Question:
How about ANY phone access. I check into a motel and have a phone when I get to the room – phone instrument included, along with walls, furniture, cleaning & etc !! I pay nearly half the cost of the motel to park my own facilities and can’t even get a place to plug MY phone into ?? WHY
NOT ??? How about this: the reason MIGHT be that: 1) A huge percentage of rv travelers are trying to get away from phones and would not use the service if available. 2) CG’s also don’t provide TV, bedding, room service or maid service. Hey, I dunno, but in 40+ years of rv travel I have never been upset by the absence of telephone service! Will KD3XR
Response:
For me it would be a phone line at my site…..that’s live all the time…but you can only make local calls or 800 number calls from it. That way you (the owner) won’t get stuck for long distance charges. Hunter
Response:
Where are you now, Hunter? The weather is startin’ to change here in the West. Gettin’ use to full-timing? — Michael – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – For me it would be a phone line at my site…..that’s live all the time…but you can only make local calls or 800 number calls from it. That way you (the owner) won’t get stuck for long distance charges. Hunter
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – How about ANY phone access. I check into a motel and have a phone when I get to the room – phone instrument included, along with walls, furniture, cleaning & etc !! I pay nearly half the cost of the motel to park my own facilities and can’t even get a place to plug MY phone into ?? WHY NOT ??? How about this: the reason MIGHT be that: 1) A huge percentage of rv travelers are trying to get away from phones and would not use the service if available. 2) CG’s also don’t provide TV, bedding, room service or maid service. Hey, I dunno, but in 40+ years of rv travel I have never been upset by the absence of telephone service! Will KD3XR
But camping and camper people are DIFFERENT today than they were 40 years ago. 40 years ago you did not have two holding tanks either. 40 years ago you still had to go outside with matches to light the water heater. 40 years ago, your RV did not have a microwave. D* Recently described as: "piano-bar-church music director-conductor-funeral pianist." www.calldon.com/shadow.htm Remembering Shadow July 1984 – November 13, 1997 A Tribute To The Sweetest, Most Perfect Dog In Heaven Press CTRL-ALT-DEL to continue….
Response:
many of us have no interest in phone lines at the site: But camping and camper people are DIFFERENT today than they were 40 years ago. 40 years ago you did not have two holding tanks either. 40 years ago you still had to go outside with matches to light the water heater. 40 years ago, your RV did not have a microwave.
Good points but you miss a much bigger issue: I am saying very few rv TRAVELERS care about phone connections. Folks who dig in for long periods undoubtedly would have a higher level of interest, but those of us for whom a campsite is a place to park overnight or vacation for a few days simply don’t represent much of a market for phones. Will KD3XR
Response:
You MAY not use the phone in the Hotel/Motel either – and a few people do vacation in them – but it is your option, at no added cost, to make a local phone call from your room ! My point may not be well taken here but I feel grossly over charged when paying $20 and up for a PARKING place. I usually dump the tanks and take on water every 3rd night, I use a little over $1.00 a day for electricity plugged into my home base site so the rest maintenance and overhead – give me a break! With margins like that I often wonder why would anyone own a motel when they could have a PARKING LOT. Dave W
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – How about ANY phone access. I check into a motel and have a phone when I get to the room – phone instrument included, along with walls, furniture, cleaning & etc !! I pay nearly half the cost of the motel to park my own facilities and can’t even get a place to plug MY phone into ?? WHY NOT ??? How about this: the reason MIGHT be that: 1) A huge percentage of rv travelers are trying to get away from phones and would not use the service if available. 2) CG’s also don’t provide TV, bedding, room service or maid service. Hey, I dunno, but in 40+ years of rv travel I have never been upset by the absence of telephone service! Will KD3XR But camping and camper people are DIFFERENT today than they were 40 years ago. 40 years ago you did not have two holding tanks either. 40 years ago you still had to go outside with matches to light the water heater. 40 years ago, your RV did not have a microwave. D* Recently described as: "piano-bar-church music director-conductor-funeral pianist." www.calldon.com/shadow.htm Remembering Shadow July 1984 – November 13, 1997 A Tribute To The Sweetest, Most Perfect Dog In Heaven Press CTRL-ALT-DEL to continue….
