it has one. We carefully review the website to see what they offer, but are particularly interested in pictures of the SITES. I get very suspicious when I see a website that has tons of pictures of people, the store, the laundromat, and so forth, but few if any pictures of their sites. This sends message to me that I probably won't like their sites. I am also suspicious of a campground that won't spend a few bucks on a website.

Once we've looked at all of the above, including the website, we make a list of choices, based on this information.

Our final step is to go the RVParkReviews and read these reviews which are the single most imporant input item we have. If everything else we've found on a location to that point looks good, but the park receives poor grades and comments on RVParkReviews, out it goes. Zip. No further consideration.

In reading RVParkReviews, as the webmaster recommends, we try to look for several reviews on each location. We don't pay much attention to reviews with inane comments such as "they were rude in the office" or "the camper next to us was noisy." We are far, far more interested in the campground in general, its amenities, and its location.

You'll note that I have not mentioned price. We are certainly not rich (far from it), but getting a cheap price for a bad campground is no bargain. Likewise, paying a bit more for an outstanding park is well worth it.

Bottom line is this: We are rarely surprised. It does happen, but not often. The only exception to this is the northeastern United States where no system is worth very much because you have so few quality parks to choose from. Everywhere else, it works fine.

So, my advice to you is this: Do all the things that are suggested herein, if possible, but then have a complete, thorough website with plenty of site photographs. Good luck!