Response:
Why do RV parks have a checkout time around noon ???? I can understand hotels/motels as they need the cleanup time. Why not have a 6:00 PM checkout, or at least a 24 hr day – i.e. if you check in at 3:00 PM that’s your checkout time 24 hours later.. Dave W.
The noon checkout is usually done so the campground staff can clean the sites and do the grass cutting, etc., after most people have left, and before the new arrivals get there. It’s a lot easier to do, and disturbs people less if the sites are empty. Most campgrounds will extend the departure time for an hour or two at no charge if you ask, (and it’s not the peak of the season when the site’s already reserved for an early arrival). — Gary Sanders Bait for spammers:
Response:
There are several past owners here, and at least one current. My recommendation, take the money you were going to use as a down payment, put it in a money market account and get a job running a park for someone else. After you have run the park for a year (or as long as you can stand it). Then look at buying a park, you will have experience and know who to run a park without it costing you big bucks. My guess is one year of running someone else’s park will cure you of wanting to. The ROI (return on investment) stinks
As a former campground owner, PLEASE, PLEASE read Ralph’s advice CAREFULLY!!! It is without a doubt the best advice anyone could give someone that’s contemplating campground ownership. You may well love the business, but if it turns out that you don’t, you’ll save yourself untold heartache and monetary loss. If you insist that Ralph and others (including myself) are crazy, and you just HAVE to buy a campground right away, at least find yourself a good seminar on campground ownership to attend BEFORE doing the deed. I highly recommend the one Darrell Hess & Associates used to (and may still) give. He’s located in Lake Junaluska, N.C. (He also sells campgrounds, but he keeps the selling out of his seminars, and they are really worthwhile). Phone 704-452-1535. And, by the way, for the vast majority of campgrounds, Ralph’s last sentence is absolutely correct – the ROI stinks like week old fish. — Gary Sanders Bait for spammers:
Response:
We have pretty much decided on a specific RV Park and would like to have advice on how to set it up for it will be pleasing for visitors. First, does anyone know of a better discussion group were we could get advice from present RV Park owners?
There are several past owners here, and at least one current. My recommendation, take the money you were going to use as a down payment, put it in a money market account and get a job running a park for someone else. After you have run the park for a year (or as long as you can stand it). Then look at buying a park, you will have experience and know who to run a park without it costing you big bucks. My guess is one year of running someone else’s park will cure you of wanting to. The ROI (return on investment) stinks Second, we are thinking of putting in asphalt for the drive ways to each site. Each site is gravel. We feel the cost to put it at each side would be too expensive this first year. However, we don’t remember seeing any campgrounds with asphalt perhaps we were just not looking? Any comments.
Hire pros and do it right Third, we want to rent videos. How can we legally do this?
Check with who ever you are buying them from. — RV and Camping FAQ http://kendaco.telebyte.com/rlindber/rv If Windows is the answer I would really like to know what the question is
Response:
The Ohio State Park system has been changing many of their campgrounds to aspalt, instead of the usual gravel. I really like it! In the process of doing so, many of the sites are becoming more level, along with the problem of dust being raised by passing vehicals all but eliminated. Also, it’s quieter in that you don’t have to listen to that crunching gravel sound of people walking by. Should save on the yearly cost of putting down fresh gravel every year too. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – We have pretty much decided on a specific RV Park and would like to have advice on how to set it up for it will be pleasing for visitors. First, does anyone know of a better discussion group were we could get advice from present RV Park owners? Second, we are thinking of putting in asphalt for the drive ways to each site. Each site is gravel. We feel the cost to put it at each side would be too expensive this first year. However, we don’t remember seeing any campgrounds with asphalt perhaps we were just not looking? Any comments. Third, we want to rent videos. How can we legally do this? Thanks for any responses. aj
Response:
Third, we want to rent videos. How can we legally do this?
Our Blockbuster sells their old stock on occasion – All tagged for rental with FBI warnings, trailers, etc. If you’re just looking for material for rent it may be a good place to startout with minimal investment – at least until you get the ‘bugs’ worked out of the system before buying first-run titles. TQ
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Second, we are thinking of putting in asphalt for the drive ways to each site. Each site is gravel. We feel the cost to put it at each side would be too expensive this first year. However, we don’t remember seeing any campgrounds with asphalt perhaps we were just not looking? Any comments. All Ohio State Parks have asphalt. Works great for them. I sure appreciate a paved site! A LEVEL paved site! Steve
Not all the State Parks do, but I think that they are working on getting them all converted. Lake Alma,for instance is still gravel. I was just down at Lake Hope and while they have greatly improved it, even though there are asphalt pads there now it can still take some leveling to do. It’s not the as bad as it used to be though. Hey all, now is the prime time for fall color in southern Ohio if you want to get out and see it.
Response:
Second, we are thinking of putting in asphalt for the drive ways to each site. Each site is gravel. We feel the cost to put it at each side would be too expensive this first year. However, we don’t remember seeing any campgrounds with asphalt perhaps we were just not looking? Any comments.
I can think of a lot of features that would bring us in quicker than asphalt – like a hot tub, a pool, really good showers and laundry. Some of the nicest parks we have stayed in have had good gravel roads and sites. R.J.(Bob) Evans Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience.
Response:
Just think what will happen to your new paving job when you park a 10 to 15 ton R/V on it in the summer for a day or two in the summer. It will sink, also I don’t think I would want to track that road tar oil into my R/V. You would never get it out of the carpet. Concrete or nothing, personally there is nothing wrong with gravel if you have a concrete patio. I speak with a little exp. as I have been full timing for almost 10 years.
Response:
I’ve been going to Ohio State Parks for a couple of decades. We don’t have a problem with the asphalt. The sites aren’t destroyed any faster by the big rigs as by weather. I remember us commenting about the 102 degree temps while at a SW Ohio park but never noticed a problem with the pavement. Concrete might be better. I bet it lasts longer. But you’d be better fingering those problems on the campground where you had the problem as using the right materials must eliminate them. Steve – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Just think what will happen to your new paving job when you park a 10 to 15 ton R/V on it in the summer for a day or two in the summer. It will sink, also I don’t think I would want to track that road tar oil into my R/V. You would never get it out of the carpet. Concrete or nothing, personally there is nothing wrong with gravel if you have a concrete patio. I speak with a little exp. as I have been full timing for almost 10 years.
Response:
First, does anyone know of a better discussion group were we could get advice from present RV Park owners?
I don’t know if it’s better but some folks are saying that the CompuServe forum on RVs is pretty good. I haven’t read it. Second, we are thinking of putting in asphalt for the drive ways to each site.
To put in asphalt thick enough to deal with 40,000 lb rigs is pretty expensive. You’d probably be better off cleaning up and maintaining the gravel roads and using the money elsewhere. (food in five years, perhaps?) Third, we want to rent videos. How can we legally do this?
Suggest you bag the video idea and rent laptops with internet connections to folks who are wondering what all this www… stuff is. Use some form of credit card security deposit to protect yourself against losses. You’ll attract business from the folks who want to learn about the web and from folks passn’ through who want to read their Email. You’ll need some sort of how-to material for the first time surfers. I’ve lost count of the number of people I’ve met who are afraid of standing next to a computer. Mickey.
Response:
How about GOOD internet access? Could probably do something innovative there if DSL and/or cable modem service is available. You could drop a 10baseT connection to several of the sites and provide inexpensive network cards…if you are so inclined. I think that many folks would pay at least $50 per mo to have a fast connection.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Second, we are thinking of putting in asphalt for the drive ways to each site. Each site is gravel. We feel the cost to put it at each side would be too expensive this first year. However, we don’t remember seeing any campgrounds with asphalt perhaps we were just not looking? Any comments. I can think of a lot of features that would bring us in quicker than asphalt – like a hot tub, a pool, really good showers and laundry. Some of the nicest parks we have stayed in have had good gravel roads and sites. R.J.(Bob) Evans Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience.
Response:
I suggest you check out http://www.score.org for business advice. SCORE (Service Corp of Retired Executives) provides free business counseling. They are sponsored by the Small Business Administration. There are chapters located throughout the country. They also have e-mail counseling so you can find an expert in this field on the net. You can also locate a chapter near you on the site. The local chapter will have a better understanding of local conditions. Al Kessler
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – We have pretty much decided on a specific RV Park and would like to have advice on how to set it up for it will be pleasing for visitors. First, does anyone know of a better discussion group were we could get advice from present RV Park owners? Second, we are thinking of putting in asphalt for the drive ways to each site. Each site is gravel. We feel the cost to put it at each side would be too expensive this first year. However, we don’t remember seeing any campgrounds with asphalt perhaps we were just not looking? Any comments. Third, we want to rent videos. How can we legally do this? Thanks for any responses. aj
Response:
There are DEFINITELY things that would bring us in a LONG time before asphalt…. Like SPACE between the sites… That’s one of the advantages to state parks (at least MOST places I’ve been) – they often have large amounts of space between the sites, well wooded so you aren’t staring in your neighbor’s window. I’ve never been in a park with 50 amp service (in fact, our little 5th wheel only has a 30 amp plug) so that’s not a big draw for us. BUT, space and QUIET are big sellers…
Response:
Why do RV parks have a checkout time around noon ???? I can understand hotels/motels as they need the cleanup time. Why not have a 6:00 PM checkout, or at least a 24 hr day – i.e. if you check in at 3:00 PM that’s your checkout time 24 hours later.. Dave W.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – How about GOOD internet access? Could probably do something innovative there if DSL and/or cable modem service is available. You could drop a 10baseT connection to several of the sites and provide inexpensive network cards…if you are so inclined. I think that many folks would pay at least $50 per mo to have a fast connection. Second, we are thinking of putting in asphalt for the drive ways to each site. Each site is gravel. We feel the cost to put it at each side would be too expensive this first year. However, we don’t remember seeing any campgrounds with asphalt perhaps we were just not looking? Any comments. I can think of a lot of features that would bring us in quicker than asphalt – like a hot tub, a pool, really good showers and laundry. Some of the nicest parks we have stayed in have had good gravel roads and sites. R.J.(Bob) Evans Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience.
Response:
How about ANY phone access. I check into a motel and have a phone when I get to the room – phone instrument included, along with walls, furniture, cleaning & etc !! I pay nearly half the cost of the motel to park my own facilities and can’t even get a place to plug MY phone into ?? WHY NOT ??? Dave W.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – How about GOOD internet access? Could probably do something innovative there if DSL and/or cable modem service is available. You could drop a 10baseT connection to several of the sites and provide inexpensive network cards…if you are so inclined. I think that many folks would pay at least $50 per mo to have a fast connection. Second, we are thinking of putting in asphalt for the drive ways to each site. Each site is gravel. We feel the cost to put it at each side would be too expensive this first year. However, we don’t remember seeing any campgrounds with asphalt perhaps we were just not looking? Any comments. I can think of a lot of features that would bring us in quicker than asphalt – like a hot tub, a pool, really good showers and laundry. Some of the nicest parks we have stayed in have had good gravel roads and sites. R.J.(Bob) Evans Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience.
Response:
Hello.This is the San-Suz-Ed RVPark In western Mont. Thirty five years of trying to keep the dust down, This is the best year, we finally put down asphalt and we should have done this thirty five years ago. People are moving their homes on wheels and want to keep them clean. The R V Parks are going to see a big change in the days to come. The request for services are so much greater than twenty years ago. We now have to make our spaces larger, due to the slide outs. We need to include telephone service Along with Electric, Water and Sewer, Shower house, Laundry, Why?because we now live on the road. The other thing that we did a few years ago was to make several spaces a large double, where two units park together , the one goes one way and the other goes the other way and their doors open up together. This is the one we sell first by request. We have our camp for sale cause we want to be one of those people that travels to see the
The Ohio State Park system has been changing many of their campgrounds
tocountry befor w get to old to travel.Yes put down asphalt. It is clean, clean that is what everone wants.Always Happy Camping at the San-Suz-Ed R V Park West Glacier Mt. Catherine Richter I can operate a camp better than I can operate this. We just got this and I have a lot to learn Look for our add. Happy Camping – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – aspalt, instead of the usual gravel. I really like it! In the process of doing so, many of the sites are becoming more level, along with the problem of dust being raised by passing vehicals all but eliminated. Also, it’s quieter in that you don’t have to listen to that crunching gravel sound of people walking by. Should save on the yearly cost of putting down fresh gravel every year too. We have pretty much decided on a specific RV Park and would like to have advice on how to set it up for it will be pleasing for visitors. First, does anyone know of a better discussion group were we could get advice from present RV Park owners? Second, we are thinking of putting in asphalt for the drive ways to each site. Each site is gravel. We feel the cost to put it at each side would be too expensive this first year. However, we don’t remember seeing any campgrounds with asphalt perhaps we were just not looking? Any comments. Third, we want to rent videos. How can we legally do this? Thanks for any responses. aj
Response:
We have pretty much decided on a specific RV Park and would like to have advice on how to set it up for it will be pleasing for visitors. First, does anyone know of a better discussion group were we could get advice from present RV Park owners? Second, we are thinking of putting in asphalt for the drive ways to each site. Each site is gravel. We feel the cost to put it at each side would be too expensive this first year. However, we don’t remember seeing any campgrounds with asphalt perhaps we were just not looking? Any comments.
I’m going to try not to make this sound preachy but I’ve been in business for most of my life, made most of the mistakes that can be made and have the scars to prove it. The biggest mistake a lot of new business owners make is rushing in with a bunch of changes. The usual thought is "This place would REALLY make money if we just…". An implicit assumption to that line of reasoning is that the previous owner was doing something incorrect. That is usually not the case. I learned about a $20k lesson on that one when I bought a welding supply store and went in and made wholesale changes. Everything you do in a small business must pass muster either with a return on investment or a time savings to you. This proposed asphalting, will it generate any more revenues? Probably not. Very few of us expect that at a campground. Will it save gravel road maintenance? Perhaps. Will it save enough to justify the outlay? Probably not. Will it somehow save you some time? Only you can answer that. For the money spent on asphalting, compare the return on investment to say, installing more 50 amp electrical services so you can attract more Class A’s. Another lesson I learned the hard way is not to take as gospel what others in the business tell you. When I started up my catering service, I thought that the best way to learn quickly was to seek out other caterers. I figured that if I went to a distant city and asked around, the caterers wouldn’t perceive me as competition and might be a little more open. Boy was I wrong! I got steered so far off course that I needed a compass and a map to find my way back. Apparently those who didn’t see me as competition resented me entering the business. Or something. Third, we want to rent videos. How can we legally do this?
I have a friend who has a C-store and who rents videos. This is a hard business for the independent to make money in. You have to buy videos that have been licensed for rental. They are recorded with the previews and the ads and the big FBI warning against copying and such. You pay the royalties up front in the purchase price. A typical non-blockbuster movie costs $60 a cassette. If you only get, say, $2 a rental, you have to rent it 30 times to make up the purchase price. And you gamble that the tape will last that long. In contrast, large chains like BlockBusters have negotiated deals with the studios whereby they pay royalties only after the movie is rented. They pay perhaps $3 a cassette up front. That is how they can have 50 copies of Titanic on the shelf. My friend makes money by keeping a huge selection of second run and old movies on the shelf indefinitely. He caters to those who will rent a half dozen movies for a weekend, perhaps watch half of ‘em and return them on a Monday. I’d be very leery of movie rentals in a campground. Just think of how many people will accidentally drive off with a movie. Or plug ‘em into VCRs that are full of road dirt. Unless you get a hefty deposit up front, you’d have no way to compensate for the loss. John — John De Armond http://neonjohn.4mg.com Neon John’s Custom Neon Cleveland, TN "Bendin’ Glass ‘n Passin’ Gas"
Response:
We have pretty much decided on a specific RV Park and would like to have advice on how to set it up for it will be pleasing for visitors. First, does anyone know of a better discussion group were we could get advice from present RV Park owners? Second, we are thinking of putting in asphalt for the drive ways to each site. Each site is gravel. We feel the cost to put it at each side would be too expensive this first year. However, we don’t remember seeing any campgrounds with asphalt perhaps we were just not looking? Any comments. Third, we want to rent videos. How can we legally do this? Thanks for any responses. aj
Response:
Second, we are thinking of putting in asphalt for the drive ways to each site. Each site is gravel. We feel the cost to put it at each side would be too expensive this first year. However, we don’t remember seeing any campgrounds with asphalt perhaps we were just not looking? Any comments.
All Ohio State Parks have asphalt. Works great for them. I sure appreciate a paved site! A LEVEL paved site! Steve
If you like this post and would like to receive updates from this blog, please subscribe our feed.